Parliamentary Petitions: Guide for Petitioners
Learn how to draft, submit, and successfully present an e-petition in the House of Commons.
What Is a Parliamentary Petition?
A petition is a formal request to the House of Commons, the Government of Canada, a Minister of the Crown, or a Member of Parliament to take—or refrain from taking—specific action on an issue of public concern. Only an MP can sponsor and present a petition.
A petition must be sponsored by an MP and certified by the Clerk of Petitions before it's tabled in the House.
Steps to Submit an E-Petition
Create an account on the House of Commons e-petitions site (must include valid contact info and confirm by email).
Draft your petition (≤250 words), including a clear, respectful 'prayer'—a specific request for action.
Obtain at least five Canadian citizen or resident supporters.
Invite an MP to sponsor your petition.
Clerk certifies the petition; once certified, it is posted online for 120 days.
Gather at least 500 valid signatures for it to be presented to the House.
If certified, the MP presents it during Routine Proceedings or by filing with the Clerk. No debate is permitted during presentation.
An e-petition remains open for 120 days; if it gets 500 valid signatures, it can be tabled in Parliament.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Avoid vague wording, demands instead of requests, unauthorized attachments, or referencing provincial/municipal matters. E-petitions must not be similar to another petition already open.
Petition Presentation Etiquette
When presented in the House, petitions must be certified, with no debate permitted. MPs should limit remarks and quote only summary details—not read the full text.
Sample E-Petition Template
“PETITION TO THE [A petition must be addressed to one of the following - select one:] • House of Commons • House of Commons in Parliament assembled • Government of Canada • Minister of [name of ministry] • Member of Parliament [name of Member of Parliament] WHEREAS [This section is optional: you may here state facts or opinions (known as grievances) supporting your request. A petition may include many grievances, but keep in mind that it may not contain more than 250 words.] WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, [Here you may identify, in general terms, who the petitioners are. For example: “We the undersigned citizens (or residents) of Canada”; “electors of (name of electoral district)”; “residents of the Province of (name)”; “residents of the City (or Village, etc.) of (name)”.] CALL UPON THE [Indicate whom you would like to take action on your request. It is usually the same addressee as above, but it may be different – select one:] • House of Commons • House of Commons in Parliament assembled • Government of Canada • Minister of [name of ministry] • Member of Parliament [name of Member of Parliament] TO [Set out the request by stating succintly what action the petitioners wish the addressee to take or what action it should refrain from taking.]”
Petition Creator Tool
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PETITION TO THE House of Commons WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, We the undersigned citizens of Canada CALL UPON THE House of Commons TO