Operating Context and Key Risks

Operating Context

The Administrative Tribunals Support Service of Canada (ATSSC) provides facilities and administrative support to 13 administrative tribunals, boards and councils, as well as two territorial bodies, each with different mandates, operating under different statutes, regulations and rules. Each tribunal and administrative body functions independently and maintains specialized expertise in its respective field.

Given the diversity of operations and activities, and the depth of expertise of the tribunals and administrative bodies, the ATSSC is committed to building and maintaining a workforce with the expertise to meet the evolving needs of each organization. The ATSSC’s recent restructuring has allowed it to realign its staffing and service delivery model to improve efficiency and predictability, and to better support tribunals and other administrative bodies while ensuring they maintain their adjudicative independence.

Building on this foundation, the ATSSC will continue to work closely with the tribunals, and other administrative bodies to strengthen operations, enhance service delivery, and support improved access to justice for Canadians.

Corporate risks

Risk	Mitigation measures
Security of tribunal proceedings: There is a risk that security-related incidents could affect the safe and effective conduct of tribunal proceedings and operations.	Strengthen security practices and procedures related to tribunal proceedings Conduct risk assessments and implement appropriate security measures Continue collaboration between tribunals, registry teams, and security officials
Tribunal independence: There is a risk that the ATSSC’s unique relationship with the tribunals it supports may create challenges in balancing tribunal independence with the organization’s administrative responsibilities.	Maintain governance and decision-making structures that respect tribunal independence Consult tribunal leadership on initiatives and operational changes that may affect tribunal operations Maintain ongoing collaboration and communication with tribunal leadership
Human resources capacity: There is a risk that the ATSSC may experience workforce capacity pressures that affect its ability to support the tribunals it serves and respond to changing operational demands.	Monitor emerging operational pressures and resource requirements Conduct integrated planning activities to support informed resource allocation decisions Review operations and explore opportunities to improve efficiency and service delivery Support employee development, mobility, and workforce flexibility
Climate change impacts: There is a risk that climate-related events may affect service delivery, operations, facilities, travel, and resource planning.	Integrate climate-related considerations into risk management and business continuity planning Monitor climate-related developments and assess potential impacts on operations Continue implementing actions identified through the Climate Risk Assessment