We, the undersigned residents of Ontario, support the Canniff Act petition that was officially presented on the floor of the Ontario Legislature on April 15, 2026 by MPP Jeff Burch of Niagara Centre.

The Canniff Act asks the government to close a clear loophole in the Municipal Act, 2001 by adding section 239.3. This section would ensure that during a council-size reduction, any gathering of current councillors that reaches the future quorum and advances major decisions (such as large capital projects) must follow normal open-meeting rules — public notice, open to the public, and proper minutes.

This loophole was exposed in Chatham-Kent when the Mayor and seven hand-picked councillors held a private meeting with the Ontario Hockey League about a potential $150–220 million arena project. The Mayor publicly stated that he hand-picked these seven councillors specifically because they had expressed interest in the arena and in wanting the project to move forward. He also confirmed that no decision would be made this term — meaning the project would only be decided by the next council after the 2026 election.

If they do run again, they would form the majority of the future smaller council. Stakeholders who stand to benefit from the project now know exactly which sitting councillors are most likely to support it. Those councillors therefore have a clear advantage in attracting campaign donations, endorsements, and public momentum once the election campaign officially begins on May 1, 2026. Meanwhile, any councillor who was not invited to the private meeting — even one who supports the project in principle — starts the campaign at a significant disadvantage. They lack the same early information and relationships.

The public only learned about this meeting because it was leaked. Any similar private gathering between current sitting councillors who could form the next majority and parties who stand to benefit from major projects creates the same uneven playing field.

The Canniff Act closes this loophole with one simple rule: any gathering that reaches the future quorum and advances municipal business must follow normal open-meeting rules.

This Change.org petition is for ongoing public support now that the official petition is on the record at Queen’s Park.

Thank you for standing up for transparency in local government.

The exact request from the official petition:

WHEREAS the Municipal Act, 2001 requires that meetings of council where a quorum is present and municipal business is discussed or advanced must generally be open to the public (sections 238 and 239);

WHEREAS section 217 of the Municipal Act, 2001 allows a municipality to pass a by-law reducing the size of its council, with the reduction taking effect after the next regular election;

WHEREAS during the period after a size-reduction by-law is passed but before the new, smaller council is sworn in, a gathering of current members that falls below the current quorum but equals or exceeds the future quorum can legally discuss and materially advance major decisions (such as large capital projects) without being subject to open-meeting rules;

WHEREAS this creates a loophole that allows a small group to potentially pre-commit future councils and taxpayers to significant expenditures outside of public view, as highlighted by recent events in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent involving discussions of a proposed major arena/OHL project;

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

That the Municipal Act, 2001 be amended by adding the following section immediately after section 239.2:

239.3 Transition — reduction in council size

(1) This section applies if a municipality has passed a by-law under section 217 that reduces the number of members of its council, but the by-law has not yet come into force under subsection 217(3).

(2) Despite the definition of “meeting” in subsection 238(1), for the purposes of sections 238 and 239, a gathering of members of the current council (including the head of council) is deemed to be a meeting if,

(a) the number of members present would constitute a quorum of the council as it will be composed once the by-law comes into force; and

(b) the members discuss or otherwise deal with any matter in a way that materially advances the business or decision-making of the future council.

(3) A gathering deemed to be a meeting under subsection (2) is subject to all the notice, public access, minute-keeping, and closed-meeting exception rules that apply to regular meetings of council.

**Note:** This Change.org petition shows broad public support. The official petition still requires original ink signatures (with printed name and full address). You can download the full official paper petition at canniffact.ca

Thank you for standing up for transparency in municipal government.