Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief in Ontario: What It Is and How to Get It Commissioned

Notary Public
Mar 13
2 min read

A Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief is a written declaration where an individual affirms that a personal decision is based on their sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions. In many situations, organizations, schools, employers, or government bodies may request this type of statement when someone is requesting an exemption from a requirement due to their beliefs. In Ontario, the Ministry of Education requires a completed "Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief" for child care immunization exemptions in Ontario.

If you need to sign this type of declaration, it is often required to be sworn or affirmed before a notary public or commissioner for taking affidavits.

At Affordable Markham Notary, we help clients quickly and professionally commission/notarize statements of conscience or religious belief.

What Is a Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief?

A Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief is a formal declaration that:

Explains that a person’s decision is based on their religious beliefs or deeply held moral convictions
Is made voluntarily and truthfully
Is usually sworn or affirmed under oath

The document may be requested in situations such as:

School or institutional exemption requests
Employment-related declarations
Health or medical exemption documentation
Government or administrative processes requiring a sworn statement

Because this is a sworn declaration, it must often be signed in front of a notary public or commissioner who verifies the identity of the person making the statement and witnesses the signature.

Why Notarization Is Often Required

Notarizing a Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief helps confirm that:

The person signing the declaration has been properly identified
The declaration was signed voluntarily
The individual swore or affirmed that the statement is true

A notary public does not evaluate or judge the beliefs expressed in the document. Their role is simply to verify identity and witness the signing of the sworn statement.

What to Bring to Your Appointment

When coming to have your Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief notarized, please bring:

Valid government-issued photo ID
The completed document (unsigned)

Please do not sign the document before arriving, as the notary must witness your signature.

Visit Affordable Markham Notary Today

Need your Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief notarized quickly?

Visit Affordable Markham Notary for reliable and affordable notary services. Our office makes the process simple so you can get your document completed correctly the first time.

Book an appointment or stop by today to get your document notarized.

Click here to book now: https://www.affordablemarkhamnotary.com/booking-calendar/statutory-declaration?referral=service_list_widget

The form is available here for the one by the Ministry of Health:

https://forms.mgcs.gov.on.ca/en/dataset/014-4897-64