Notice of Motion

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Published Jun 24, 2026, edited Jun 24, 2026

A Notice of Motion is a motion presented to council providing advance written notice from a member of council that a request has been submitted to the Clerk to include a motion involving new business on a future meeting agenda.

It serves as advance notice to council members and the public of a matter which members will be asked to take a position on at a future Council or committee meeting.

It can be a request for action regarding any matter relevant to Council and must be moved, seconded and adopted in the same way other motions are put up to Council to resolve.

Examples

Every municipal government in Ontario manages its own Procedural Bylaw that outlines all of the rules for how council and committee meetings are conducted, including their structure, order, voting mechanisms, etc. and will outline how Notice of Motions are handled locally.

Peterborough

A Member may cause to be added to the notices of Motion part of a Committee Agenda contemplated by paragraph 20.i) notice of a Motion respecting a matter that would not otherwise be considered at the Meeting subject to the following:

a) the Member gives to the City Clerk a written copy of the notice of Motion no later than seven (7) days prior to the Meeting; and
b) the Motion is signed by the moving Member.

The City Clerk will include under the other business part of a Committee Agenda contemplated by paragraph 20.i) a notice of a Motion that complies with section 48.

A Motion the subject of a notice of Motion included on an Agenda pursuant to section 49 will not be:
a) considered unless the Motion’s moving Member is present at the Meeting at which the Motion is to be considered; or
b) included on a subsequent Agenda.

Peterborough’s Procedure By-law

Belleville

Motions
The Clerk shall ensure that proposed motions for which Notice of Motion has been given, or otherwise failed to secure the requisite minimum two-thirds majority support of the whole Council pursuant to items raised in New Business at a previous meeting, are included in the meeting agenda.

7.12 Notice of Motions

Any Member may provide notice of his/her intent to introduce a motion for the consideration of Council at the next Regular Council Meeting by:
(i) filing with the Clerk in writing, no later than 4:30 p.m. on the Tuesday preceding the date of a regular Council Meeting, a proposed resolution that the Member intends to put forward for consideration at the Council Meeting, and such proposed motion shall be included on the meeting agenda; or
(ii) giving written notice to Council during Notice of Motions that the Member intends at the next Regular Council Meeting to introduce a motion with respect to a matter so declared.

Procedural By-law

Port Hope

40. Notice of Motion
40.1. A Member of Council desiring to introduce a Motion at a Committee of the Whole meeting regarding a matter that would not otherwise be considered at such Meeting, shall:

a) Prepare the proposed Motion in writing, with a confirmed mover and seconder.
b) Submit the proposed Motion to the Clerk, at least 7 days prior to the publication deadline for the regular agenda of the Committee of the Whole.
c) The Clerk will circulate the proposed Motion to other Members and senior staff, and shall print the Motion in full in the agenda for the next scheduled Committee of the Whole meeting, noting the mover and seconder.

40.2. The Member who submitted the Notice of Motion shall introduce and subsequently move the Motion at that Committee of the Whole Meeting. After discussion by Members, the final disposition of the item will be at the next scheduled Meeting of Council.

40.3. Notices of Motion not provided in writing at least 7 days prior to the publication deadline for the regular agenda of the Committee of the Whole will not be added to that agenda and will be automatically put over to the next scheduled Committee of the Whole meeting agenda.

40.4. Supporting Documentation
a) Members may, but are not required to, provide supporting documentation when submitting a Notice of Motion.
b) Supporting documentation shall not include material that is defamatory, discriminatory, harassing, or disparaging, or that contravenes the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, applicable legislation, or the Municipality’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy with Anti-Oppression Framework, as determined by the Clerk, in consultation with the Chair as necessary.

Procedural By-law

Tay Township

Notice of Motions

All notices of motions shall be in writing, with written notice (most commonly through the Agenda package notice), with the following
exceptions that may be introduced without notice:

(a) Point of Order;
(b) Point of Personal Privilege;
(c) to suspend a rule of procedure in this by-law;
(d) for a ruling by the Mayor or Chairperson as to whether an action is in compliance with a rule of procedure;
(e) to overturn a ruling by the Mayor or Chairperson with respect to a matter of procedure;
(f) to call the question, which is not debatable; and,
(g) to adjourn, which is not debatable.

In addition, the following motions may be introduced without notice, but such motions shall be in writing or spoken and provided to the Clerk in
advance of the Meeting:

(a) to Defer (Table);
(b) to Divide the Question;
(c) to Amend (Note: This is different than a Friendly Amendment);
By-law 2017-127, as amended Page 27

Once Notice of a Motion is provided pursuant to this by-law, the Clerk shall automatically add it to the next Regular Meeting agenda, unless
advised otherwise by the Member who gave notice of an alternate date.

Procedure Bylaw
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