School boards must allow local police to access campuses and school resource officer programs for nine prescribed activities

A new regulation under the Education Act sets out the specific circumstances in which school boards must permit local police services to access school premises and participate in school programs. Nine categories of activities are covered, including school resource officer programs, emergency preparedness drills, road safety programs, career days, and community events. Where a local police service offers a school resource officer program in the board's primary language of instruction, the board must enter into a memorandum of understanding with that service, inform students and families about the program, and engage the community in its implementation. Boards cannot condition police participation on prior approval of program materials, though they may request to review materials in advance. If a board makes good-faith efforts to collaborate with police but the police service does not reasonably participate, the board is deemed to have met its obligations.

Ontario Place zoning order updated: Block 3 expanded with new Theatre Parcel and East Plaza zones, bridges and uses added

The zoning order for Ontario Place has been significantly amended to expand and redefine Block 3, splitting it into two distinct sub-areas: the Theatre Parcel (where a building footprint of up to 15,250 sq m and a maximum height of 40 metres is permitted) and the East Plaza (up to 4,000 sq m of building coverage, maximum 6 metres and one storey, with exceptions near certain lot lines). Block 3 no longer has a gross floor area cap. New permitted uses on Block 3 include automated banking machines, performing arts studios, and production studios, and both Block 1 and Block 2 may now accommodate uses ancillary to Block 3. Up to two bridges may connect Block 3 to Block 1 or Block 2, with specific width, height, enclosure, and use restrictions for each bridge. Site plan control under the City of Toronto Act now also excludes Block 3. The term 'seasonal buildings and structures' has been renamed 'seasonal buildings, structures and vehicles' and take-out eating establishments are now listed separately from eating establishments throughout the permitted-uses list. Operators and developers planning activity on Ontario Place land should review the updated block boundaries, building coverage limits, height rules, bridge provisions, and permitted-use lists to ensure compliance.

Ticket reseller penalties now tiered by severity and repeat offences, with higher maximums

Ontario's administrative penalty rules for ticket businesses under the Ticket Sales Act have been significantly restructured. Violations are now classified as minor, moderate, or major, each carrying different base penalty amounts — ranging from $300/$3,000 (minor) up to $1,000/$10,000 (major) for non-corporations and corporations respectively. Repeat violations of the same provision escalate automatically: a second offence triggers 1.5× the base amount, and a third or subsequent offence triggers 2.5× the base amount. However, if 24 months pass without any order for a given violation, the slate resets and prior orders are not counted. The list of covered provisions has also been expanded, adding new ticketing rules around resale, fees, and disclosure requirements. Ticket businesses should review which of their obligations fall into major or moderate categories and take particular care to avoid repeat violations within that 24-month window.

More ticket-resale rules now trigger administrative penalties under the Ticket Sales Act

The regulation that lists which Ticket Sales Act provisions can result in administrative penalties has been significantly expanded. Previously, only a handful of provisions — covering ticket reseller disclosures, fees, and certain pricing rules — were on the list. The updated regulation adds many more provisions, including rules on ticket reseller registration (s. 2), additional disclosure and conduct obligations (ss. 6 and 8), and new provisions under s. 8.1. This means regulators now have broader authority to issue administrative penalties for violations across a wider range of ticket-resale obligations. Businesses operating as ticket resellers, operators of ticket resale platforms, and others subject to the Act should review their compliance with all listed provisions, as breaches of any of them can now attract financial penalties without a court process.

Ticket Sales Act added to Ontario's regulatory modernization designation lists

The Ticket Sales Act, 2017 has been added in full to all three designation schedules under Ontario's regulatory modernization framework. This means the entire Ticket Sales Act is now subject to the streamlined compliance and enforcement tools available under that framework, including provisions related to inspections, compliance orders, and publication of compliance information. Businesses and individuals who sell tickets — such as primary sellers, resellers, and ticket marketplace operators — may now be subject to those modernized regulatory tools. Anyone operating in the ticket sales space should be aware that oversight of this legislation can now be exercised through these expanded mechanisms.

Ontario's public enforcement registry now covers ticket sellers under the Ticket Sales Act, 2017

The Consumer Protection Act's public record requirements have been extended to cover ticket businesses regulated under the Ticket Sales Act, 2017. The Ministry must now publish details of enforcement orders, voluntary compliance undertakings, Superior Court orders, and administrative penalty orders issued against ticket businesses, along with the business's name, address, and contact information. Consumer complaints about ticket transactions and inspector notices of contravention issued to ticket businesses also now trigger public disclosure requirements. Ticket businesses and the public should be aware that enforcement actions taken against ticket sellers will appear in the publicly accessible registry maintained by the Ministry.

Maximum administrative penalty for ticket businesses doubled from $10,000 to $25,000

A previously pending amendment to the Ticket Sales Act has now come into force, raising the maximum administrative penalty that can be imposed on a ticket business from $10,000 to $25,000. This change applies to ticket businesses found to have contravened prescribed provisions of the Act or its regulations. The penalty operates on an absolute liability basis, meaning it applies even if the business took reasonable steps to prevent the violation or acted on a mistaken but honest belief. Ticket businesses should review their compliance practices and internal controls to reduce the risk of violations, given the higher financial exposure now in effect.

Parking exemption for long-term care facility in Port Hope zoning order has been revoked

The provision that waived the minimum parking requirement for a long-term care facility on this site has been formally revoked and removed from the regulation. All other site-specific zoning rules remain in place: accessory buildings with waste storage must be in a side or rear yard, loading space may be in an exterior side yard, and the Institutional–Urban zone standards apply with a maximum building height of 26 metres for a long-term care facility. Developers or operators planning a long-term care facility on this site should now check whether standard municipal parking requirements under the Port Hope Zoning By-law apply to their project. The change also adds regulatory source citations to each remaining subsection, which is a housekeeping update with no substantive effect.

Boundary maps updated for three Northwestern Ontario local roads areas

The regulation has been updated to reference new Ministry of Transportation boundary plans for three local roads areas in Northwestern Ontario: Lyon (Township of Lyon, Thunder Bay District), Stirling (Township of Stirling, Thunder Bay District), and Van Horne (Township of Van Horne, Kenora District). Each area's description now points to a newly filed plan rather than the previously referenced plan. The practical effect is that the official mapped boundaries for these local roads areas have been revised. Local roads boards, property owners, and municipal administrators in these townships should consult the updated Ministry of Transportation plans to confirm the current boundaries of each area.

CVOR certificate rules updated with French-language term labels and future amendments flagged for mid-2026

This amendment adds official French-language equivalents (in parentheses) to key defined terms in the CVOR certificate regulation, such as "véhicule utilitaire" for commercial motor vehicle and "vérificateur" for auditor. It also inserts a series of transitional notes throughout the regulation signalling specific provisions that will change when a future legislative amendment takes effect. Those future changes include: removing the December 1, 2008 issuance date qualifier from CVOR expiry rules, expanding the notices that can be served on operators (adding notice of certificate amendments with new or varied terms and conditions), and making minor wording corrections in enforcement-related provisions. Commercial motor vehicle operators and their compliance teams should be aware that the CVOR certificate framework will shift in the near future and should monitor for those changes coming into effect.

New Highway Traffic Act offences added for CVOR certificate holders and motor vehicle registrar non-compliance

This amendment adds two sets of new ticketable offences to the certificate-of-offence proceedings regulation. A new Schedule 44.1 lists three offences under Ontario Regulation 424/97 for CVOR (Commercial Vehicle Operator's Registration) certificate holders who fail to notify of a change in name, address, or officers and directors. Separately, Schedule 43 is updated to replace existing items with a single offence for failing to comply with a requirement of the Registrar of Motor Vehicles. Both changes are staged to take effect on a future date tied to the Safer Streets, Stronger Communities Act, 2024. Commercial vehicle operators and their organizations should review their CVOR notification obligations and ensure compliance processes are in place.

Small pension payout threshold to double from $1,500 to $3,000 under Ontario pension rules

Ontario's General Regulation under the Pension Benefits Act is being amended to double the dollar threshold used wherever the $1,500 figure appears, replacing it with $3,000. This threshold typically governs when a pension plan administrator can pay out a small benefit as a lump sum rather than keeping it in the plan. Plan administrators and sponsors should review their plan documents and administrative processes to ensure they are ready to apply the higher $3,000 limit when the change takes effect. Members with small pension entitlements near the current threshold may be affected by how and when their benefit is paid out.

Chiefs of police can now formally request temporary help from RCMP, other Canadian police services, Coast Guard, or Armed Forces

A new provision specifies which outside bodies an Ontario police chief may formally request temporary assistance from under the Community Safety and Policing Act. The approved sources are the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, any provincial, municipal, or First Nation police service from another Canadian jurisdiction, the Canadian Coast Guard, and the Canadian Armed Forces. This expands the regulatory framework governing how Ontario police services can bring in outside support during emergencies or situations requiring additional resources. Police chiefs, municipal police service boards, and First Nation police services should be aware that these external assistance arrangements now have an explicit regulatory basis.

Ontario police chiefs can now request out-of-province backup under defined conditions

The regulation now formally defines two terms used elsewhere in policing rules — 'active attacker' and 'extreme incident' — and spells out when and how a police chief may ask for temporary assistance from a police service in another Canadian province or territory. A chief may make that request when they believe their own service lacks sufficient resources for timely, adequate policing, but only after making reasonable efforts to get help from Ontario police services first. The 'Ontario first' requirement is waived entirely when the situation involves an active attacker, an extreme incident, or a declared emergency. Police services, chiefs of police, and their legal and operational teams should review how this fits into their existing mutual aid and contingency planning.

Ontario trapping rules updated: new beaver damage authorization, gender-neutral language, and firearm clarifications

Several changes are being made to Ontario's trapping regulation in two stages. First, the Minister will gain authority to issue special authorizations allowing licensed trappers to harass, capture, or kill beaver outside the normal open season when beaver are causing damage to property or infrastructure that cannot be addressed through other means under the Act — this applies to specified Crown land or, with written permission, other land. Second, a series of housekeeping amendments replace gendered pronouns ("he or she," "his or her") with gender-neutral language throughout the regulation, without changing any substantive rights or obligations. Third, the nighttime firearm rules for farmers dispatching trapped furbearing mammals are reworded to refer to any firearm that "exclusively uses rim-fire cartridges" rather than specifically a "rim-fire rifle," which may affect what firearms qualify. Trappers, head trappers, apprentice trappers, and farmers who trap should review the updated conditions to ensure their practices remain compliant.

Wildlife possession and fur-trade rules updated: Registry replaced, records expanded, and beaver castoreum trade permitted

A set of staged amendments updates Ontario's rules on possessing, buying and selling wildlife carcasses, pelts, hides, and cast antlers. The online Ministry Registry system for submitting notices of possession will be replaced by a Ministry-established format; the Ministry will issue confirmation of receipt, and people must keep that confirmation while the carcass or pelt is in their possession. Fur dealer record-keeping requirements are expanded — dealers must now capture licence details of the person they bought from, flag farmed-animal pelts, and retain records for five years instead of two after licence expiry. New provisions explicitly permit licensed fur dealers to buy and sell untreated beaver castoreum, and allow personal-use buyers to purchase it without a separate licence. Several provisions also update gendered pronouns to gender-neutral language throughout the regulation.

Effective date for two hunting tag rule changes pushed back to January 1, 2027

Two upcoming changes to how hunters must handle invalidated tags — covering possession of untagged animals and the rules for keeping a tag on a carcass until processing — have had their effective dates shifted from July 1, 2026 to January 1, 2027. The substantive rules themselves are unchanged: hunters will still be required to keep a physical tag or digital label attached to an animal from the kill site until the animal reaches the processing site and is being prepared for long-term storage. Hunters and outfitters who were preparing for a mid-2026 compliance deadline now have until the start of 2027 before the new tag-and-label wording takes effect. The change also adds a reference to an additional amending regulation alongside the previously cited one.

Ontario seizes control of Billy Bishop Airport lands from City of Toronto and bans further city dealings

Ontario has enacted a new law that allows the provincial Crown to take ownership of specified Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport lands and all buildings, structures, fixtures and improvements on those lands currently owned or controlled by the City of Toronto. Once land is prescribed by the Minister, ownership vests in the Crown and the City loses all authority over it. Effective immediately upon the Act receiving First Reading (retroactively), the City is prohibited from selling, encumbering, or otherwise dealing with any of the identified airport properties, and any attempt to do so is void. The City is also deemed to have assigned its rights and obligations under the 1983 Tripartite Agreement (between Canada, Toronto and the Toronto Port Authority) to the Crown. The Crown must pay the City market-value compensation based on an appraisal, with disputes resolved by binding arbitration, but nearly all other legal claims against the Crown arising from this Act are extinguished. City of Toronto officials should immediately notify the Minister of any pending dealings involving these lands and review their obligations under the Tripartite Agreement.

Ontario creates new provincial rules requiring transit systems in the Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area to align fares, payment, and accessibility services

A new Ontario law establishes provincial authority over local transit systems operating in Toronto, Hamilton, and the four surrounding regional municipalities (Durham, Halton, Peel, York). The Minister of Transportation can now set fare structures, require all covered transit systems to join a common fare payment platform, designate cross-boundary priority routes with minimum service standards, and apportion fare revenue among systems sharing a geographic zone. Specialized transit operators serving people with disabilities must join a unified trip booking system and, on request, provide door-to-door service beyond their usual boundaries without requiring a transfer, at no charge for a support person. Municipalities and their transit agencies must file compliance reports and respond to ministerial information requests; no private lawsuits may be brought against governments, agencies, or Metrolinx arising from actions taken under this law.

Ontario puts scholarship fund for public-safety officers' survivors on a statutory footing

Ontario has enacted a stand-alone law to continue and govern the Constable Joe MacDonald Public Safety Officers' Survivors Scholarship Fund, which previously existed only by Order in Council. The fund provides scholarships—covering tuition and living allowances—for post-secondary education to the surviving spouses and children of police officers, First Nation Officers, firefighters, correctional officers, probation officers, and parole officers who died in the line of duty or in other circumstances set by regulation. The Solicitor General is responsible for granting scholarships, with input from a volunteer advisory committee that reviews applications and makes recommendations. Applicants must apply in a form approved by the Minister and meet criteria set by regulation; recipients must also continue to meet eligibility requirements to keep receiving the scholarship. The existing fund balance—including the original $5 million principal and accrued interest—transfers automatically to the new statutory fund, and Treasury Board can top it up as needed.

Upcoming rules lock water and wastewater public corporations to public ownership and protect employees during asset transfers

A set of amendments — not yet in force — will tighten the rules governing water and wastewater public corporations (WWPCs) in Ontario once activated by order. When the changes take effect, WWPCs may only be designated if all shares are held by a municipality, Ontario, Canada, or their agents, and shares can only be issued or transferred to those same parties. A new asset-transfer restriction will prevent a WWPC from disposing of water or sewage infrastructure unless its board first passes a resolution declaring the asset surplus. Municipalities making transfer by-laws will be required to set an effective date for each transfer, and debenture-related liabilities will be excluded from those transfers. Employees moved to a WWPC through a transfer by-law will have continuous employment, will not be considered terminated or constructively dismissed, and the corporation will be treated as a successor employer for labour-relations and pay-equity purposes. The Minister will also gain new regulation-making powers covering debt obligations linked to transferred capital works and the legal effect of transfer by-laws on contracts and rights. None of these changes are in force yet; each takes effect on a date to be set by order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

Police record check providers must now meet prescribed service standards, with liability shields for non-compliance

The Act now requires police record check providers to comply with any service standards set by regulation, including potential timeframes for completing checks. A new section explicitly blocks most legal claims — including damages, injunctions, and arbitral awards — against the Crown or any other person if those standards are not met; judicial review, constitutional remedies, and proceedings under the Act itself remain available. The Minister gains new regulation-making powers to set those standards and require providers to report on their compliance publicly. Separately, the exemption that previously excluded children's aid society background checks from the Act's scope has been repealed, meaning those searches are no longer carved out. The language describing which summary convictions are withheld after five years has been clarified to cover offences prosecutable only by summary conviction proceedings.

Public Inquiries Act updated to flag two pending expansions of inquiry scope for Toronto and Ontario municipalities

Two future amendments have been flagged in the consolidated text of the Public Inquiries Act, 2009, though neither is yet in force. When proclaimed, the first change will add a new City of Toronto Act provision (s. 160.0.2(3)) to the list of inquiries covered by the Act's procedural rules. The second will do the same for a new Municipal Act, 2001 provision (s. 223.4.0.2(3)). Until proclamation, the current list of covered inquiries remains unchanged. Organizations subject to integrity commissioner or similar municipal inquiry processes under either the City of Toronto Act or the Municipal Act should watch for the proclamation date, as it will bring additional inquiry types under the Act's procedural framework.

Metrolinx can request voluntary Building Code assessments and inspections for provincial transit projects

A new section (not yet in force) allows Metrolinx (the Corporation) to voluntarily notify a municipality's chief building official when it plans to construct or demolish a building as part of a provincial transit project. The chief building official must then assess the proposal against the Building Code and related design-professional requirements, and provide a written report within a prescribed period — but the assessment does not cover zoning or site-plan compliance. Metrolinx can also invite inspections at prescribed construction stages and request a written opinion on occupancy readiness. Importantly, the Building Code Act itself does not apply to Metrolinx; this is a voluntary advisory process only, and municipalities bear liability for tortious acts by their officials in carrying it out. New regulation-making powers are added to set fees, timelines, report formats, and exemptions tied to this process.

Toronto's code-of-conduct and accountability rules for councillors overhauled, green-roof and zoning provisions repealed

Several significant changes have been made to the City of Toronto Act. The City's power to require buildings to meet environmental or green-roof construction standards under its own by-laws (section 108.1) has been repealed, and a clarification added that construction standards — including environmental standards — fall under general site-plan exclusions rather than a separate by-law power. The section that explicitly confirmed Toronto's authority to regulate minimum parcel area, density and height in zoning by-laws (section 113(1)) has also been repealed. On the accountability side, a new multi-step process is being introduced (not yet in force) for removing a councillor or local board member from their seat: the City's Integrity Commissioner can recommend removal to the provincial Integrity Commissioner of Ontario, who then conducts an independent inquiry and, if criteria are met, reports to council; a unanimous vote of eligible councillors is required to declare the seat vacant and trigger a four-year disqualification. The code of conduct will shift from a City-established document to one prescribed by the province through regulation. City councillors, local board members, developers seeking site-plan approval, and anyone engaged in municipal accountability proceedings are most affected. Those relying on section 108.1 by-law powers or the section 113(1) zoning authority should review how those matters are now addressed under the general Planning Act and building-code frameworks.

Ontario drinking water law updated to recognize new water and wastewater public corporations and streamline consent rules

Ontario has amended the Safe Drinking Water Act to expand the definition of 'municipal drinking water system' to include systems owned by corporations designated as water and wastewater public corporations under the new Water and Wastewater Public Corporations Act, 2025 — though this particular change takes effect only when a separate provision of that Act comes into force. Separately, a new deemed-consent rule is now in force: if a person obtains municipal consent for a water public utility under the relevant provision of the Municipal Act, 2001, that consent automatically counts as written consent under the Safe Drinking Water Act, removing the need to seek a second, parallel approval. The deemed-consent provision also clarifies that certain liability and abandonment rules do not apply to these deemed consents. Operators of water systems that rely on municipal consents, and any corporations that may be designated as water and wastewater public corporations, should review how these changes affect their approval and consent obligations.

Non-profit retirement homes are now exempt from municipal development charges in Ontario

A new exemption removes development charges for retirement home projects developed by provincially or federally incorporated non-profit corporations in good standing. Any development charge that became payable before the new provision took effect is not covered by the exemption, but future instalment payments that would otherwise have come due afterward are also relieved. Non-profit operators planning or currently building retirement home facilities should review whether their projects qualify and confirm their corporate status under either the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010 or the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act. Related rules on payment timing for front-ending agreements have also been updated to align with revised instalment provisions. Organizations that may qualify should verify their standing under the applicable not-for-profit statute and consult with their municipality about how the exemption applies to charges already levied.

Ontario removes two regulation-making powers under Building Code Act and clarifies that municipal environmental bylaws can coexist with the Building Code

Two previously existing regulation-making powers have been repealed: the authority to prescribe specific building code provisions and conditions/limits for the purposes of related municipal-act sections no longer exists under the Building Code Act. Separately, a new interpretive provision confirms that municipal bylaws governing construction or demolition of buildings — including bylaws that set construction standards to protect or conserve the environment — are among the bylaws that can apply alongside the Building Code. This means municipalities have explicit legislative backing when they enact environmental construction standards, even though the Building Code still prevails if there is a direct conflict on covered subject-matter. Builders, developers, and municipalities involved in construction projects should review whether local environmental construction bylaws now have a clearer legal footing and adjust compliance processes accordingly.

Coroner's inquests now ban unauthorized photos, recordings and dissemination — with fines up to $25,000

A new section of the Coroners Act prohibits anyone from taking photos, audio or video recordings at a coroner's inquest, of people entering or leaving the inquest room, or of people in the building who appear to be attending the inquest. It is also prohibited to publish, broadcast or otherwise share any material taken in violation of these rules. Limited exceptions exist: unobtrusive note-taking and sketching are still allowed, and audio recordings for note-supplementing purposes are permitted for parties with standing and journalists if the presiding coroner authorizes it. The coroner can also authorize recordings for presenting evidence, with consent of all parties, or for ceremonial proceedings. Anyone who contravenes these rules faces a fine of up to $25,000, up to six months imprisonment, or both. Separately, the Chief Forensic Pathologist's training responsibilities have been reorganized to distinguish postgraduate training of new pathologists from continuing education programs for those already providing services.

Bail Act certificate-of-lien references in the Execution Act will be updated when a future order is made

Two provisions in the Execution Act that refer to a 'certificate of lien under the Bail Act' are set to be amended to say 'continued under section 8.4 of the Bail Act' instead. This is a technical cross-reference correction tied to changes made to the Bail Act itself. The amendments are not yet in force — they will take effect on a date set by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. No action is required now, but sheriffs and those managing writs of execution or certificates of lien should be aware the wording of these provisions will change once that order is made.

Ontario bans breeding cats and dogs for research, tightens rules on invasive animal research and sharply raises penalties

A set of amendments (not yet in force) makes several significant changes to how animal research and supply facilities operate in Ontario. Supply facility operators will be prohibited from breeding cats or dogs for research purposes. A new section restricts invasive medical research on cats, dogs and other prescribed animals to registered research facilities, and only where an animal care committee has reviewed and approved the specific research proposal under criteria set by regulation. Animal care committees gain expanded duties, including formal written approval of research proposals and record-keeping obligations for operators. The rules for selling or transferring animals out of a research facility are broadened—any transfer now requires a written procedure approved by an animal care committee, not just transfers of dogs and cats to other facilities. Penalties are substantially increased: individuals convicted of major offences (such as operating without a licence, performing unauthorized invasive research, or failing to anaesthetize animals) can face fines up to $260,000 and up to two years imprisonment for repeat offences; corporations face fines up to $1,000,000. Operators, animal care committees, inspectors and anyone involved in animal research or supply should review the new requirements well before the proclaimed in-force dates.

Ontario Planning Act overhauled: standardized official plan structure, new EV and parking rules, expanded County of Simcoe planning changes

Ontario's Planning Act has been significantly amended by the Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act, 2026. The most sweeping change (not yet in force) requires all Ontario municipalities and planning boards to rewrite their official plans using a mandatory standardized structure — prescribed chapter titles, section numbering, schedule formats, and a fixed set of land use designations (e.g., Neighbourhoods, Mixed Use Areas, Employment Areas). Larger urban centres face a 2028 deadline; all others and planning boards face 2029. Separately, zoning by-laws and site plan agreements can no longer require owners to provide electric vehicle supply equipment in connection with parking facilities, and there is a new cap on minimum lot size requirements for urban residential land outside the Greenbelt. The County of Simcoe is being phased in as an upper-tier municipality without planning responsibilities, initially for Bradford West Gwillimbury, Innisfil and New Tecumseth, with broader expansion to follow by order-in-council. Site plan control provisions have also been narrowed: references to sustainable design elements on adjoining highways are replaced with a health, safety, accessibility and adjoining-lands test, and certain notice requirements for ministerial plan orders have been repealed.

Ontario adds roadside licence suspensions and vehicle impoundments for dangerous driving, careless driving, and distracted driving by commercial vehicles

A package of pending amendments to the Highway Traffic Act introduces several new enforcement tools, all awaiting proclamation. Police will gain authority to immediately suspend a driver's licence for 90 days and impound a vehicle for 7 days when there are reasonable grounds to believe the driver violated the Criminal Code's dangerous operation offence (new section 48.5); a separate appeal route to the Licence Appeal Tribunal will be available. Conviction for dangerous operation causing death will trigger an indefinite licence suspension under a new section, with early reinstatement possible after at least 25 years. Roadside administrative licence suspensions of 7 or 30 days will also apply to careless driving and careless driving causing bodily harm or death respectively, with no pre-suspension hearing. Fines for driving while suspended increase significantly for first and repeat offenders, and commercial motor vehicle operators caught using hand-held or display-screen devices face doubled fines and longer licence suspensions than other drivers. The short-term vehicle impoundment rules for driving while suspended are also being updated to escalate impoundment periods (14, 30, or 45 days) based on the owner's prior impoundment history, and a new Tribunal appeal route is added for those impoundments. Several CVOR-related amendments for commercial operators take effect July 1, 2026, allowing the Registrar broader authority to attach, vary, or remove certificate conditions.

Upcoming wording fix to how Bail Act liens bind registered land — not yet in force

A future amendment (not yet active) will update the language describing when a certificate of lien under the Bail Act can bind registered land. The current text refers broadly to 'any certificate of lien under the Bail Act'; once the new wording takes effect, it will narrow this to certificates of lien 'continued under section 8.4 of the Bail Act.' This is a technical clarification that aligns the Land Titles Act with changes made to the Bail Act. The amendment has no practical effect until proclaimed in force by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. Parties involved in real estate transactions or execution proceedings where Bail Act liens are a factor should watch for the proclamation date.

Ontario Bail Act updated: new security deposit rules, lien changes, and debt collection powers added (pending proclamation)

A set of amendments to Ontario's Bail Act has been consolidated into the legislation, though most new provisions are not yet in force and will take effect on a date set by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. When proclaimed, the changes will shift how bail-related liens are registered — moving from delivery to sheriffs toward direct registration in land registry offices — and will add a new requirement for accused persons and sureties to pay specified amounts as a security deposit when a release order is made. A new debt collection mechanism will allow the Minister of Finance to pursue unpaid bail-related debts using Ministry of Revenue Act collection tools, subject to a memorandum of understanding. Existing liens delivered to sheriffs before the new rules come into force will expire two years after proclamation unless a writ of fieri facias is filed in time. A five-year limitation period for offences under the Act is also being introduced. Sureties named in release orders where a certificate of default has been endorsed will be added to the group required to provide information under the Act.

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program rules consolidated: old applicant categories removed, broader eligibility language now in force

Ontario has updated the procedural regulation governing its Immigrant Nominee Program by removing several sections that listed specific applicant categories (foreign worker, international student with a job offer, in-demand skills, entrepreneur, and others) and replacing them with category-neutral language. The expression-of-interest and invitation-to-apply process now applies to any applicant who is required to receive an invitation before filing, rather than being tied to named categories. Similarly, the Express Entry notification-of-interest process now applies to any category requiring such a notification, not just the previously listed human capital priorities, French-speaking skilled worker, and skilled trades streams. Employer registration and job-offer submission requirements are streamlined: employers must register with the director and submit a job offer before an employment position approval is sought, and applicants who need an approved job offer cannot apply for a certificate of nomination without one from a registered employer. Applicants already in the program or planning to apply should review Ontario Regulation 422/17 (General) for updated eligibility criteria, as the detailed category definitions now sit there rather than in this procedural regulation.

Protection corridor maps updated for SickKids and St. Michael's Hospital heliport flight paths

The zoning order that restricts building heights near two Toronto hospital heliports has been updated to reference new official corridor maps. The map numbers defining the protected air corridors for The Hospital for Sick Children and St. Michael's Hospital have changed, meaning the geographic boundaries of the height-restriction zones are now determined by the newly filed maps rather than the previous ones. Anyone planning construction, installing cranes, antennas, or other structures near these hospitals should consult the updated maps (now numbered 391 and 392, filed at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing at 777 Bay Street) to determine whether their project falls within a restricted area. Two housekeeping provisions in the regulation have also been formally revoked. Developers, architects, and project managers with active or planned projects in the vicinity of either hospital heliport should verify compliance against the updated corridor boundaries.

Ontario Trillium Benefit lump-sum payment threshold raised from $360 to $500

The regulation has been updated to raise the threshold below which the Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) can be paid as a single lump sum rather than monthly installments. Under the new rules applying to benefit years based on 2024 and later tax years, individuals whose total annual OTB entitlement is more than $2 but no more than $500 may receive their benefit in one payment instead of spread across 12 months. The previous $360 ceiling continues to apply for benefit calculations tied to earlier tax years. Individuals who were previously receiving monthly payments because their benefit exceeded $360 may now receive a single annual payment if their entitlement falls at or below the new $500 cap. No action is required from recipients — the payment method is determined administratively by the Ontario Minister.

New rules set out how Ontario's CODE bargaining committee is structured, governed, and how it ratifies collective agreements

A new regulation establishes the formal structure of the CODE Bargaining Committee, which represents school boards as employers during central collective bargaining under the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act. The committee will have 16 elected members drawn from chief executive officers of CODE-represented school boards, plus any Minister-appointed members and a non-voting executive director who acts as secretary. The regulation spells out how members are elected and replaced, how meetings are run (including quorum and voting rules), and how the committee exercises its powers by resolution. On ratification of central bargaining settlements, the committee must first approve a memorandum before a weighted vote of affected school board chief executive officers is held—abstentions and non-votes count as votes in favour. Financial rules require that employer-association fees be kept in a separate account and used only for collective bargaining functions. A transitional 'interim committee' applies until the committee itself, with Ministerial approval, fixes a date to move to the permanent structure, with initial membership reflecting current provincial supervisory appointments at several named school boards.

Six union central bargaining tables formally established for Ontario school board negotiations

The regulation now designates six employee bargaining agencies — CUPE, ETFO, OSSTF, OPSEU, EWAO-ATEO, and OCEW — as the official representatives for central bargaining covering all school board employees in their respective bargaining units. For each union or union council, a matching central table is established, and employer-side bargaining agencies (councils drawn from francophone public, francophone Catholic, and English-language school board associations) are designated where required. Each central table will conduct province-wide bargaining on behalf of the affected employees and school boards. School boards and unions covered by these designations must engage through these central tables for the 2026 round of collective bargaining. Individual school boards and local union affiliates should verify which central table applies to their bargaining units and coordinate with their designated employer or employee bargaining agency accordingly.

School board central bargaining fees: 'trustees' associations' renamed to 'employers' associations,' English-public boards to pay CODE

This amendment makes two main changes to the central bargaining fee rules for Ontario school boards. First, all references to 'trustees' association' have been replaced with 'employers' association' throughout the regulation, covering fee payment obligations, financial statement requirements, and consequences for non-payment. Second, for English-language public district school boards, the fee recipient is changing from the Ontario Public School Boards' Association to the Council of Ontario Directors of Education (CODE), with school authorities also directed to pay their annual $1,000 fee to CODE instead of OPSBA. A future amendment (taking effect September 1, 2026) will also remove the separate paragraph covering English-language separate district school boards from the fee schedule. School boards and their finance teams should update their records to reflect the new payee names and terminology when making fee payments and processing financial statements.

Employer bargaining agency for designated school boards renamed from OPSBA to CODE

The regulation has been updated to replace the name of the designated employer bargaining agency for four small northern and separate school boards. Where the Ontario Public School Boards' Association (OPSBA) was previously named as the employer bargaining agency for these boards, that role is now assigned to the Council of Ontario Directors of Education (CODE). The four affected school boards are the James Bay Lowlands Secondary School Board, the Moose Factory Island District School Area Board, the Moosonee District School Area Board, and the Protestant Separate School Board of the Town of Penetanguishene. Administrators and labour relations staff at these boards should confirm that collective bargaining processes and related communications now flow through CODE rather than OPSBA.

Ontario bans cat declawing, dog devocalization, and ear cropping except for medical necessity

A new regulation under Ontario's Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act formally prohibits three surgical procedures on companion animals: declawing (onychectomy) on cats, devocalization on dogs, and ear cropping on dogs. These procedures are now off-limits as routine or cosmetic practices. The only exception allows a veterinarian to perform one of these procedures if they determine it is medically necessary to treat an injury or disease, and they must document that determination in the animal's records. Veterinary clinics and animal owners should be aware that requesting or performing these procedures outside the medical exception exposes them to liability under the Act. Anyone currently offering or planning these procedures for non-medical reasons should review their practices immediately.

Transit special constables given enforcement powers under Ontario's illegal-substance consumption ban

A new regulation under Ontario's law restricting public consumption of illegal substances designates certain special constables as "officers" with enforcement authority under that Act. Specifically, this applies to special constables employed by Metrolinx and those employed by operators of local transit systems, provided their employer qualifies as a "special constable employer" under provincial policing legislation. In practical terms, these transit special constables can now enforce the rules against public illegal-substance consumption on transit property and vehicles. Transit operators and their special constable workforces should confirm whether their organization meets the "special constable employer" definition and update training and policies accordingly.

Homeless shelters, retirement homes, and long-term care homes are exempt from the illegal drug activity landlord rules

A new regulation carves out three categories of premises from the definition of

New regulation names specific federal drug offence as trigger for Ontario's illegal drug premises law

A new Ontario regulation identifies one specific federal offence — contravening the provision of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act that relates to certain drug-related activity — as a "prescribed offence" under Ontario's Measures Respecting Premises with Illegal Drug Activity Act, 2025. This designation is significant because that provincial Act allows authorities to take action against premises where prescribed offences have occurred. Property owners, landlords, and operators of commercial or residential spaces should be aware that a conviction or finding related to this federal offence can now trigger Ontario's premises-based enforcement tools. Businesses and property owners who lease or manage spaces should review their tenant screening and lease compliance practices in light of this connection between federal drug offences and provincial premises powers.

Use-of-force training rules split for police officers and Niagara Parks constables; 'PepperBalls' replaced with 'PAVA projectile launchers'; board member training clock clarified

The regulation separates what were combined training requirements for police officers and Niagara Parks constables into two distinct subsections. For police officers, the exemption from non-firearm weapon training now excludes conducted energy weapons only; the previous reference to 'PepperBalls' is removed. For Niagara Parks constables and police service special constables, the same exemption now references 'PAVA projectile launchers' instead of 'PepperBalls,' aligning the terminology used across both groups. Separately, the six-month window for police service board and committee members to complete required training is now measured from the day the person became a member, rather than from the day of their formal appointment — a distinction that could affect how the deadline is calculated in practice. Police services, constable employers, and board administrators should review how they track training deadlines and ensure their policies reflect the updated weapon terminology.

Police can now share photos of charged or convicted individuals when keeping the public informed

The regulation governing what personal information police may disclose to the public has been expanded to explicitly permit chiefs of police or their designates to release images of individuals who have been charged with, convicted of, or found guilty of an offence. Previously, the list of disclosable information covered personal identifiers, offence details, court outcomes, custody status, and release dates, but did not mention images. This change adds images as a permitted category alongside those existing items. Police services and their legal or compliance teams should review their disclosure practices and policies to reflect that images are now an expressly authorized category of public disclosure.

Police service board member conduct rules updated: criminal charge disclosure and membership language clarified

Two practical changes have been made to the code of conduct for police service board members. First, the trigger for the criminal-offence conduct rule and the criminal-charge disclosure obligation has been reworded from 'after they were appointed' to 'after they became a member,' which broadens the timing reference beyond formal appointment. Second, the rule on who must receive a member's disclosure of criminal charges or findings of guilt has been expanded: the head of a municipal council must now disclose to the full municipal council (rather than to 'the person or body that appointed them'), while Lieutenant Governor in Council appointees continue to disclose to the Minister, and all other members disclose to their appointing person or body. Police service board members — especially heads of municipal council — should review who they are required to notify if charges are laid against them.

Major case management rules updated: file co-ordinator data-entry duty narrowed, new manager review duty added for non-threshold investigations

Two substantive changes affect how police services manage major case investigations. First, the file co-ordinator's information management duties have been narrowed: the requirement to ensure all investigative information is *entered* in the approved software has been removed from the subsection covering information management duties (though a separate duty to ensure entry in accordance with the regulation remains). Second, the major case manager overseeing a non-threshold investigation now has an explicit additional duty to review all investigative information entered into the approved software to check its accuracy and completeness. Police services and their major case teams should review internal procedures and training materials to reflect both the adjusted file co-ordinator responsibilities and the new manager review obligation.

Ontario's Extreme Incident Response Plan reference updated to September 2025 edition

The regulation's definition of "Extreme Incident Response Plan" has been updated to reference the September 2025 version of that document, replacing the previous November 2023 version. Police services across Ontario are required to follow this plan when responding to extreme incidents such as mass casualty events, critical infrastructure threats, or serious protests. The amendment also adds source citations to three existing subsections but makes no substantive changes to the rules those subsections contain. Police services and their boards should ensure they are consulting and planning against the current September 2025 version of the Extreme Incident Response Plan available on the Ontario government website.

New rules for PAVA projectile launchers: training required before issuance and tighter use restrictions

The regulation replaces all references to 'PepperBall launcher' with the broader term 'PAVA projectile launcher,' defined as a PepperBall launcher or closely similar device that fires projectiles containing PAVA or a similar irritant. A new section requires police chiefs to confirm that any member receiving a PAVA projectile launcher has met the Minister's training requirements and is competent with the device before it is issued — mirroring the existing pre-issuance duties for firearms. Use of the launcher is now explicitly limited to projectiles containing PAVA, OC, or a PAVA/OC combination. The device may only be carried or used by members of a tactical unit, hostage rescue team, or public order unit who are chief-authorized, and special constables employed by the Niagara Parks Commission are expressly prohibited from carrying or using it. The new pre-issuance duty is also excluded from the training-exercise and maintenance exemption that applies to other firearm rules.

Ontario coroner rules updated: mandatory tissue collection for genetic conditions, new 50-year retention, and family genetic testing requests

Amendments taking effect in early 2027 make significant changes to how pathologists and coroners handle tissue samples when a genetic condition is believed to have contributed to a death. Pathologists and coroners will be required—not just permitted—to collect and retain tissue samples (including a new category, extracted DNA samples) when they believe a genetic condition contributed to the death. Retained tissue samples collected for future genetic testing, and extracted DNA samples, must now be kept for at least 50 years, a major extension from previous maximum periods of two years or less. Accommodation policies for post mortem examinations are broadened to cover conscientious beliefs in addition to religious beliefs. A new formal process allows close genetic relatives (parents, siblings, children) or their substitute decision-makers to request genetic testing of a deceased person's retained tissue samples to inform their own health care decisions, with the Chief Coroner or Chief Forensic Pathologist deciding whether to proceed and sharing results in writing. Personal representatives may request disposal of tissue samples collected for future genetic testing, but extracted DNA samples are excluded from burial or cremation handover rights.

New rule delays ward-count determination for Niagara Region and Simcoe County until after nomination day for 2026 elections

A new regulation modifies the timing of a specific electoral determination for the Regional Municipality of Niagara and the County of Simcoe. Normally, a determination about council composition under section 275 of the Municipal Act, 2001 must be made before a set point in the election cycle; this regulation delays that determination until after nomination day for the 2026 regular election. This affects the new councils being formed under the restructuring provisions in sections 218.2 and 218.2.1 of the Act. Candidates, municipal clerks, and election administrators in these two municipalities should be aware that the ward or seat count will not be finalized until after the nomination period closes for the 2026 vote.

New special election rules for Port Colborne and certain upper-tier municipalities for the 2026 regular election

A new regulation sets out transitional rules for the 2026 regular municipal election in the City of Port Colborne following changes made by the Better Regional Governance Act, 2026. Anyone who had already filed a nomination for a council office (other than head of council) in Port Colborne is deemed to have withdrawn that nomination unless, within 21 days of this regulation coming into force, they notify the clerk of the office they wish to contest, file for a different office, or formally withdraw. The city clerk is required to promptly notify all affected nominees in writing, explain the changes, and provide the required form for indicating a preferred office. Where a candidate switches their nominated office by notifying the clerk, the clerk will issue new spending-limit certificates based on the revised office — the normal re-nomination certificate process does not apply. The regulation also shields clerks in Port Colborne and in specified upper-tier municipalities from compliance orders solely because they acted before or after these changes took effect while managing election administration in good faith during the transition.

New regulation sets council size and ward boundaries for three Niagara-region municipalities for the 2026–2030 term

A new regulation establishes the composition of councils for the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, the City of Thorold, and the City of Port Colborne for the council term beginning in 2026. Each council will have seven members, including the head of council. In Niagara-on-the-Lake and Thorold, all members will be elected by general (at-large) vote. In Port Colborne, the head of council is elected at large while the remaining six members are elected two per ward across three defined wards, whose boundaries are set out in the regulation. The 2026 municipal election must be run as though these structures are already in place. Each municipality retains the ability to change its own council composition through the normal process for elections after 2026.

Northlander Corridor rideshare pilot regulation loses its title block and sunset-notice header text

A housekeeping amendment removed the regulation's formal title line and the displayed note about the May 2027 revocation date from the top of the consolidated text. The underlying rules governing the rideshare pilot along the Northlander Corridor remain in place; only the header formatting has changed. Operators and drivers participating in the pilot do not need to take any action as a result of this change. Those relying on the consolidated text should be aware the title and sunset reminder no longer appear at the top of the document.

Deadline for MPPs to choose pension option extended by six weeks

The cut-off date by which Members of Provincial Parliament must make a pension option election under the MPPs Pension Act has been pushed back. The deadline was previously set at June 5, 2026 and has now been moved to July 17, 2026. Current or former MPPs who are required to make a pension option choice under the Act have additional time to do so. Anyone in this situation should ensure they are aware of the new deadline and act accordingly before it passes.

Ontario school boards' capital funding eligibility list updated to January 2026 version

The regulation now references a January 31, 2026 version of the eligibility list that determines which school board capital projects qualify for funding under the Capital Priorities, Land Priorities, Child Care Capital, and EarlyON Child and Family Centres Capital programs. Previously, the regulation pointed to the June 30, 2025 version of that list. This updated reference applies across all four funding streams — school construction, land purchases, child care capital, and EarlyON centres — and affects how funding caps are calculated for each approved project. School boards with active or pending capital projects should confirm their project details against the updated January 2026 list to ensure their reported costs align with the amounts now specified for funding eligibility.

Ontario school zone speed sign specifications consolidated and simplified into fewer sections

The regulation governing the physical specifications for school zone speed limit signs near designated highway portions has been restructured. Previously spread across five separate sections (5.0.0.1 through 5.0.0.5 and 5.0.1.1 through 5.0.1.3), the requirements are now consolidated into fewer, reorganized sections with illustrated figures directly embedded in the text. The core sign requirements remain the same — fluorescent yellow-green children-crossing symbol, maximum speed legend, km/h panel, and optional 'SCHOOL ZONE' or bilingual tab — but sign dimensions are now presented by reference to named figures (A through G) rather than as itemized lists. A new rule explicitly states sign dimensions cannot be proportionately increased. Municipalities and road authorities responsible for erecting or replacing school zone signs should review the updated section numbering and figure references to ensure compliance. The heading for the relevant community safety zone section was also corrected from 'Schools Signs' to 'School Signs'.

Ontario adds a new retail-sales-tax rebate program for residential property purchases, capped at $50,000

The Act now includes a new rebate stream (section 51.2) that lets the Minister create regulations providing credits or payments to buyers in respect of the federal component of HST paid on residential property. Each rebate is capped at $50,000 per transaction, and any eligibility condition tied to a purchase-and-sale agreement date cannot extend beyond March 31, 2027. Rebates may be paid directly by the province, credited by a supplier on behalf of Ontario, or assigned by the recipient to another person—though the assignor and assignee become jointly and severally liable if the rebate was received without entitlement. Enforcement rules that previously applied only to First Nations rebates (assessments, penalties for false reporting, and fraud offences) now apply equally to this residential-property rebate program. A companion interpretation section (51.0.1) and general rules section (51.3) consolidate shared definitions and repayment obligations across both rebate streams.

Ontario pharmacists and pharmacy technicians gain expanded vaccine and minor-ailment prescribing authority

The regulation adds tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccines to the list of vaccines that eligible pharmacy members are authorized to administer by injection. Separately, a future change (taking effect mid-2026) will expand pharmacy technicians' injection authority beyond influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 vaccines to cover all Schedule 3 vaccines, and will remove the requirement to follow Ontario's Universal Influenza Immunization Program when giving flu shots. The minor ailment schedule is also significantly expanded (effective mid-2026) to let pharmacists independently manage additional conditions, including calluses and corns, mild tension headaches, head lice, seborrheic dermatitis, body and groin ringworm, warts, viral rhinitis/rhinosinusitis, and dry eye disease, using specified drug classes. Pharmacy operators, pharmacists, intern pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians should review which new vaccines and conditions now fall within their scope and ensure their staff training and protocols reflect these changes.

Out-of-province health professionals now explicitly covered as dispensers and prescribers of monitored drugs

The regulation now formally defines "out of province health professional" — a person from outside Ontario who is exempt from certain title-use and practice restrictions under Ontario's health profession laws. The definitions of "dispenser" and "prescriber" have been updated to specifically reference this new category, replacing broader language about persons exempt under particular sections of the Controlled Acts regulation. In practical terms, out-of-province health professionals who are permitted under Ontario law to dispense or prescribe monitored drugs (such as non-listed opioids) are now clearly captured within the narcotics monitoring framework. Pharmacies, dispensing organizations, and out-of-province practitioners operating in Ontario should ensure their reporting and compliance practices treat these individuals as dispensers or prescribers for monitored drug purposes.

Two new Community Safety Zones added on Ontario highways in Dryden and McMurrich/Monteith

Two new community safety zones have been added to the provincial highway network. A stretch of Highway 601 in the City of Dryden — from its eastern junction with Highway 17 north to Ryczko Road — is now designated a community safety zone at all times, year-round. A section of Highway 518 in the Township of McMurrich/Monteith (Parry Sound District) — between points 20 metres east of West Bear Lake Road and 20 metres west of East Bear Lake Road — has also received the same around-the-clock designation. In community safety zones, fines for traffic violations (such as speeding) are doubled. Drivers regularly using these highway segments should be aware that increased penalties now apply at all times.

Out-of-province pharmacy technicians added to Ontario's controlled-acts exemption framework

The regulation now formally defines "out of province pharmacy technician" as a person exempted from Ontario registration requirements under the Pharmacy Act, 1991 who holds the equivalent of an Ontario pharmacy technician class certificate. A new entry in the exemptions table assigns oversight of these individuals to the Ontario College of Pharmacists under the same Pharmacy Act provision that governs out-of-province pharmacists. This means qualifying pharmacy technicians licensed in other Canadian jurisdictions can now perform controlled acts in Ontario under the out-of-province practitioner framework. Pharmacy businesses and staffing agencies that source pharmacy technicians from outside Ontario should verify that those individuals meet the equivalency requirements and are subject to the applicable College of Pharmacists oversight before allowing them to perform controlled acts.

Municipalities can now opt out of the small-population rule for resort condominium property tax classification

A provision that had been revoked is replaced with a new rule allowing single-tier or upper-tier municipal councils to pass a by-law waiving the requirement that a resort condominium unit be located in a municipality with a population of 10,000 or less. To use this option, the municipality must have had land in the resort condominium tax class in the preceding taxation year. The by-law automatically applies for the year it is passed and any future years the resort condominium class remains active in that municipality. Upper-tier municipalities can only waive the population rule for a lower-tier municipality if that lower-tier municipality also had qualifying resort condominium land in the prior year. Resort property owners and managers in municipalities that previously could not qualify due to population size should check whether their council has passed or intends to pass such a by-law.

County of Oxford and Township of Norwich authorized to grant development-charge relief to VDK Development Inc.

The regulation has been expanded to allow the County of Oxford and the Township of Norwich to grant assistance to VDK Development Inc. in the form of full or partial exemptions from development charges imposed under the Development Charges Act, 1997. The assistance window is a six-month period starting in mid-2026. The County of Oxford's assistance is capped at $800,000, while the Township of Norwich's is capped at $400,000. This relief can be granted directly or indirectly to the company. Municipalities, developers, and parties involved in development charge planning in Oxford County and Norwich Township should be aware of this new authority and its time-limited nature.

Minister gains new power to support child care operators; parents can now request Ontario education numbers for their children

Two practical changes were made to Ontario's child care law. First, the Minister is now explicitly authorized to provide services that support child care operators and service system managers in carrying out their responsibilities under the Act — this is a new, distinct power added alongside existing funding and financial assistance powers. Second, the rules around assigning Ontario education numbers to children have been expanded: previously, a number could only be assigned when a child was registering in a licensed child care or early years program; now, a parent can also request a number for their child independently of any program registration. The list of who is authorized to collect, use, and disclose personal information for number assignment purposes has also been updated — the Minister (rather than ministry officers and employees) is now named, and program operators are only authorized to handle personal information in connection with children registering in a program. Child care operators, service system managers, and parents of young children should be aware of these changes.

Council of Ontario Directors of Education (CODE) replaces OPSBA and OCSTA as central bargaining employer agency for English-language school boards

The CODE (Council of Ontario Directors of Education) is now designated as the employer bargaining agency for all English-language public district school boards, English-language separate district school boards, and boards established under section 68 of the Education Act—roles previously held by OPSBA and OCSTA respectively. A new internal bargaining committee within the CODE will oversee and direct its collective bargaining activities, with authority to make by-laws governing its processes; the Minister can override those by-laws by order. Transition provisions require OPSBA and OCSTA to co-operate with the CODE's assumption of these functions, and the Minister can order transfers of rights, contracts, employees, records and other assets to the CODE. The Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association retains a defined observer role at central bargaining tables for English-language separate district school boards and keeps the right to raise denominational rights concerns. The law also now explicitly states that nothing in it makes any party other than a school board—including an employer bargaining agency or the Crown—an employer of school board employees under any legislation or at common law. School boards, union bargaining agencies, and the CODE's predecessor associations (OPSBA and OCSTA) all need to understand revised roles, obligations, and liability protections.

Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario is being wound down and will be dissolved

The legislation governing the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) has been amended to put the organization on a path to dissolution. The board size minimum has been cut from five to one member, appointment authority has shifted from the Lieutenant Governor in Council to the Minister alone, and the restriction barring post-secondary institution insiders from board membership has been removed. A new winding-up process requires the board to prepare a dissolution plan under Ministerial direction, transferring all of HEQCO's assets, liabilities, rights, and obligations to the Crown or a Crown agency. New liability protections for current and former Council members, employees, and Crown officials have been added, and proceedings against those individuals in respect of their duties under the Act are broadly barred. The Act itself will be repealed and HEQCO fully dissolved on a date set by the Lieutenant Governor in Council; a final annual report covering the period up to dissolution must be tabled in the Assembly.

2026 election rules replace 2018 special provisions for certain Ontario municipalities

The special election rules that applied to Toronto and certain regional municipalities during the 2018 election have been removed and replaced with new provisions governing the 2026 regular election. Any person who had already filed a nomination for head of council in a municipality listed under the relevant section of the Municipal Act, 2001, or for any council seat in the Regional Municipality of Niagara, is deemed to have automatically withdrawn that nomination when the Better Regional Governance Act, 2026 received Royal Assent. The Minister now has authority to make regulations to manage the 2026 election for the affected municipalities, handle transitional matters arising from related Municipal Act changes, and address nominations filed before certain provisions came into force. Ministerial regulations under this section override conflicting legislation and can apply retroactively. Candidates who had filed nominations for affected offices and municipal election administrators in the named municipalities should review whether those nominations remain valid and plan accordingly.

Ontario College of Teachers gains stronger regulatory control over professional teacher education program design at universities

The regulation-making authority for teacher education has been split into two streams: professional teacher education programs at post-secondary institutions are now governed under a separate provision, distinct from ongoing professional development programs. New rules explicitly allow regulations to set the timing, duration, required areas of study, delivery methods, and practical experience components of professional teacher education programs. Critically, these accreditation requirements override any conflicting university senate or academic governance decisions, and apply even where another Act grants the institution authority over its own programs and curricula. Post-secondary institutions that offer Ontario teacher education programs should review their current program structures against any regulations made under the new provisions. Ongoing education programs for teachers remain covered under a separate, parallel provision unchanged in scope.

School board salary-disclosure rule updated to cover 'employers' associations' instead of 'trustees' associations'

The Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act now refers to 'employers' associations' as defined in the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act, 2014, replacing the previous term 'trustees' associations.' This means the organizations now captured by the salary-disclosure obligation are those formally designated as employers' associations under that Act. Any such association that pays an employee $100,000 or more annually must disclose that information under the Act. Organizations that previously identified as trustees' associations should confirm whether they now fall within — or outside — the updated definition. The change is a terminology correction aligned with the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act, 2014.

Definition of 'Commission' in Ottawa-Carleton French-Language School Board Act flagged for future repeal

A note has been added to the Act signalling that the definition of 'Commission' — which refers to the Languages of Instruction Commission of Ontario — is scheduled to be repealed on a date yet to be set by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. No other substantive provisions of the Act have changed at this time. The amendment record has also been updated to reflect this pending change. Organizations or individuals relying on the Commission's role under this Act should monitor for the order that will bring the repeal into force.

Ontario's Education Act substantially amended: board governance, property oversight, liability shields, and structural changes

A large set of amendments to Ontario's Education Act reshapes how school boards are governed and overseen. The Minister and Lieutenant Governor in Council gain broader direct authority over key regulatory matters — including board estimates, school board controlled entities, dealings with property, and several regulation-making powers — replacing a prior model that required Ministerial approval subject to the Lieutenant Governor in Council. New liability protections bar most lawsuits against Crown officials and appointed supervisors acting under the Act, while making boards vicariously responsible for those individuals' conduct. School board size for district school boards is capped at 12 elected members (down from 22), the director of education of English-language district school boards becomes a non-voting member by office and must be re-titled chief executive officer, and a new chief education officer role is established for a future proclamation date. Several other changes take effect now or on a future proclamation: boards must get Ministerial approval before acquiring land or dismissing their director of education; the Languages of Instruction Commission's dispute-resolution role is being transferred to the Minister; Division C (board-set taxes) and Division F are repealed; and digital materials are confirmed to be included wherever the Act refers to educational materials such as textbooks. Boards and their officials should review how these changes affect governance processes, budget approvals, property transactions, and communications policies.

Speed limit zone boundaries on Highway 49 through Tyendinaga Township revised and expanded

The regulated speed limit zones on Highway 49 between Prince Edward County and Highway 401 in Tyendinaga Township have been restructured. The single continuous zone that previously ran from near Prince Edward County Road 6 all the way to a point north of Highway 401 has been split into three distinct segments, with the reference point near Highway 401 now anchored differently. Two segments run from near County Road 6 to south of Airport Road/Bayshore Road, and from north of Lower Slash Road to north of Highway 401, while a previously revoked middle section has been reinstated to cover the stretch between Airport Road/Bayshore Road and Lower Slash Road. Drivers travelling on Highway 49 through this area should be aware that the speed limit zone layout has changed. Transport operators, fleet managers, and anyone regularly using this corridor should review the updated zone boundaries.

Cannabis retail stores can now open as early as 7 a.m. (down from 9 a.m.)

The earliest permitted opening time for cannabis retail stores has moved from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., while the closing time remains 11:00 p.m. The same 7 a.m. start now applies to curbside or adjacent-area distribution. Delivery rules are also updated to make clear that deliveries must occur between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. during store-open hours — the 7 a.m. window does not extend to deliveries. The landlord-closure exception for delivery (allowing delivery even when a landlord forces a store to close) continues to apply within the 9 a.m.–11 p.m. window. Retail store authorization holders should review their operating schedules and staffing if they wish to take advantage of the earlier opening.

Future-dated amendment notes removed as changes from O. Reg. 123/26 are now in force

The regulation governing occupation of public lands has been updated to incorporate changes that were previously flagged as upcoming amendments taking effect in May 2026. Those future-dated notes have been removed and the new rules are now part of the consolidated text. Key practical changes now in effect include: bridges and short-term bridges being governed under a new separate section from culverts and causeways; mobile wind testing equipment and environmental monitoring equipment being explicitly listed as authorized occupations with their own conditions; a new prohibition on occupying lands that are archaeological sites or areas where artifacts or human remains have been found; a requirement to stop work and notify the Ministry if archaeological artifacts or human remains are discovered during an occupation; and notice to vacate can now be delivered by email in addition to posting, personal delivery, or registered mail. Anyone occupying or planning to occupy public lands under this regulation should review the updated conditions applicable to their specific activity.

Ontario updates public lands work permit rules: new definitions, registration system, artifact/remains duties, and geotechnical exemption

Ontario has consolidated a series of previously announced amendments to the public lands work permit regulation into the main text. Key practical changes include: the definition of 'shore lands' is now based on the high-water mark (not just seasonal inundation), with a new clarification that spring freshet or extreme flooding alone does not make land 'shore lands'; the term 'water crossing' is replaced throughout by the specific terms 'bridge, culvert or causeway'; and the old paper-based notice-of-activity form system for several exempt activities (building on mining claims, erosion control structure repair, etc.) is replaced by an online geographic-point registration process, with work allowed to start 10 days after Ministry confirmation rather than upon receipt of the form. Two new mandatory duties apply to anyone carrying out regulated activities on public lands: all work must stop immediately if an artifact is discovered and the Ministry must be notified by email, and all work must stop if human remains are found and police or a coroner must be notified. A new permit-free exemption is added for geotechnical investigations by test pit, trench or borehole where specified conditions are met. Operators planning dredging, filling, erosion control, vegetation removal, building placement on mining claims, or trail and road construction on public lands should review the updated registration requirements and new stop-work obligations before commencing work.

Ontario renewable energy approvals rules updated: Indigenous terminology, qualified-person assessments, and new biogas exemption

This amendment makes several practical changes to the rules governing Renewable Energy Approvals under the Environmental Protection Act. All references to 'aboriginal communities' have been replaced with 'Indigenous communities' throughout the regulation, which affects consultation lists, notices, document distribution, and reporting obligations for project applicants. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport are renamed to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism respectively, changing where applicants must submit archaeological and heritage assessment reports and obtain comments. The previous requirement to get written confirmation from the Ministry of Natural Resources that natural heritage assessments were correctly conducted has been replaced by a self-attestation system: applicants must now have a 'qualified person' (as defined in the Natural Heritage Assessment Guide) conduct and attest to assessments, with written confirmation from that qualified person submitted as part of the approval application. A new exemption from the approval requirement is added for small biogas facilities (10 MW or less) located on the site of a business whose primary purpose is not electricity generation, with transition provisions for existing projects and pending applications. Applicants who submitted natural heritage reports to the Ministry of Natural Resources before the six-month transition deadline may complete their applications under the prior rules.

Family arbitration awards can now be filed with court and challenged by motion under Ontario's Family Law Rules

Ontario's Family Law Rules now formally incorporate family arbitration awards filed under section 59.9 of the Family Law Act into the court process. A party who wants to change a filed family arbitration award relating to support must do so by motion under rule 15, the same pathway used for final court orders and filed support agreements. The rule governing which motions to change fall under rule 15 now explicitly lists filed family arbitration awards as a third category alongside final orders and filed support agreements. A new court form (Form 26D) has been added for the affidavit required when filing a family arbitration award for support with the court, and Form 26B and Form 32.1 have been updated. Cases involving the filing of a family arbitration award are also now subject to the restricted-access provisions that protect privacy in sensitive family proceedings. Parties who have resolved support through arbitration and filed or intend to file that award with the court, and their legal representatives, should be aware of these procedural requirements.

Engineering licence experience requirements will shift to a 24-month post-degree minimum plus competency assessment

The regulation sets out two staged changes to the experience requirements for obtaining a professional engineering licence in Ontario. Under the current rules, applicants must show 48 months of engineering experience overall, with up to 12 months allowed before completing their degree. The incoming rules replace this with a requirement for at least 24 months of post-degree experience, eliminating the provision that allowed some experience to be counted before graduation. Alongside the reduced time requirement, the incoming rules also replace the existing practical-skill standard with a competency-based assessment approved by the Registrar, shifting the evaluation framework from a time-and-opinion model to a structured competency review. Applicants currently in the licensing process, and those planning to apply, should consider how these changes may affect how they document and present their experience.

Ontario's interjurisdictional support law now recognises family arbitration awards as support orders — amendment takes effect

An amendment to Ontario's Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act has been brought into force, formally adding family arbitration awards to the definition of "support order." This means that an arbitration award requiring support payments — if it is enforceable in the jurisdiction where it was made as though it were a court order — can now be treated as a support order under the Act. Practically, this allows such awards to be registered and enforced across jurisdictions using the Act's interjurisdictional processes. The change affects parties who have resolved support obligations through family arbitration rather than court litigation. Anyone relying on a family arbitration award for cross-border support enforcement should confirm whether the award meets the enforceability test in the originating jurisdiction.

Family arbitration awards now treated as enforceable support orders under Ontario's family support enforcement law

Amendments that were previously listed as "not yet in force" have now been given a force date, bringing family arbitration awards (those enforceable under section 59.9 of the Family Law Act) fully within the definition of "support order" under Ontario's family support enforcement legislation. This means such awards are now subject to the same income-deduction and enforcement machinery — including automatic support deduction orders — that applies to court-issued support orders and domestic contracts. The rules around which court is deemed to have made a related support deduction order, and which court has jurisdiction to vary such an order, have also been updated to address family arbitration awards specifically. Individuals who pay or receive support under a family arbitration award, and their legal advisors, should be aware that the Director of the Family Responsibility Office can now enforce and administer those awards in the same way as court orders. Payors subject to such awards should review their compliance obligations under the FRO enforcement framework.

Family Law Act updated: child definition clarified and family arbitration award enforcement rules now in force

Three previously pending amendments to Ontario's Family Law Act have now taken effect. The definition of "child" has been revised to read "a person in respect of whom a parent has demonstrated a settled intention" — a minor grammatical correction that does not change the practical scope of who qualifies as a child under the Act. The rule for enforcing family arbitration awards has been amended to make enforcement subject to a new section (59.9), which creates a separate filing process specifically for arbitration awards containing support or maintenance provisions. Under that new section, a party can file such an award directly with the court clerk — along with the arbitration agreement and supporting documents — rather than making a full court application, though the right to apply to set aside an award is preserved. Anyone relying on a family arbitration award for support should be aware of this new filing route and its documentation requirements.

Ontario building code updated to reference revised April 21, 2026 Ontario Amendments document

Ontario's building code regulation now points to a revised version of the "Ontario Amendments to the National Building Code of Canada 2020" dated April 21, 2026, replacing the previous April 1, 2026 dated document. The National Building Code of Canada 2020 (First Printing) itself remains the base code. Anyone involved in new construction or building permit applications should confirm they are referencing the April 21, 2026 version of the Ontario Amendments document rather than the earlier one. The practical effect is that the amendment document adopted as part of Ontario's building code has been updated, and compliance work should be based on the current version.

'Tailgate' permit class renamed 'bring-your-own' across Ontario's special occasion permits regulation

The regulation has been updated to replace all references to 'tailgate' events and permits with 'bring-your-own' terminology. The four permit classes previously called 'sale tailgate' and 'no-sale tailgate' are now called 'sale bring-your-own' and 'no-sale bring-your-own' respectively. The definition of 'tailgate event' has been removed and replaced by the 'bring-your-own event' definition, which covers outdoor ground-level events held in connection with professional, semi-professional, or post-secondary sporting events — and now also includes events designated as cultural or community events by a municipal council. Permit applicants for bring-your-own events or other public events contingent on a municipal designation must now submit proof of that designation with their application. All existing rules about attendees bringing their own liquor, possession and consumption, and removal of liquor from premises continue to apply under the new permit names.

Ontario updates wildlife-in-captivity rules: new annual reporting for falconry licence holders, revised log-book retention, and gender-neutral language throughout

A set of amendments updates the regulation governing wildlife kept in captivity in Ontario, with changes falling into three main areas. First, holders of general, apprentice, and commercial falconry licences will be required to submit annual reports to the Minister in a prescribed format; general and apprentice licence holders must file by December 31 of the licence year, while commercial licence holders have until January 31 of the following year. Second, log-book retention rules are being clarified: for amphibians and reptiles, the five-year retention period will run from when the log book was required to be kept (rather than from licence expiry), and for specially protected raptors the obligation to keep copies is replaced with an obligation to keep the log book itself for five years from licence or authorization expiry. Third, numerous provisions replace gendered pronouns ('his or her') with gender-neutral language ('their' or 'the Minister's'), and several eligibility references are updated to refer to licences issued 'under the Act' rather than only under this specific regulation. Zoo operators, falconry licence holders, and persons keeping reptiles, amphibians, or raptors in captivity should review their record-keeping and reporting practices ahead of the changes taking effect.

Ontario fish licensing rules updated: outdoors cards, cross-border fishing rights, and language modernized

A package of amendments to Ontario's fish licensing regulation makes several practical changes taking effect in mid-2026. The definition of 'outdoors card' is broadened so that a card identified on a licence summary counts as an outdoors card, and the licence summary itself is updated to also cover falconry licences and outdoors cards — not just fishing and hunting licences. The temporary carry-the-paper-copy workaround (for people awaiting their physical outdoors card in the mail) is being removed, meaning anglers will need to have their actual card or a qualifying document. Cross-border fishing rights are updated: Manitoba residents fishing specified Ontario border waters must now carry an 'angling licence' (replacing the old 'regular fishing licence' reference), the list of eligible Manitoba lakes is revised, and Quebec residents with valid Quebec sport fishing licences are formally recognized as able to fish in specified Ontario boundary waters. Active Canadian Forces members can now use a Temporary Identification Card (NDI 10) — in addition to the existing NDI 20 — as their deemed fishing licence, while veterans' eligibility is narrowed to the Veteran's Service Card only. The two species (Round Goby and Tubenose Goby) that require a licence to buy or sell are reclassified as 'invasive species' rather than 'fish that do not exist in Ontario waters.' Throughout, gendered pronouns are replaced with gender-neutral language.

Ontario government authorized to borrow up to $35 billion under new loan legislation

A new Ontario statute authorizes the provincial government to borrow up to $35 billion in total to pay off existing provincial debts and obligations or to make payments required by other legislation out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund. This borrowing authority is on top of whatever borrowing powers already exist under other Acts. Orders-in-council approving specific borrowing under this Act must be issued by December 31, 2028. Any actual borrowing under those orders must occur by December 31, 2029, unless by that date the Crown has already signed a borrowing agreement or enrolled in a borrowing program under the relevant order. Organizations that lend to or hold Ontario provincial debt, or that track provincial fiscal capacity, should be aware of this new authority.

New law removes bus-parking obligation on Toronto's Block 18C and shields government from related lawsuits

A new Ontario statute eliminates the requirement under a City of Toronto by-law that bus parking be provided on Block 18C, a parcel of land in downtown Toronto near the former SkyDome. The law also bars virtually all legal claims—including damages, injunctions, and contractual remedies—against the Crown, municipalities, and their officials arising from this change or from anything done under the related 2002 Skydome Act (Bus Parking); judicial review and constitutional challenges remain available. The government gains authority to make regulations that can terminate, suspend, or amend any contract or agreement tied to Block 18C's development, generally without paying compensation. Anyone who held rights under existing contracts or the old by-law's bus-parking requirement should take note that those rights may be extinguished or altered by regulation. Parties considering legal action related to Block 18C bus-parking arrangements should be aware that most court, arbitration, and administrative proceedings on this topic are now blocked.

Ontario's debt burden reduction strategy must now include metrics in its progress update

The annual debt burden reduction strategy that the Ontario government publishes with each budget must now include a progress update with specific metrics, rather than a general progress report on supporting actions. The practical change is that the update must now be measurable and quantified, not just descriptive. This affects how the government reports on its debt-reduction objectives relative to the ratio of provincial net financial liabilities to gross domestic product. Organizations that track Ontario's fiscal reporting, such as financial analysts, bond rating agencies, and public accountability groups, should expect more data-driven disclosure in future budgets.

Future amendments flagged: indemnity approval requirement for Ontario health Agency and Service Organization set to be removed

The consolidated text of the Connecting Care Act, 2019 now includes prospective amendment notices signalling that, once brought into force by Lieutenant Governor in Council order, the requirement for Agency and Service Organization indemnities to be pre-approved under the Financial Administration Act will be repealed. At the same time, the cross-reference to that approval requirement in the duty-of-care provisions will be removed. These changes are not yet in force and have no immediate legal effect. Organizations governed by these provisions — Ontario Health (the Agency) and designated Service Organizations — should be aware that the indemnification approval process may eventually change. No action is required until a proclamation date is announced.

Ontario Taxation Act updated: dividend tax rates, small business rate, beer credit, Trillium Benefit thresholds, and procedural rules all revised

Ontario's Taxation Act has been amended in several areas. The provincial gross-up rate applied to eligible dividends received by individuals is being reduced for tax years after 2026 (from 22.895% to 15.2283%), and the small business corporate tax rate will rise from 8.3% to 9.3% for days after June 30, 2026, narrowing the gap with the general rate. The Ontario Trillium Benefit payment rules are updated so that, starting with the 2025 base taxation year, the threshold for choosing a single annual payment rises from $360 to $500. The Ontario Computer Animation and Special Effects Tax Credit now has a clearer test for what prior-year labour expenditures reduce the current claim, and the Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit is now limited to expenditures incurred before January 1, 2027. The small beer manufacturers' tax credit formula is revised with new per-litre rates for the March 2026–February 2027 sales year and for years starting March 1, 2027. New procedural provisions incorporate additional federal assessment and evidentiary rules into the Ontario Act.

Section 4 of the Privatization Act flagged for future repeal once Lieutenant Governor proclaims a date

An amendment has been added to the consolidated text noting that section 4 of this Act — which exempts privatization transfers from a specific provision of the Financial Administration Act — is scheduled to be repealed on a date yet to be set by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. Until that proclamation is made, section 4 remains in effect and the exemption continues to apply. Organizations involved in transactions or agreements under this Act should monitor for the proclamation date, as the repeal could affect how those transactions are governed going forward.

Future repeal of two Financial Administration Act exemptions flagged in Electricity Act consolidation

The consolidated text of the Electricity Act now includes editorial notes signalling that two provisions — one exempting certain Part transactions from section 28 of the Financial Administration Act (s. 51), and another doing the same for securities-related orders involving Hydro One and Ontario Power Generation (s. 122(3)) — are scheduled for repeal on a date still to be set by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. No repeal has taken effect yet; these are prospective amendments recorded in the statute's amendment history. Entities involved in transactions covered by those exemptions — particularly those relying on the carve-out from Financial Administration Act approval requirements — should be aware that those exemptions will eventually disappear and plan accordingly.

New advisory committee will screen WSIB board appointments before they reach the Minister

Pending proclamation, a formal advisory committee must be established to vet and recommend candidates for most WSIB board member positions before the Minister can propose names to the Lieutenant Governor in Council. At least a majority-plus-one of the board's appointed members (those in the general category) must come from candidates the committee recommends, and the committee itself must include both public members selected through an open process and individuals with occupational health and safety backgrounds. Candidates must first apply through the Public Appointments Secretariat. The board of directors also gains a new formal channel to recommend in writing that a member's appointment be revoked, which the Minister must consider. These changes are not yet in force and will take effect on a date to be set by order.

Ontario eliminates volume and environmental taxes on beer, wine and spirits; raises basic beer tax rates and restructures spirits tax by alcohol content

Ontario's Liquor Tax Act has been restructured to remove the separate volume tax and environmental tax that applied to beer, wine, wine cooler, and spirits purchased from licensed retail stores — those charges no longer exist. The basic tax rate for beer has increased: draft beer moves from 72.45 cents to 90 cents per litre, and non-draft beer from 89.74 cents to $1.18 per litre, with microbrewer discount amounts adjusted accordingly. Spirits sold at distillery retail stores are now taxed on a tiered basis by alcohol content (20%, 25%, or 30.75% of retail price depending on whether ABV is 7.1% or below, between 7.1% and 18%, or above 18%), replacing the previous flat 30.75% rate. The retail price calculation formulas for wine, wine cooler, and spirits have been simplified into a single algebraic formula, removing the steps that previously backed out volume and environmental taxes. The definition of 'spirits cooler' has been removed from the Act, and transition rules protect collectors and purchasers who paid tax at old rates before the changes took effect. Businesses that collect or remit liquor tax — including beer manufacturers, microbrewers, wineries, and distilleries — should review their systems to apply the new rates and simplified formulas.

Ontario's municipal freedom of information law gets major overhaul: new privacy breach rules, staged-access plans, and whistleblower protection

Ontario has made sweeping changes to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act affecting how municipal institutions handle access requests and protect personal information. Institutions can now propose a staged access plan when a request is unusually large or burdensome, and requesters must respond within 30 business days or risk being deemed to have abandoned their request. Response deadlines are shifting from calendar days to business days, and the main response period is increasing from 30 to 45 business days, with a new second extension available in limited circumstances. Institutions will be required to conduct written privacy impact assessments before collecting personal information, implement reasonable safeguards to protect it, and report thefts, losses or unauthorized disclosures to the Privacy Commissioner and affected individuals when there is a real risk of significant harm. A new whistleblower provision allows anyone with reasonable grounds to report suspected contraventions confidentially to the Commissioner. The personal information bank concept and related index requirements are being repealed, and the Commissioner gains new powers to review an institution's information practices and order corrective action.

Ontario expands the election to treat funded benefit plans as unfunded for tax purposes, with new ministerial regulation powers

Planholders of funded benefit plans can now elect to have their employer health tax on benefit plan contributions calculated under the unfunded-plan rules (based on benefits paid rather than contributions made). Previously this election was only available to qualifying trusts with excess assets; it is now open to any funded benefit plan planholder. The Minister gains authority to prescribe limitations on which plans may elect, how long elections last, and to make regulations overriding the normal transition rules when an election is made or revoked — including regulations that can apply retroactively. Planholders who think they may benefit from switching to unfunded-plan tax treatment should review whether they qualify and how to file an election in the form and manner the Minister approves. The earlier disclaimer about the consolidation being affected by retroactive provisions has been removed, suggesting the retroactive provisions have now been incorporated.

Ontario's Freedom of Information Act overhauled: ministers' records excluded, new staged-access rules, longer response times, and data integration changes

Ontario has made sweeping changes to its Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Most significantly, records held by ministers of the Crown or their offices are now excluded from the Act entirely, with this exclusion applied retroactively — even existing access requests and prior orders are nullified to the extent they relate to such records. For large or complex information requests, institutions can now propose a staged access plan, pausing the response clock while the requester considers it; requesters who do not respond to a plan within 30 business days are deemed to have abandoned their request. The standard response window for access decisions changes from 30 calendar days to 45 business days, and most other time limits throughout the Act are converted from calendar days to business days. The personal information bank regime (the obligation to maintain and publish an index of personal information collections) is repealed. In the data integration sphere, responsibility for setting data standards shifts from the Privacy Commissioner to the Chief Digital and Data Officer, though the Commissioner gains a new formal power to comment and make recommendations on privacy implications. Institutions and requesters should review their internal processes for handling FOI requests, staged-access responses, appeal deadlines, and personal information cataloguing obligations.

Victoria Day removed from the list of statutory retail holidays under Ontario's Retail Business Holidays Act

Victoria Day has been removed from the definition of "holiday" in Ontario's Retail Business Holidays Act, meaning it is no longer a designated closing day for retail businesses under that law. Retailers who previously had to close or obtain an exemption to open on Victoria Day will no longer face that requirement based on this Act. This change applies province-wide, except the City of Toronto, which has always been exempt from this Act. Retail operators and compliance teams should review their holiday operating policies and schedules to reflect that Victoria Day is no longer a restricted day under this legislation.

Ontario's 36 conservation authorities will be amalgamated into 9 regional authorities starting February 2027

Beginning on the 'transition date' (currently set for February 1, 2027, subject to change by regulation), Ontario's existing 36 conservation authorities will be merged into nine newly named regional conservation authorities, plus one renamed authority (the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority becomes the Northwestern Ontario Regional Conservation Authority). All assets, liabilities, employees, contracts, permits, licences and ongoing proceedings transfer automatically to the new authority, and employment is deemed continuous with no termination or constructive dismissal. A new transition framework introduces transition committees (chaired by Agency-appointed project executives) to prepare amalgamation plans for each new authority, and places temporary prohibitions on establishing, enlarging, merging or dissolving authorities outside this process. Existing conservation authorities, their member municipalities, employees and parties to contracts or agreements with those authorities should begin reviewing how the amalgamation rules, member appointment processes, watershed council requirements and revised governance provisions will apply to their organization.

Ontario creates the Protect Ontario Account Investment Fund as a new designated purpose account under the Financial Administration Act

The amendment establishes a new designated purpose account called the Protect Ontario Account Investment Fund (Fonds d'investissement du compte Protéger l'Ontario). The Minister of Finance is required to set up this fund, and the Lieutenant Governor in Council may authorize amounts to be deposited into it on terms the Minister determines. Money in the fund can be spent on investments that promote innovation, infrastructure development, long-term economic growth, and other strategic provincial priorities. Unlike most government investments, expenditures for this fund are not charged to the Consolidated Revenue Fund in the same way—a specific carve-out removes that default rule for this fund. Returns and proceeds from investments flow back into the fund, though the Minister can direct some proceeds to remain in the Consolidated Revenue Fund instead. Regulations may be made prescribing terms, conditions, and restrictions on the securities and instruments the Minister may hold for this fund's purposes.

Ontario pension law expanded to allow variable life benefits, new wind-up rules, and extinguishment of untraceable members' benefits

Ontario's Pension Benefits Act has been amended to introduce a new type of pension payment called a "variable life benefit" — a pooled, non-account-based pension paid from a dedicated fund whose amount can fluctuate based on investment returns, mortality experience, and actuarial assumptions. Pension plans may be designed to offer this option, and members with defined contribution or additional voluntary contribution balances may elect to transfer those funds into a variable life benefit fund before retiring. A parallel set of partial wind-up rules (sections 77.0.1–77.0.7) has been added specifically for plans offering variable life benefits, since the general bar on partial wind-ups still applies to other plan types. A new section (102.5) allows plan administrators to apply to the Chief Executive Officer to extinguish the rights of former or retired members who appear to be over 100 years old and cannot be located, with defined consequences for misapplied consents. The Guarantee Fund monthly benefit threshold for wind-ups on or after March 26, 2026 has also been increased from $1,500 to $3,000 per month. Most of the new variable life benefit provisions are not yet in force and require a proclamation order.

Status Indians now excluded from Ontario's 'foreign national' definition for land transfer tax purposes

The definition of 'foreign national' in Ontario's Land Transfer Tax Act has been updated to explicitly exclude persons registered as Indians under the federal Indian Act. Previously, the definition tracked the federal Immigration and Refugee Protection Act without any carve-out. As a result of this change, registered Indians are no longer treated as 'foreign nationals' or 'foreign entities' under the Act, which affects how the non-resident speculation tax and related provisions apply to them. Registered Indians purchasing land in Ontario should be aware they now fall outside those foreign-entity provisions. Anyone advising on land transfers involving registered Indians should review how this exclusion changes their tax obligations under the Act.

Metrolinx must follow new notice and consultation steps before ordering access to municipal roads and rights of way

Metrolinx now has explicit procedural obligations before it can issue an order requiring access to, or alteration of, a municipal highway or right of way. Before issuing such an order, Metrolinx must make good-faith efforts to meet any technical requirements and give due consideration to a set of listed factors. It must give the provincial Ministry of Transportation at least 20 days' written notice (with a detailed summary of negotiation steps taken), and the affected municipality at least 15 days' notice. If a municipality fails to comply with an order, Metrolinx must notify the Ministry at least 15 days before filing the order in the Superior Court of Justice. Metrolinx may revise or cancel an order, but must give both the Ministry and the affected municipality at least 15 days' advance notice before doing so. Municipalities and Metrolinx project teams involved in transit construction affecting local roads and rights of way need to be aware of these new steps.

New regulation sets design, maintenance, training and record-keeping rules for all elevating work platforms on Ontario construction projects

Ontario has introduced a standalone regulation governing elevating work platforms (EWPs) — including mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs), mast climbing work platforms and vehicle-mounted aerial devices — on all construction projects. Every EWP must be engineer-designed and certified to the applicable CSA standard, equipped with guardrails and rated-load signage, and inspected daily before use. Owners must keep permanent maintenance and inspection records dating back to the original purchase date or May 1991, whichever is later, and attach an up-to-date inspection tag near the operator's station. Employers must ensure MEWP operators complete a formal theory-and-practical training program valid for five years, with make-and-model familiarization required when training was not specific to the equipment in use; training records must be kept and provided to workers or inspectors on request. Workers operating other types of EWPs must receive oral and written instruction, including a hands-on demonstration, before first use.

Ontario eases business permit-service-standard rules and cuts compliance reporting to twice a year

Two changes take effect together on a future date. First, the rule requiring separate service standards for 'normal' versus 'not normal' permit applications is replaced: ministries will now distinguish 'typical' from 'not typical' circumstances, and a service standard may expressly exclude from its time commitment any period spent waiting on external processes or on Crown duty-to-consult obligations with Indigenous communities. Second, the quarterly compliance-reporting requirement for ministries is reduced to semi-annual reporting — twice a year instead of four times — with reports due by the end of January and July each year. Businesses that track how quickly Ontario ministries commit to processing permit and licence applications should note that ministry timelines may now formally exclude delays caused by third-party processes or consultation requirements, which could affect how published service standards are interpreted.

Respirator approval rules for designated substances expanded to recognize CSA Group certification

Starting mid-2026, respirators used under Ontario's Designated Substances regulation will be accepted if approved by NIOSH, by the CSA Group (a newly recognized certifier), or by another agency whose protection is judged equivalent to either NIOSH or CSA. Previously, only NIOSH approval or an equivalency opinion was required. For asbestos protection specifically, the filter designation codes are also being updated: the current 'N-100, R-100 or P-100' labelling will be replaced with expanded codes including 'CA-N100, CA-R100 and CA-P100' to align with CSA standards. Employers who supply workers with respirators for designated-substance work should verify that their equipment selections and purchasing specifications reflect the updated approval criteria and filter codes before the changes take effect.

Asbestos rules to accept CSA-certified respirators alongside NIOSH-approved ones starting mid-2026

Amendments scheduled to take effect add the CSA Group (CSA) as an accepted respirator certification body alongside the existing NIOSH standard for asbestos work on construction projects and in buildings. Workers and employers will be able to use respirators approved by either NIOSH or CSA when asbestos exposure controls require respiratory protection. The respirator filter designations in Table 2 are also being updated to reflect current NIOSH and new CSA filter coding conventions (e.g., N100, CA-N100, R100, CA-R100, P100, CA-P100 replacing the older hyphenated codes). Employers and safety managers should review their respirator procurement and worker training to ensure equipment meets either the NIOSH or CSA approval standards once the changes are in force.

Hard hats must meet side-impact standards and section 22 rules tightened; several elevating work platform sections to be revoked

Two sets of future changes have been added to Ontario's construction regulation. First, hard-hat requirements are being upgraded: workers who may be exposed to side-impact hazards will need headwear that meets the Type 2 (CSA Z94.1) or Type II (ANSI Z89.1) standard; all other workers will still need headwear meeting those same standards (but without the side-impact-specific Type 2 requirement). A new rule also requires a chin strap or other retention system whenever site conditions could cause a hard hat to dislodge. Second, the current rules for elevating work platforms covering design, maintenance records, inspection tags, operator training, operating limits, and operator manuals (sections 143–149) are all being revoked, which likely signals replacement by a different regulatory framework. Construction employers and safety officers should assess their current hard hat inventory against the upcoming Type 2/Type II requirements and monitor for any replacement rules on elevating work platforms.

Respirator approval rules updated to recognize CSA Group certification alongside NIOSH

Starting mid-2026, respirators provided to workers can be approved by the CSA Group (CSA) as an alternative to NIOSH approval, not just by NIOSH or a qualified-opinion-backed third party. The amendment adds CSA as a recognized certifying body in the respirator selection requirements and updates the filter designation codes for asbestos work (e.g., 'N-100' becomes 'N100' or 'CA-N100', and equivalent changes for R and P series filters). Employers who select and provide respirators will need to ensure their equipment meets the updated approval and filter labelling standards. Anyone currently specifying respirators for workers—particularly for asbestos exposure—should check that the filter designations in their written programs match the new codes.

Line Fences Act forms now listed under Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness on Ontario's forms website

The official forms used in line fence disputes — including fence-viewer awards, notices, and owner agreements — are now listed on the Ontario Central Forms Repository under the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, rather than the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Anyone who needs to access these forms (for example, to initiate or respond to a fence-viewer process) should look under the updated ministry listing on the government's forms website. The forms themselves and their content have not changed. Landowners, municipalities, and local boards involved in boundary fence matters should update any bookmarks or internal references to where these forms are found.

Line Fences Act appeals division dissolved; notice address rule updated

The formal 'appeals division' covering all Ontario lands has been revoked — it no longer exists as a named body under the regulation. The rule about where to send notices to the referee has been updated: notices should now be addressed as directed on the website of the ministry of the responsible Minister, rather than the Ministry or Government of Ontario website generally. Property owners or neighbours involved in a line fence dispute who need to file a notice of appeal should check the current ministry website for the correct service address. The fee rules for initiating an appeal remain unchanged.

Farm and managed forest properties shielded from Toronto storm water fees, with refund rules for overpayments

Toronto and its local boards are being prohibited from charging storm water management fees or charges against portions of properties classified as farm or managed forest under the Assessment Act. An exception applies where storm water drains directly from a private storm sewer on the property into a City-owned storm sewer. Where fees were collected contrary to this new limit, the City or local board must refund the affected amounts and pay interest — calculated at the lowest Schedule I bank prime rate — starting either from the date the rule takes effect (for payments already received) or 90 days after receipt (for payments received afterward). Property owners with farm or managed forest classifications who have been paying storm water charges to the City of Toronto should review whether a refund may be owed to them. The section on police record check fees was also updated to replace 'municipality' with 'City' and 'local board (extended definition),' a terminology clarification with no apparent change in practical scope.

Municipalities barred from charging storm water fees to farm and managed forest properties — with refund obligation

A new rule blocks municipalities and local boards from imposing storm water management fees or charges on land classified as farm property or managed forests under the Assessment Act. The ban has a narrow exception: if storm water from the affected portion of a property drains directly from an on-site storm sewer into a municipal storm sewer system, the charge may still apply. Where fees were already collected contrary to this new limit, the municipality or local board must refund the affected amounts and pay interest — at the lowest Bank of Canada Schedule I prime rate — starting either from when the rule takes effect (for pre-existing payments) or 90 days after receipt (for payments made after the rule takes effect). Farm operators and managed forest landowners who have been paying municipal storm water charges should review their accounts to determine whether a refund may be owed.

Food Safety regulation updated with a formal table of contents listing all sections and parts

The regulation has been amended to add a table of contents at the beginning of the document. The table of contents lists both major parts of the regulation: Part I covering seizure and detention of things under the Food Safety and Quality Act, and Part II covering service, effective dates, and deadlines. No substantive rules appear to have changed — only the navigational structure of the document has been updated. Businesses and operators subject to food safety inspections and enforcement should be aware that the underlying rules on seizure, detention, disposal, and service of documents remain the same.

Certain commercial driver's licences now require proof of legal ability to work in Canada

A new provision ties specific classes of Ontario driver's licences to a requirement under the Highway Traffic Act that applicants demonstrate they are legally entitled to work in Canada. Class A, B, C, D, E, and F licences are all captured by this rule. However, Class D licences issued under the minister's special authority (the provision covering certain non-standard situations) are excluded from this requirement. The section is stated to apply despite the Human Rights Code, meaning that Code protections do not override this work-authorization check. Licence applicants in these classes should be prepared to provide evidence of their eligibility to work in Canada as part of the licensing process.

Fence-viewer rules for unorganized territory updated: ministry name references removed, notice delivery simplified

This regulation, which governs how boundary fence disputes are resolved on land in territory without municipal organization, has been amended in several housekeeping ways. The definition of 'Minister' has been removed from the regulation text, and references to 'the Ministry of Municipal Affairs' have been replaced with the more generic 'the ministry of the Minister.' Requirements to send certified copies of awards and certificates to owners and occupants 'at their last known place of residence' have been dropped — the obligation to send copies remains, but the specific address qualifier is gone. The location description for prescribed forms on the government website has been simplified by removing the reference to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Landowners and fence-viewers operating under this regulation should be aware that notice and delivery obligations are slightly reworded, though the core dispute resolution process is unchanged.