COVID‑19 And Electronic Signatures: A Guide For Organizations

With many Canadians now working remotely, obtaining original signatures for documents and commercial agreements has become increasingly difficult. The COVID-19 pandemic has also posed challenges for commissioning and notarizing documents, which are typically required to be done in person.

This bulletin provides an overview of the use of electronic signatures and describes the shift toward virtual commissioning and notarizing amid the ongoing crisis. It also provides a summary of the recent amendments to a number of Ontario statutes relating to valid signatures that are set out in Bill 190, COVID-19 Response and Reforms to Modernize Ontario Act, 2020.

What is an electronic signature?