Is a Commissioner the same as a Notary?

No. A Commissioner for Oaths is not a Notary Public. Some documents may be signed by both, some only by a Notary Public. However, a Notary Public will charge you considerably more than a Commissioner as all Notaries are also lawyers, while not every Commissioner is.

What documents can a Commissioner sign?

THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST FO THE DOCUMENTS A COMMISSIONER IS ALLOWED TO SIGN:

Delayed birth registration forms;
Application to amend birth registration;
Declaration affirming parentage;
Election to change of name of child under the age of 12;
Statutory declaration by an applicant to correct an error in registration;
Legal name change application;
Blank statutory declaration;
Insurance claims;
Common law status affidavits;
Special invitations to family members overseas;
Passport applications (in lieu of guarantor);
Pension purpose attestations of recipient being alive and confirming their residency;
Residency document;
Lost passport;
Single status certificate;
Consent letter for traveling with a child commonly referred to as a travel document; FORM GENERATOR
Federal government permanent residency card applications
Municipal Information Form (MIF) for liquor license;
Affidavit waiving vaccinations based on religious grounds.

What documents a Commissioner cannot sign?

THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST FO THE DOCUMENTS A COMMISSIONER IS ALLOWED TO SIGN:

Any affidavit related to real estate matters;
Documents that need to be certified or if true copies need to be authored;
Forms which call upon a Commissioner of Oath, yet also request certified true copies of other documents as attachments. Because the Commissioner cannot certify attachments, they cannot sign the affixed application (as listed above, the only exception is that of a federal government permanent residency application);
Affidavits of true affidavits required for an applicant of a marriage license. These must be signed by a notary public. These documents are to be taken to a lawyer for appropriate advice and assistance.

WARNING TO CUSTOMERS!

SOME COMMISSIONERS HAVE IN THE PAST CLAIMED TO BE ABLE TO SIGN DOCUMENTS THAT THEY COULD NOT SIGN. BE AWARE THAT IF YOU OBTAIN SIGNATURE FROM A COMMISSIONER WHEN INSTEAD A LAWYER SHOULD HAVE SIGNED, THAT DOCUMENT IS NOT NOTARIZED AND THAT SIGNATURE HAS NO VALUE. IF YOU ARE MADE TO BELIEVE THAT A COMMISSIONER WAS ALSO ABLE TO OFFER A SERVICE THAT IS OFFERED ONLY BY A NOTARY, MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ACTUAL LAWYERS!