Committees are made up of small working groups of MPPs. These committees consider specific issues that the House has asked them to review. As an Ontario citizen, you can have your say on these issues at public hearings.

You can take part in the committee process by appearing as a committee witness, submitting written material to a committee, or attending committee hearings.

Appear as a committee witness

The first step in appearing before a committee is filling out our application form. Please note that completing an application does not guarantee that you will be chosen to appear. You can find information about public hearings on the Notices of hearings page or on each committee's page. Select the committee from the Current Committees list and select the Notice of Hearings tab.

You may also contact our office at:

Procedural Services Branch
Whitney Block
Room 1405
99 Wellesley St. W
Toronto, ON M7A 1A2

Room 1405 99 Wellesley St. W, Toronto, ON M7A 1A2

Telephone:  416-325-3500
Fax: 416-325-3505
TTY: 416-325-3538

Collect calls are accepted.

When you register, you will be asked for the following information:

• contact name
• organization name
• presenters' names and titles
• address, contact phone numbers, and email address
• bill name or number, or issue that presenters wish to speak about

Procedural Services Branch organizes hearings under the direction of committee members. The Clerk of the Committee will contact you if you are chosen to present.

On the day of the committee, introduce yourself to and confirm your attendance with the Clerk of the Committee when you arrive. If you have any documents for committee members, please give them to the Clerk before you present.

Your presentation will be part of the official public record of the committee. Your name and testimony will be published in the committee’s Hansard transcripts. Your presentation may be recorded for broadcast on the Legislative Assembly’s television service or website.

Submit material to a committee

Guidelines for submitting written materials to committees

The following suggestions are guidelines only. They are not intended to limit groups, organizations, or individuals making submissions. Following these guidelines will help the work of the committee. Submissions that don’t follow the guidelines won’t be penalized.

Documents or briefs submitted to committees of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario are considered public documents. They are made available to the public for inspection or for copying.

For a list of past submissions relating to a particular bill, please contact the Clerk of the Committee.

Content of submissions

Documents should deal specifically with the issue the committee is considering. Contact the Clerk of the Committee if you have any questions.

Consider the following suggestions when you prepare your documents:

• include factual information to support your conclusions, views, or claims
• your recommendations should be as specific as possible
• begin with a summary of the main conclusions and recommendations
• be brief

Format of submissions

Documents should:

• be double spaced
• be on 8.5″ x 11″ paper
• have numbered pages
• use black ink on white paper
• include a title page
• clearly identify the name and address of the person or organization making the submission on the title page
• include information about memberships and objectives, if submitted by a group or organization

Handwritten or typed documents are accepted. Please submit hard copies of your documents. If you can, please email a copy of your documents to the Clerk of the Committee, too.

Number of copies of submissions

The committee needs 25 copies of each document. If you can’t provide 25 copies, the Clerk of the Committee can make copies for the committee.

Copies of presentation briefs are needed for official purposes. They are for committee members, but also for committee staff, the Ontario Archives and Legislative Library exhibits. Briefs are also distributed to media representatives, ministry and members' staff, and members of the public present at the hearings.

Presentation of submissions

You might be asked to summarize the information in your submission, your conclusions, and your recommendations. You might be asked to elaborate and/or present arguments. Committee members might ask you questions.

The committee process varies from committee to committee and bill to bill. Before you present, please clarify the committee process with the Clerk of the Committee.

Please give the Clerk of the Committee a list of the names and title of each person appearing before the committee. The list will be used to help identify witnesses.

Your submission will be part of the official public record of the committee. Your name and testimony will be published in the committee’s Hansard transcripts. Your presentation may be recorded for broadcast on the Legislative Assembly’s television service or website.

Send written submissions

If you want to comment on a particular bill or issue, send your written submissions through our submission form. All material must be submitted by the advertised deadline.

Procedural Services Branch
Whitney Block
Room 1405
99 Wellesley St. W
Toronto, ON M7A 1A2
Telephone: 416-325-3500

Fax: 416-325-3505
TTY: 416-325-3538

Collect calls are accepted.

All written submissions must be received by the Clerk of the Committee by the advertised deadline.

Your submission will be part of the official public record of the committee. Your name and submission may be made available on the Internet.

Attend committee hearings

Public hearings are regularly held in the Legislative Building at Queen's Park. Committees may also hold public hearings throughout Ontario.

Notices of committee hearings are posted on our website and are often published in local newspapers.  

Committee hearings at Queen's Park

There is no general public parking available at Queen's Park. For information about public parking near the Legislative Building, please see Plan your visit. There is wheelchair accessible parking at Queen's Park.

Members of the public must sign in with security when they arrive. You must provide your name and the committee room you will be attending.

Committee hearings in other locations

Please contact the Clerk of the Committee for information about public hearings throughout Ontario.