HomeMy WebLinkAboutL 27/98_ N 51
WOR OF p4
S "4}Cyybi
REPORT TO COUNCIL
FROM: Penny Wyger DATE: February 20,1998
Town Solicitor
REPORTNUMBER: L027198
SUBJECT: Commissioners for taking Affidavits
-File: C0000
RECOMMENDATION: That this report be received by Council for information purposes.
ORIGIN: Inquiries by Council Members.
AUTHORITY: Commissioners for raking Affidavits Act R.S.O. 1990 c. C.17.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: None
BACKGROUND:
A Commissioner for taking Affidavits has the power to administer oaths and take affidavits in proceedings to be
had in any Court in Ontario or on declarations that may be required under any Act in Ontario. Section I of the
Commissioners for takin,4 Afdavits Act (the "Act ") specifies that certain individuals by virtue of their office arc
Commissioners for taking Affidavits in Ontario. The list includes "members ofcity councils ".
In my opinion, based on my review of the provisions of the Interpretations Act and the Municipal Member of the
Town's Council other than the Mayor, are no Commissioners for taking Affidavits in Ontario by virtue of their
office.
Council should be aware that the following Town personnel arc Commissioners by virtue of their offices: the
Mayor, the Town Clerk, the Treasurer, the Town Solicitor and the General Manager while exercising powers as
the Acting Town Clerk.
Upon application by the Town, the following additional staff positions have been appointed to be
Commissioners: the Manager of Legal Services; the Property Compliance Clerk, the Information Clerk; the
Legal Services Clerk and the Planning Clerk. Those appointments arc limited in scope and only apply to work
done in connection with the business of the Corporation of the Town of Pickering.
The Act outlines the duty of Commissioners in the administration of oaths and conta ;ns offence provisions for
failure to comply with the Act.
If Council desires, the Clerk upon payment of the prescribed fee, can make application for any mcmber(s) of
Council to become a Commissioner for taking Affidavits should Council determine it appropriate to do so. Such
appointments would be subject to such limits as to duration, territory or purpose as the Lieutenant Governor may
specify in the appointment.
This report is submitted for the information of Council.
ATTACHMENTS: Commissioners for taking Affidavits Act,
Penny W
Copy: General Manager
52
aa.,4
ay
.arcs
ta,■
Commissioners for gklnjl
AMdavits Act
1. --(I) The tolbwing, by virtue of offing,
are commissiCnen for taking affidavits In
Ontario:
I. Memben of the Assembly.
2. Provincial Judges and Justices of the
Peace.
7. Barristers and solicitors entitled to
practise law In Ontario. R.S,O. 1980,
e. 75, s. 2 (1, 2);1989. c. 16, a. 27 (1),
raised.
(2) The following, by virtue of office, are
commissioners for taking affidavits in the
county, territorial district, metropolitan, dii.
trict or regional municipality In which their
local municipality is situate:
1. Clerks, deputy clerks and treasurers of
local municipalities.
2. The administrative heads and deputy
administrative heads of departments
mpoasIble for building standards,
welfare, assessment or planning, and
the medical officer of health of every
local municipality that his a popula•
lion of at least 100,000, but Orly for
the purposes of the Whirs of the
municipality.
). The heads of municipal councils,
reeves of towns, deputy reeves and
members of city councils. R.S.O.
1980, e. 75, s. 2 (S), pan, s. 2 (e, 5),
rrvind.
ter'° (7) The clerk, deputy ekrk and uasurtr
Of every County, metropolitan, district and
regbnsl municipality tae, by virtue of oifia,
commhslon'. for taking affidavits in their
rape Clive munktpalilies. R.S.O. 1980, e. 75,
a. 2 (J), fwn. mind.
ss1° (e) The chair, vice-chili and secretary•
irasuler of every Imptovemenl district tae,
by virtue of office, commissioners for taking
affidavits In she county or territorial district
In whkh their respective imptovemenl dis'
Islets are situate. R.S.O. 1980, e. 75, a. 2 (6),
mind.
r°v'a 2. The Judges and local registrars of the
Ontario Court (General Division) may take
affidavits required to be taken In their
rappaxt1ive areas. R.S.O. 1980, e, 75, a. S,
«virrd.
C-b- S'. The Lieutenant Governor may confer
s we,a upon such officers and employees of the
V-1-1 Income Tar Division, the Department of
national Revenue (Canada) or of any minls.
try of the Government of Ontario as he or
she dedgmtes run power to administer oaths
and like affidavits In connection with the
ppeerfommnce of their officlal duties, but Um.
[tad as the Lieutenant Governor may deter.
may be a nled commissioners for taking
affidavits in Ontario for the purposes of the
affairs of the corpotatioo. R.S,0. 1960,
e. 75, a. S (1, 2).
,ref° (7) Commhlbners appointed under this
aectioo shall be appointed for a Ihrce•year
Period and Their appointment may be
renewed.
Sisk a
A . eommleisilonemfor taking affidavits in and for
The courts in Ontario". R.S.O. 1980, C. 75,
L S (l, e), revbrd.
its al S. Every commissioner whose commission
ice limited in its duration or as to territory or
Purpose shall Indicate the limitation by
means of a sump approved by the inspector
of Legal Offices armed under his or her sig.
nature. R.S.O. 19M, e. 75, a, 6.
E'um, to at 6. Every commissioner may lake any gin.
,n-iwq davit in anywise concerning any proceeding
to be had in any court In Ontario or before a
Judge of any such court, and in or concerning
any application or matter made or pending
before any Judge of any court In Ontario
which by any statute such Judge is authorized
to hear and determinb or in which he or the
is authorized to nuke an order, although the
application or matter be not made or
depending in any court. R.S.O. 1980, e. 75,
a. 7
C Ne 7. Every Commissioner has power to take
me k un declarations in cases In which declarations
nee, may be taken or may be required under any
Act In force !n Ontario. R.S.O. 1980, c. 75,
a. 8.
cons w S. The Lkutemnt Governor may revoke
,sdw the commission or any commissioner. R.S.O.
1980, c. 75, a. 9.
mid°: 9. Every oath and declaration shall be
tad,,,, eta, taken by the deponent In the presence of The
m be a commissioner, notary public, justice of the
eda race or other officer or person administer•
rag the oath of declaration who shall satisfy
himself or herself of the genuineness of the
signature of the deponent or declarant and
shall administer the oath or declaration In
the manner required by law before slMing
the just or declaration. RS.O. 1980, e. 75,
t. 10.
Ofk- 10. Every commissioner, notary public,
Justice of she peace or other officer or person
administering an Calls or declaration who
st {{ns a jurat a declaration without the due
admtnbtratbn of the oath or declaration is
guilty of an offence and on Conviction h He.
ble to a fine or not more than $2,000. R.S.O.
1960. c. 75, a. 11;1989, c. 72, a. 9 (q.
Off- II. Every one who in any action or pro-
ceeding or upon any application or other
proceeding out of court, or for the par
of making or maintaining any claim, nes,
registers or uses or in any other manner
makes use of any oath, affidavit or declare•
lion know that it w not taken, swum to
or made incorag was nformity with section 91s gusty
of an offence and on conviction is liable to a
fine of not more than $2,000. R.S.O. 1980,
e. 75.1. 12;1989, c. 72, 1.9(2).
r0 r'ee 12. Upon conviction for an oftener under
a:�°'t"• this Act, the commission or appointment of a
°f commissioner for taking affidavits or notary
public may be ancelled or revoked by the
constituting authority, R.5 0. IM, c, 75,
a. 17;1989. c. 16, a. 27 (2).
R'NU101 13. The Lkulanant Oovemor In Council
may make regulations respecting the fee
payable to the Crown and the fees fmlvabta
br comminloners under this Act. R.S.O.
1980,
C. 7S., 14.
mine. R.S.O. 199D, e. 75, a. e.
eafrd f"'r
4.-(1) The Lieutenant Oovemor may by
,sz,n
commission empower any person or the a`e
of eighteen years or over to administer oaths
by law
and like affidavits authorized within
or outside Ontario or subject to such limits
as to duration, territory or purpose u the
Lleutenant Governor may specify In the
appointment.
y"
(2) Upon application therefor and pay.
as wpm.
me it of the prescribed fee,
(a) The secretary and treasurer of each
corpora ft with share capital or boot.
porsted under the Co-operedw Corpo.
rodom Act that has Its head office In
Ontario; and
(b) the principal officer In each branch
office In Ontario of a corporation with
there apical of Incorporated under the
Co-oprroNw Corpondoru Ad,
may be a nled commissioners for taking
affidavits in Ontario for the purposes of the
affairs of the corpotatioo. R.S,0. 1960,
e. 75, a. S (1, 2).
,ref° (7) Commhlbners appointed under this
aectioo shall be appointed for a Ihrce•year
Period and Their appointment may be
renewed.
Sisk a
A . eommleisilonemfor taking affidavits in and for
The courts in Ontario". R.S.O. 1980, C. 75,
L S (l, e), revbrd.
its al S. Every commissioner whose commission
ice limited in its duration or as to territory or
Purpose shall Indicate the limitation by
means of a sump approved by the inspector
of Legal Offices armed under his or her sig.
nature. R.S.O. 19M, e. 75, a, 6.
E'um, to at 6. Every commissioner may lake any gin.
,n-iwq davit in anywise concerning any proceeding
to be had in any court In Ontario or before a
Judge of any such court, and in or concerning
any application or matter made or pending
before any Judge of any court In Ontario
which by any statute such Judge is authorized
to hear and determinb or in which he or the
is authorized to nuke an order, although the
application or matter be not made or
depending in any court. R.S.O. 1980, e. 75,
a. 7
C Ne 7. Every Commissioner has power to take
me k un declarations in cases In which declarations
nee, may be taken or may be required under any
Act In force !n Ontario. R.S.O. 1980, c. 75,
a. 8.
cons w S. The Lkutemnt Governor may revoke
,sdw the commission or any commissioner. R.S.O.
1980, c. 75, a. 9.
mid°: 9. Every oath and declaration shall be
tad,,,, eta, taken by the deponent In the presence of The
m be a commissioner, notary public, justice of the
eda race or other officer or person administer•
rag the oath of declaration who shall satisfy
himself or herself of the genuineness of the
signature of the deponent or declarant and
shall administer the oath or declaration In
the manner required by law before slMing
the just or declaration. RS.O. 1980, e. 75,
t. 10.
Ofk- 10. Every commissioner, notary public,
Justice of she peace or other officer or person
administering an Calls or declaration who
st {{ns a jurat a declaration without the due
admtnbtratbn of the oath or declaration is
guilty of an offence and on Conviction h He.
ble to a fine or not more than $2,000. R.S.O.
1960. c. 75, a. 11;1989, c. 72, a. 9 (q.
Off- II. Every one who in any action or pro-
ceeding or upon any application or other
proceeding out of court, or for the par
of making or maintaining any claim, nes,
registers or uses or in any other manner
makes use of any oath, affidavit or declare•
lion know that it w not taken, swum to
or made incorag was nformity with section 91s gusty
of an offence and on conviction is liable to a
fine of not more than $2,000. R.S.O. 1980,
e. 75.1. 12;1989, c. 72, 1.9(2).
r0 r'ee 12. Upon conviction for an oftener under
a:�°'t"• this Act, the commission or appointment of a
°f commissioner for taking affidavits or notary
public may be ancelled or revoked by the
constituting authority, R.5 0. IM, c, 75,
a. 17;1989. c. 16, a. 27 (2).
R'NU101 13. The Lkulanant Oovemor In Council
may make regulations respecting the fee
payable to the Crown and the fees fmlvabta
br comminloners under this Act. R.S.O.
1980,
C. 7S., 14.