The Legislative Services department of the Town of Petawawa plays a vital role in the democratic process and the administration of municipal governance. This department is responsible for a wide array of essential functions, ensuring transparency, accountability, and adherence to legal frameworks. Key responsibilities include managing council meetings, preparing agendas and minutes, maintaining official records and by-laws, administering oaths and declarations, and handling requests under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Contact us or consult our Contact Directory with any questions related to the below services.
Marriage Licences
Applying for a Marriage Licence is the first step towards your wedding day in Petawawa. Our legislative services department provides the necessary information and processes applications for marriage licences, ensuring you meet all legal requirements for your ceremony.
Commissioner of Oaths
A Commissioner of Oaths service is available to administer oaths, affirmations, and declarations. This service is often required for various legal documents, ensuring their proper execution and validity.
Community Flag Program
The Community Flag Program allows local non-profit and community organizations to fly their flag on the community flagpole, celebrating Petawawa’s diverse spirit. This program fosters community pride by providing a framework for displaying flags in a respectful and consistent manner.
Lottery Licensing
Lottery Licensing in Petawawa enables eligible charitable and religious organizations to conduct lottery events such as bingo, raffles, and break open tickets. These licenses help organizations raise funds for community benefit, including the relief of poverty, advancement of education or religion, and other charitable purposes.
Transient Traders Licence
A Transient Traders Licence is required for out-of-town businesses operating temporarily in Petawawa, including those going door-to-door or setting up in temporary locations. This ensures that these businesses are registered and approved by the Town, providing transparency and consumer protection for our residents.
Bylaws
Petawawa’s by-laws help keep our community safe, clean, and well-managed. They cover everything from property standards to noise and animal control.
Vehicle for Hire Licence
All Vehicle for Hire companies and drivers are required to have a licence issued by the municipality.
Marriage Licences
About Marriage Licences
Before getting married in Ontario, you must obtain a marriage licence. A marriage licence cannot be issued after a marriage ceremony has taken place. Marriage licences may be obtained from most municipalities in Ontario and are valid for marriage ceremonies occurring anywhere in Ontario for three months from the date of issue. Please note a civil marriage ceremony is not available through the municipal clerk at the Town of Petawawa.
For full details on how to obtain an Ontario Marriage Licence, visit Getting Married (Province of Ontario)
Complete your application
Download and complete your marriage licence application form (Ontario Central Forms)
Print the completed form and sign (must be original, ink signatures for both applicants) and date the form.
Gather your documents
Below are the documents you must provide to apply for a marriage licence. All the documents will be returned to you.
Identification
You and your partner both need two (2) pieces of original, government-issued identification. One piece of identification for each of you must include your photo, signature and place of birth. The names on both pieces of identification must match. All identification must be in English or be accompanied by a translation, certified by the Association of Translators & Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO).
Examples include:
- a valid birth certificate (including any change of name certificates)
- a valid passport
- a record of immigrant landing
- a Canadian citizenship card.
- a BYID age of majority card
- a Military ID.
All identification must be originals not expired – photocopies and/or certified copies are not accepted.
Divorce
Canadian Divorce: The original or court certified copy of the Certificate of Divorce is required. Photocopies will not be accepted. Originals or court certified copies may be obtained from the court which granted the divorce, and will be returned to you. A judgement or Court Order (Divorce Order) issued by the Court will not be accepted – a Certificate of Divorce is required.
Divorce Outside of Canada: If you were divorced outside of Canada, you must obtain authorization from the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services before a licence may be issued to you. You can do this by sending a completed marriage application along with a statement of sole responsibility form to the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services directly. More information is available by visiting the Ministry of Government Services website or by calling 1-800-461-2156.
Additional Information
- The Marriage Licence is valid anywhere in Ontario for a period of three months from the date the Licence is issued.
- Licence fee is $100.00 – payment can be made by cash, debit, or cheque (credit cards are not accepted).
- The Legislative Services Department will not accept applications by mail or electronic copies sent by email.
For further information, contact the Legislative Service Corrdinator.
Commissioner of Oaths
The Town of Petawawa has Commissioners of Oaths that are available to commission documents regulated under the Commissioners for Taking Affidavits Act, R.S.O. 1990. The Town of Petawawa does not have a Notary Public and cannot notarize documents.
What is the role of a Commissioner of Oaths:
Commissioners for taking affidavits (referred to as commissioners of oaths) take affidavits or declarations by asking you to swear or affirm that what is in a document is true to the best of the person’s knowledge. The Commissioner of Oaths will not assist with the completion of the affidavit or provide legal advice.
To have a document commissioned:
- All parties required to sign the document must be present and provide valid government-issued photo identification to prove their identity
- The affidavit must be signed in the presence of the commissioner
- The entire document must be presented
- Staff will review the document to determine if the document meets specifications
- If the paperwork is in order, all parties named in the document will then swear an oath of truth and the document will be stamped and sealed
What documents can be commissioned?
- Legal name change application
- Name Change and/or Sex change documents and application
- Declaration affirming parentage
- Election to change name of child under the age of 12
- Vehicle ownership transfers – sworn statement for a transfer of a used vehicle in the Province of Ontario
- Pension purposes – Attestations a is alive and confirming residency
- Delayed birth registrations
- Application to amend birth registrations
- Lost passport
- Common law or single status affidavits
- Statement of conscience or religious belief – immunization of schools pupil act
- Municipal planning applications related to matters within the geographical limits of the municipality
- Consent letters for children travelling out of the country
What documents cannot be commissioned?
- Wills, Living Wills, Codicils (amendments) to Wills
- Powers of Attorney
- Divorce, Separation, Marriage, or Cohabitation documents
- Custody documents
- Real Estate documents, including transfer of land and rental lease agreements
- Estate Settlement documents including transfers of money or estates of a deceased person
- Declaration for replacement of shares
- Documents related to finance (Banking information, RRSP, etc.)
- Court, Legal and/or Civil issues related documents
- Ministry of Community and Social Services Family Responsibility Office forms
- Incomplete documents
- Any documents requiring the signature of a guarantor (document will note this requirement)
You will need to take these documents to a lawyer for appropriate advice and assistance.
It is at the discretion of the Commissioner of Oaths whether or not they choose to sign the document. If a Commissioner is uneasy about the identity of the person signing or the content of the document for any reason, the Commissioner may refuse to sign the document and the deponent will be referred to a lawyer.
Documents that are in any language other than English will not be commissioned, as we cannot validate the information that is sworn. There will be no exceptions to the Policy.
Please note that identification pieces cannot be expired. Health Cards cannot be used as photo identification in Ontario.
If you require commissioning services, please visit the Town Office or contact our Coordinator of Legislative Services.
Community Flag Raising
The Town recognizes the symbolism of displaying flags as a visual statement which promotes an environment of understanding and mutual respect. The Town has established guidelines for the display of Community Flags at Community Flagpoles and provide a framework to ensure that Community Flags in the Town are flown and displayed in an appropriate and consistent manner.
You can submit a community flag raising request to use the Town’s community flag pole by filling out the online form listed below, under “Downloads”.
Requests to use the community flag pole are governed by the Town’s Community Flag Raising policy (By-law 1604/23) and must be submitted in writing in the form prescribed by the Legislative Services Department at least 30 business days in advance of the proposed flag raising.
Community Flag Program
Below is a list of scheduled Community Flag raisings that are part of the Town’s commitment to support diversity, equity, and inclusion. They are:
- The first 2 (two) weeks of June – Pride Flag
- The last 2 (two) weeks of September – Truth and Reconciliation Flag
For further information please contact the Legislative Services Department
Lottery Licensing
Muncipalities have licensing authority for the following activities:
- Bingo events (including media bingo)
- Break open tickets
- Raffle lotteries
- Bazaar lotteries
To be eligible for lottery licences, you must be a charitable organization that provides programs for at least one of the following:
- The relief of poverty
- The advancement of education
- The advancement of religion
- Other charitable purposes beneficial to the community
The following prerequisites are mandatory to be considered eligible for a lottery licence:
- The organization must have been in existence for at least one year
- The organization must have a place of business in Ontario, demonstrate that it is established to provide charitable services in Ontario and use proceeds for objects or purposes which benefit Ontario residents
Application forms and terms of condition for each lottery type can be found on the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario website and at the links below.
- Charitable Gaming: Municipalities
- Regular and Monster Bingo
- Break Open Ticket Licensing Overview
- Raffle Licensing Overview
Applicants must complete the Town of Petawawa Questionnaire Form. For more information and to obtain the form, please contact the Legislative Services Department.
Transient Traders Licence
Council of the Town of Petawawa implemented a Transient Trader licence in order to ensure that out-of-town businesses are registered and approved by the Town. This has been enacted through our Transient Trader By-Law. All non-Petawawa businesses that operate in this manner are required to complete the Transient Trader documentation and provide all additional information as requested in the Transient Trader By-Law.
This process allows staff to review the business and product to ensure that they are permitted to operate and conduct business in this manner. It also allows staff the opportunity to make a posting on our website that advises residents that the business has in fact registered with the Town and will be in the community for a specified length of time.
Any business that fails to undergo this process is in violation and will be reported to the Ontario Provincial Police and/or ticketed by the Commissionaires, our By-law Enforcement Officers
Ontario Ban on Door-to-Door Sales in Effect as of March 1st
New Law will Protect Consumers at Home
As of March 1, 2018, Ontario has banned unsolicited, door-to-door sales of certain household appliances to better protect the consumer from aggressive and misleading contracting at home. Please see the attached communication from the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services regarding the new law and the list of household appliances included in the ban. If you wish to report a violation of this law please contact Consumer Protection Ontario at 1-800-889-9768.
Businesses will only be able to enter into a contract in the consumer’s home if the consumer has contacted the business ahead of time and invited them into their home for the purpose of entering into a contract. Contracts that are in violation of the new rules relating to door-to-door contract solicitation will be considered void, and consumers will be able to keep the goods and services with no obligations.
The new rules will apply to:
- Air cleaners
- Air conditioners
- Air purifiers
- Duct cleaning services
- Furnaces
- Water filters
- Water heaters
- Water purifiers
- Water softeners
- Water treatment devices
- Bundles of these goods and services
In addition, businesses will be required to keep a record of how contact with the consumer entering the contract was made, and all contracts signed in the home for these goods and services will also have a 10-day cooling-off period, allowing consumers to cancel the contract for any reason without penalty.
Protecting consumers is part of Ontario’s plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change. The plan includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of Medicare in a generation.
“These new laws will ensure that people aren’t being taken advantage of through unsolicited door-to-door contracting. We have heard from many consumers, including many seniors, who are being taken advantage of at their doorsteps. Our government is taking steps to protect Ontario consumers and provide them with more protection against aggressive and misleading door-to-door contracting tactics so that they can enjoy peace of mind in their homes.”
Tracy MacCharles Minister of Government and Consumer Services
QUICK FACTS
- Door-to-door contracts have been among the top complaints received by the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services.
- Ontario is the second province in Canada to restrict door-to-door solicitation and contracts.
- If a consumer calls for a repair, maintenance or any other reason, businesses will only be allowed to leave information about the products and services they offer, unless the business has a written contract in place with the consumer and secures the consumer’s approval in advance of the visit to solicit a contract for the restricted goods or services.
- Businesses will need to keep a record of how contact with the consumer was made and provide consumers with clear information about their rights.
Know your rights about door-to-door contracts.