Effective August 1, 2020, Ontario commissioning legislation permits the practice of remote commissioning. Remote commissioning is a new practice and is expected to evolve as new remote meeting platforms and security safeguards are developed.
A notary public has all the powers of a commissioner for taking affidavits in Ontario, and can also witness or certify, and attest, the execution of a document, and certify and attest documents to be true copies of the original.
On August 1, 2020 the Act allowed for remote or virtual notarization, but only if a regulation made under the Act permits such a practice and the conditions set out in that regulation are met.