Operating Context and Key Risks

Human resources management:

There is a risk that the ATSSC may not be able to maintain the necessary human resources capacity to support the delivery of the mandates of the tribunals and other administrative organizations it serves, including those with legislated deadlines for rendering decisions, as well as the evolving needs of all program and internal service areas. In addition, limited resources may lead to increased workloads for existing staff, raising the risk of employee burnout.

Mitigate

• Monitor emerging trends, priorities, needs and legislative changes to identify potential impacts on caseloads and on ATSSC resources and funding.

• Ensure that the ATSSC is optimally structured to maximize support services to tribunals and other administrative organizations.

• Conduct an integrated business planning exercise (for example, caseload projections, financial planning and workforce planning) to inform resource allocation decisions.

• With a view to reducing workload pressures on existing staff, review operations in collaboration with the organizations we support to identify potential efficiencies, including work processes that could be eliminated or simplified, and explore opportunities to implement digital solutions.

• Implement HR management solutions that foster the mobility and versatility of ATSSC staff, such as cross-training opportunities, standardized job descriptions, common statements of merit criteria, and internal assignments/deployments.

Likely

Major

Tribunal legislative and policy mandates are highly sensitive to external demands and, as a result, tribunals can at times face fluctuations in their caseloads, which can create unpredictable workloads.

Information technology:

There is a risk of business failure if critical infrastructure is not consistently assessed, prioritized, and addressed to ensure the continuity of business operations and supporting systems and a risk that the existing IT infrastructure will not meet the evolving needs of the tribunals and the legislated deadlines within which they must render decisions.

Mitigate

• Implement measures to consistently assess the health and resiliency of IM/IT infrastructure, applications, systems, facilities, policies and operational procedures which guide or are leveraged to deliver ATSSC operations.

• Assess budgetary allocations to ensure that resources are available to meet the day-to-day needs of the tribunals while enabling longer-term planning and the delivery of larger priority projects.

• The implementation of recent Case Management System projects align the resource requirements of the ATSSC to deliver systems that meet the medium- and long-term needs of the organizations it supports.

Possible

Major

As part of its mandate, the ATSSC supports tribunal efforts in enhancing operations and improving access to justice through the maintenance and modernization of existing IM/IT systems and critical infrastructure. However, there is a risk of business failure if critical infrastructure is not consistently assessed, prioritized, and addressed to ensure continuity of business operations and supporting systems.

Political:

There is a risk that delays in GIC appointments may result in increased caseload backlogs that cannot be efficiently supported by ATSSC resources.

Accept and monitor

Continue to monitor.

Likely

Moderate

Outside organizational control.

Political:

There is a risk that given the current geo-political instability, portfolio departments will be tasked with broader statutory accountabilities that will have an impact on caseloads at the tribunals the ATSSC supports (for example, more focus on economic security, introduction of Bill C-58, etc.) and that the impacts on the ATSSC when legislative authorities are expanded are not always considered

Accept and monitor

Continue to monitor, ongoing engagement with portfolio departments to ensure the ATSSC remains on radar for future impacts.

Possible

Major

Outside organizational control.

Climate change impacts:

Climate-related events (for example, extreme weather, travel disruptions, or impacts on hearing facilities) may affect the ATSSC’s ability to deliver services effectively. Additionally, climate-related issues (for example, workplace safety concerns) may lead to increased demand for tribunal services. These factors could challenge operational continuity and resource planning.

Accept and monitor

• Conducted a Climate Risk Assessment aligned with the Greening Government Strategy.

• Identified potential service disruption and demand increase risks through document reviews, staff interviews, and a workshop.

• Findings will be integrated into broader risk management and business continuity planning.

• Continue monitoring climate-related developments and reassess risks.

Unlikely

Minor

This risk was identified through a Climate Risk Assessment conducted in alignment with the Greening Government Strategy. The assessment involved document reviews, staff interviews, and a workshop, and the findings are being integrated into the organization’s broader risk management and business continuity planning.