A notice from the Condominium Authority Tribunal can land in a board's inbox with little warning. The new CAT platform, launched October 1, 2026, is designed to make cases easier to navigate. But the first steps still matter: confirm which system applies, gather the right records, and make sure the person responding has authority to act for the corporation.

First, check whether it's a new case

Cases filed on or after October 1, 2026 use the new platform and updated Rules of Practice. Cases already underway remain on the legacy platform under the rules that applied when they began. If a party in an existing case needs to file a separate new case, they may need to use both systems.

That means the first question is practical: when was this case filed, and where must the parties respond? Don't assume a new email or a separate dispute belongs in the same system as an older case.

Then, treat the notice as a deadline

The updated rules provide more guidance during the application process. The CAT may flag missing information, documents, or parties and explain what needs to be fixed. For example, a records dispute requires the Request for Records form and the corporation's response. Certain disputes involving governing documents may require the relevant declaration, by-law, or rule. An incomplete application may not be processed until the identified issues are addressed.

When a case is accepted, the CAT system sends an email with instructions to join the case to respondents and added parties for whom the applicant supplied an email address. Keep contact information current, watch for CAT messages, and make sure more than one appropriate person knows a response is required.

Who can speak for the corporation?

The new rules put clear responsibility on parties and their representatives to participate, follow directions, and have enough information and authority to make agreements or settle issues. The CAT may ask a condominium corporation to show that its board has a quorum and authorized the person appearing as its representative.

The board should decide early who will coordinate the response, who can give instructions, and who has authority to approve a settlement. A manager can help organize the records and keep the process moving, but the corporation should confirm that its representative is permitted to act in that role and has proper board authority.

What boards should do when a CAT notice arrives

  • Record the date received and identify any response deadline or direction.
  • Confirm the correct platform based on when the case was filed.
  • Notify the board and the corporation's authorized contacts.
  • Preserve relevant records, including correspondence, governing documents, meeting decisions, and service records.
  • Check the application for missing or disputed information and gather the documents needed to respond.
  • Confirm who can give instructions and approve a settlement.
  • Monitor the CAT system and email for messages, documents, and further directions.

What the October 2026 launch did — and didn't — change

The CAT's familiar three stages — negotiation, mediation, and adjudication — remain in place. The October launch changed the platform and the rules governing procedure; it did not change the CAT's current jurisdiction.

A separate expansion to certain disputes about requisitions and notices of owners' meetings is scheduled for July 1, 2027. That future change is distinct from the October launch.

The bottom line

The new system may make the process clearer, but a CAT case still calls for a timely, organized response. For boards, the safest first move is to identify the deadline, gather the facts, and make sure the right person is authorized to speak for the corporation.

Sources: CAT Rules of Practice (2026) · CMRAO summary of Condominium Act amendments

If you are unsure how to respond to a CAT application, consult a lawyer familiar with Ontario condominium law.