Supportive living accommodation licensing – How to appeal

What is an appeal

An appeal is when you ask an appeal panel to review a decision the Accommodation Standards and Licensing program has made about a licence for a supportive living accommodation. The appeal panel:

• is made up of private citizens who are not Government of Alberta employees
• has the authority and training to hear your appeal
• may agree with or reverse the Accommodation Standards and Licensing program’s decision

Who can appeal

You can appeal a decision the Accommodation Standards and Licensing program has made if:

• you applied and were refused a licence for a new supportive living accommodation
• your existing supportive living accommodation licence was not renewed
• your supportive living accommodation licence was cancelled

What can be appealed

Under the Supportive Living Accommodations Licensing Act and Regulation (SLAL Act and Regulation), you have the right to appeal most decisions the Accommodation Standards and Licensing program makes. These are general guidelines about decisions the appeal panel can and cannot review:

The appeal panel can review decisions about:

• a new supportive living accommodation licence not being issued
• an existing licence being cancelled or not renewed

They can agree with or reverse these Accommodation Standards and Licensing program decisions.

The appeal panel cannot review decisions about:

• a decision of a complaints officer – these decisions must be appealed to the director of the Accommodation Standards and Licensing program using the Complaint Decision Appeal form (PDF, 135 KB)
• a director’s decision on an appeal of a complaints officer’s decision
• stop orders – these decisions must be appealed to the Court of Queen’s Bench

For more information, review the SLAL Act and Regulation or contact the Appeals Secretariat.

Steps to file an appeal

Make sure to appeal within the 15-day deadline from the date you got the decision in person, by phone, email or letter.

Step 1. Write an appeal letter

Make sure to include:

• the name, address, email and any phone numbers for you and, if necessary, the person you authorize to act on your behalf
• a description of the supportive living accommodations licensing decision you are appealing
• the date you got the decision in person, by phone or letter
• why you are appealing
• your signature

If you want to give another person authority to act on your behalf throughout the appeal process, include an Authorization form (PDF, 71 KB).

Step 2. Submit your appeal letter

Make sure to:

• include your signed letter and the Authorization form if someone will be acting on your behalf
• include a copy of the letter with the Accommodation Standards and Licensing program’s decision, if you received one
• keep copies of all documents for your own files

Submit your documents by:

• scanning and emailing them to css.appeals@gov.ab.ca, or
• mailing, faxing or taking them to the Appeals Secretariat office.

After you file an appeal

You will get a letter from the Appeals Secretariat saying they received your appeal.  The Appeals Secretariat will start setting up your appeal hearing. Contact them, if you:

• need an interpreter since all hearings are in English
• want to get information about organizations that may be able to help you with your appeal
• are waiting for any new information related to the appeal
• want to withdraw your appeal
• have moved or changed your phone number or email so they can reach you to give you the hearing date – if you do not take part when the hearing is scheduled, it may happen without you and your right to appeal will end

Find out what happens before, during and after the appeal hearing.

Withdrawing an appeal

You can withdraw your appeal at any time. This means it is stopped and you no longer want to appeal the Accommodation Standards and Licensing program’s decision. Tell the Appeals Secretariat as soon as you choose to withdraw your appeal.

Contact

The Appeals Secretariat is a neutral government office that runs separately from the Accommodation Standards and Licensing program.

To connect with the Appeals Secretariat:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed noon to 1 pm and statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-427-2709
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Fax: 780-422-1088
Email: css.appeals@gov.ab.ca

Address:
2nd Floor, Agronomy Centre
6903 116 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta  T6H 5Z2