Item - 2022.EX29.6

The Executive Committee:

1. Referred Item EX29.6 to the City Clerk for further consideration.

In 2021, it has become clear an e-petition platform is necessary for the City of Toronto to engage with our residents. During COVID-19, it was clear e-petitions were necessary as stay at home orders prevented the collection of hard copy signatures in person. This delay in democracy could have been averted if an e-petitions platform was available to Toronto residents.  It has been proven, specifically during the 2020-2021 pandemic period we can ensure the implementation of an electronic platform.  

Several governments, for several years, including the Federal government of Canada have made e-petitions a legal and acceptable method to collect residents stand on issues in the form of petitions.  

The link to the Federal government e-petition website, https://petitions.parl.gc.ca/en/Home/Index.  

It is clearly evident we are in need of a City of Toronto e-petition platform. 

I look forward to everyone’s support and the implementation of this electronic platform.

The purpose of this report is to outline acceptable paper and electronic petitions, as described in Council Procedures (Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 27) and provide considerations for establishing an e-petition platform.

The City Clerk, as directed by Council Procedures currently accepts petitions submitted in electronic or paper formats.

If City Council wishes to pursue the implementation of an e-petition program, it should direct the City Clerk to prepare the necessary budget submissions for Council consideration.