Hi Dennis - I'm in the same boat as you - deceased mother born in Canada (mine in Quebec), and I'm starting the process of applying for Canadian citizenship - I'm American born. I hope to move to Ontario in the next 4-5 years, once my house is paid off.
Per this:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/CIT0001ETOC.asp#CIT0001E4
Certified true copies
To have a photocopy of a document certified, an authorized person must compare the original document to the photocopy and must print the following on the photocopy:
“I certify that this is a true copy of the original document”,
the name of the original document,
the date of the certification,
his or her name,
his or her official position or title, and
his or her signature.
Who can certify copies?
Persons authorized to certify copies include the following:
In Canada:
a notary public
a commissioner of oaths
a commissioner of taking affidavits
Authority to certify varies by province and territory. Consult your local provincial or territorial authorities.
Outside Canada:
a notary public
Authority to certify international documents varies by country. Consult your local authorities.
Family members may not certify copies of your documents. Family member is defined as being a: parent, guardian, sibling, spouse, common-law partner, grandparent, child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew and first cousin.
The application for citizenship certificate only says about the birth certificate that it has to be "issued by the appropriate provincial or territorial authority".
I don't know for sure but I'm doubting that a JPG can be certified. Here is info on where you can order a birth certificate from Service Ontario, i.e. the government of Ontario:
https://www.orgforms.gov.on.ca/eForms/start.do?lang=en&_ga=1.96682520.642966292.1478302134
You can apply for a birth certificate for:
yourself; if you are at least 13 years old
your child; if you are named as a parent on your child’s original birth registration
a child; if you are the legal guardian and can provide court documents proving that you have custody of the child. If applying online you will need to submit the supporting documentation together with a letter quoting the online order number, by fax or mail
a deceased person; if you are the next of kin, executor or estate administrator. You will need to provide a death certificate or a funeral director’s statement of death, and any other documentation requested by ServiceOntario. You can only get a long form birth certificate for a deceased person. If applying online you will need to submit the supplementary documents together with a letter quoting the online order number, by fax or mail
Note: If you are the next of kin, executor, or estate administrator and have to provide one of the documents listed above, the document must be in French or English or translated by an accredited translator.
Here's the link re the latter
https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-or-replace-ontario-birth-certificate?_ga=1.92530330.642966292.1478302134
Hope this helps. Best of luck to you!
- Maggie
