Participant Code of Conduct

The purpose of the Participant Code of Conduct is to ensure that all participants in the Property Assessment Review Panel process receive a fair, effective and efficient hearing.

It is imperative that you familiarize yourself with this Code of Conduct to avoid any issues during your hearing and as part of the hearing process. You can read the Code of Conduct document below or download the PDF document by clicking here.

Code of Conduct for Participants in the Property Assessment Review Panel process

Introduction:

The Property Assessment Review Panel, or PARP, is established by the Assessment Act and
is the first level of appeal for property assessment complaints. The jurisdiction and role of
PARP is set out in the Assessment Act and in those sections of the Administrative Tribunals
Act that apply to PARP.

This Code of Conduct (Code) is intended to ensure that all participants in the PARP
process receive a fair, effective and efficient hearing. The provisions of this Code may be
amended from time to time to reflect changes in common law, legislation, and the
practices of PARP.

Application:

This Code of Conduct applies to all persons participating in the PARP hearing process and
establishes a standard of conduct and behavior to ensure that the PARP process is fair,
effective, and efficient as well as free from abuse, harassment or inappropriate behavior.

Participants in the PARP hearing process include but are not limited to: property owners
and their representative(s), agents, BC Assessment staff and their representatives, the
Panel, PARP staff, and observers or other parties who are connected to the
virtual/teleconference hearing room.

All participants in the PARP hearing process are expected to familiarize themselves with
this Code of Conduct.

Responsibilities of the Participant:

All participants in the PARP process must:
• engage with all other participants in a civil and courteous manner;
• not engage in communication (verbal or written) that is intended to humiliate, offend,
degrade, abuse or intimidate another person involved in the process, including
witnesses and Panel members, whether within a hearing or otherwise;
• avoid the use of profanity in their communication (verbal or written);
• avoid language and conduct that suggests a discriminatory purpose or mindset,
including word selection or differential treatment that is racist, sexist, homophobic,
transphobic, or otherwise prejudiced;
• disclose to the participants verbally or in writing if artificial intelligence (AI) was used
to generate or support evidence being used in the hearing process;
• follow the directions of the Panel and/or the Panel Chair;
• be prepared and punctual for one’s scheduled hearing time before the Panel; and
• obtain the permission of all parties in order to record the proceedings of a PARP
hearing.

Failure to follow or comply with this Code of Conduct:

If a participant fails to comply with this Code of Conduct or follow directions of the Panel
and/or Panel Chair, the Panel and/or Panel Chair may issue a verbal warning to the
participant that their conduct is not acceptable and further conduct of that nature may
result in the Panel restricting that individual’s participation in the proceedings in
accordance with the Assessment Act and the Administrative Tribunals Act.

Depending on the nature of the conduct, restrictions on participation may consist of one
or more of the following: taking a short break, adjourning the hearing and re-scheduling
to another date, directing that the proceeding be continued in writing, or excluding a
person from further participation in a proceeding until the Panel Chair orders otherwise.
If the Panel and/or Panel Chair deem it necessary, based on the seriousness of the
situation, they may conclude the hearing and base their decision on evidence presented
to that point with or without providing an opportunity for further submissions.

Resources:

Assessment Act – Part 4
Administrative Tribunals Act
Property Assessment Review Panel website – www.gov.bc.ca/propertyassessmentreview