County Clerk

The Clerk is a statutory position under the Municipal Act.  The Clerk's Department undertakes a variety of activities to support Council and its Committees:

• Responsible for fulfilling the statutory duties of the Clerk under Section 228(1) of the Municipal Act and other provincial legislation
• Interpretation and administration of legislation
• Providing advice to Council
• Researching and compiling of information on upcoming issues
• Ensuring compliance with the Municipal Act and municipal by-laws
• Providing overall administrative support to Council, the Warden, and the Chief Administrative Officer
• Preparation of agendas, by-laws, and correspondence
• Recording all resolutions, decisions and proceedings of Counties Council and Committees
• Meeting follow-up - processing by-laws and agreements, communicating Council decisions to other levels of government, other municipalities, organizations, and internally to Counties staff
• Custodian of Counties records
• Process Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) requests

MFIPPA Request - Documentation and Form

Commissioner of Oaths

The Counties provides services of a Commissioner of Oaths.  A Commissioner of Oaths is a person authorized by the Province of Ontario to take oaths or declarations when you sign an affidavit or statutory declaration.  The County Clerk and Deputy Clerk of the Counties are, by virtue of office, commissioners for taking affidavits in the Counties.  This authority is conferred by the Commissioners for taking Affidavits Act, R.S.O. 1990, Chapter C.17.  

The Commissioner is not responsible for the content of the affidavit; it is the responsibility of the person whose signature is being commissioned ("the deponent").  Persons swearing or affirming to a document must appear before the Commissioner of Oaths.  The deponent must understand not only the details to which he or she will attest but also the fact that he or she is swearing an oath that the details are correct.  The documents must be completed prior to presenting them for Commissioner, with the exception of your signature. Documents must be signed in the presence of the Commissioner of Oaths.  You must be physically present and provide one original piece of photo identification in the form of government-issued photo identification (i.e. a valid driver's license, a valid passport or a BYID age of majority card).  The Commissioner of Oaths must be satisfied with the authenticity of the person's identity and signature before he or she can sign the documents themselves.  This is usually confirmed through comparing the signature on a valid piece of identification such as a driving license, passport, etc.  Please DO NOT sign the document in advance, as the Commissioner must witness your signature. 

The Clerk's Department does not prepare affidavits or provide legal advice.  We wish to advise that our Commissioners will not sign Wills, Living Wills, Power of Attorney, Divorce, Separation, Custody, Theft, Financial or Real Estate related documents.   You need to take these documents to a lawyer for appropriate advice and assistance. The Commissioner reserves the right to refuse to commission documents. 

These services are available during regular office hours.  It is preferable that you call the office ahead of your arrival to ensure that a Commissioner is available.