The Ontario Workplace Tribunals Library – Toronto, ON

The Ontario Workplace Tribunals Library (OWTL)

The Ontario Workplace Tribunals Library (OWTL) is a specialized legal information resource centre located on the 7th floor of 505 University Avenue in Toronto. It serves as the shared library for the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB), the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT), and the Pay Equity Hearings Tribunal (PEHT). While primarily designed to support the adjudicators and staff of these tribunals, the library is also open to the public, legal professionals, and researchers who require access to specialized labour and employment law materials. The library plays a vital role in the principle of ‘open justice’ by providing access to decisions, reports, and legislative history that are critical for transparency in the administrative justice system.

Collections and Resources

The OWTL houses one of the most comprehensive collections of workplace law materials in the province. Its holdings are tailored to the specific mandates of the tribunals it serves:

• OLRB Reports: A complete collection of the Ontario Labour Relations Board Reports dating back to 1944, which are essential for researching the history of labour relations jurisprudence in Ontario.
• WSIAT Decisions: Extensive archives of decisions regarding workplace safety and insurance appeals, providing precedents for injury compensation cases.
• Pay Equity Materials: Specialized resources regarding the Pay Equity Act and decisions from the PEHT, which are often difficult to locate elsewhere.
• Textbooks and Journals: A curated selection of legal texts, academic journals, and loose-leaf services covering administrative law, labour relations, and employment standards.

Public Access and Services

Visitors to the OWTL can utilize the library’s space for legal research during business hours. The facility offers computer terminals for searching the library’s catalogue and accessing electronic databases. Reference staff are available to assist with locating specific decisions, understanding citation methods, or navigating the tribunal’s complex filing systems. While the library does not provide legal advice, the staff can guide users to relevant statutes and case law. Photocopying services are available for a fee, which is a standard practice for obtaining physical copies of unreported decisions or older documents not digitized on platforms like CanLII.

Location and Building Security

The library is situated within a major provincial government building at 505 University Avenue. As such, visitors must comply with government building security protocols. Upon arrival at the lobby, guests may be required to sign in or show identification before proceeding to the elevators. The location is conveniently accessible via public transit, sitting just south of the intersection of University Avenue and Dundas Street West. It is important to note that the library observes strict government holidays and operating hours, so planning visits in advance is recommended.