appeal record the appeal record for the Tribunal is initially comprised of the Notice of Appeal and the record of the ministry decision. As the appeal progresses, it also includes submissions, any additional information admitted into evidence at the hearing, and the Tribunal decision appellant a person who commences an appeal under section 21 of the Employment and Assistance Act business day a day other than Saturday, Sunday, or a statutory holiday independent the activities of the Tribunal are separate and operate at “arms length” from both ministries members a member of the Tribunal appointed by the Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation under section 19(2) of the Act minister the Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation or the Minister of Children and Family Development, depending on context ministry the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation or the Ministry of Children and Family Development, depending on context notice of appeal the appeal form specified by the Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation that must be submitted to the Tribunal in order to commence an appeal oral hearing a hearing that is conducted with the parties present in person, by teleconference, or by video conferencing panel the member(s) appointed by the Tribunal Chair under section 22(1) of the Employment and Assistance Act to hear an appeal panel chair the chair of a panel appointed under section 22(2) of the Employment and Assistance Act party in relation to an appeal to the Tribunal, the appellant and the minister whose decision is under appeal reconsideration decision the final ministry decision pertaining to the initial request and the decision that may be appealed to the Tribunal record of the ministry decision the information and records that were before the minister when the reconsideration decision under appeal was made representative an agent, lawyer, or advocate representing a party during an appeal tribunal the Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal established under section 19(1) of the Employment and Assistance Act tribunal chair the Chair of the Tribunal appointed under section 19(2)(a) of the Employment and Assistance Act witness a person who provides oral evidence at a hearing written hearing a hearing that is conducted through the submission of written evidence and written argument