The Township of North Huron is committed to citizen engagement and supports petitions as a tool for citizens to have input into Council’s decision-making process. A petition can be most effective when the information contained in it is accurate and verifiable, and when the petition is recognized and accepted by decision makers. To make this process easier for citizens, the Council of the Township of North Huron has adopted a Petition Policy.
The purpose of the Petition Policy is to establish the procedure for the receipt and recognition of public petitions. This procedure ensures that petitions can be most effective when Council is making decisions. The Petition Policy details the petition requirements, the process for submitting petitions, the responsibilities of the Clerk, and the process for non-compliant petitions. This Petition Policy applies to all petitions submitted to the Township of North Huron, with the exception of those governed by another Act (such as drainage and local improvement petitions).
What is a Petition?
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| A petition is a formal written request made to the Council of the Township of North Huron. Petitions request a particular action be taken that is within the discretion of Council. |
Petition Requirements
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- The petition must be addressed to the Council of the Township of North Huron and request a particular action within the authority of Council.
- Petitions must be legible, typewritten or printed in ink (no pencil).
- The text of the petition must be listed at the top of each page for multiple-page petitions. Pages should be numbered and the total number of pages should be indicated.
- The petition must be appropriate and respectful in tone, and must not contain any improper or offensive language or information.
- Each petitioner must print and sign his or her own name. A paper petition must contain original signatures only, written directly on the petition.
- Each petitioner must provide his or her full address.
- For electronic petitions, petitioners must provide their name, address and a valid e-mail address.
- The petition must clearly disclose on each page that it will be considered a public document at the Township of North Huron and that information contained in it may be subject to the scrutiny of the Township and other members of the general public.
The required petition template can be found here.
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Submission of Petitions
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- Petitions containing original signatures should be sent to the attention of the Clerk by mail or delivered in person to the Township of North Huron Municipal Office at P.O. Box 90, 274 Josephine Street, Wingham, Ontario N0G 2W0
- Electronic Petitions may be submitted by email to the attention of the Clerk.
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What happens after a Petition is submitted?
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- Upon receipt of a petition, the Clerk evaluates all petitions to ensure that the requirements of the Petition Policy are met.
- All petitions that meet the Petition Policy requirements are included as correspondence on the Council agenda for the next regular Council meeting, or for the meeting at which the subject of the petition is to be discussed.
- Petitions deemed by the Clerk to be in non-compliance with the Petition Policy will not be formally accepted by Council as correspondence. However, the title or subject of the petition will be listed on the Council agenda under the chart of correspondence available from the Clerk’s office.
- Council has the discretion to accept the petition, and Council’s decision is final.
All petitions submitted to the Township will be retained by the Clerk’s Office and will be available for public viewing upon request.
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For further information, or if you wish to submit a Petition to Council please contact the Clerk’s Department at the 519-357-3550.
