As the new year begins, Ontario residents will see several significant changes to laws and regulations across various sectors.
Child Care: Families with children in centres enrolled in the national $10-a-day program will see child-care fees capped at $22 per day. This is part of a gradual reduction, with fees set to drop to an average of $10 by March 2026, compared to 2020 rates.
Roads: The threshold for reporting property damage collisions will rise from $2,000 to $5,000, easing administrative burdens for drivers and police.
Immigration: New rules aim to crack down on fraudulent immigration representatives, introducing stricter penalties, including larger fines and bans for serious offenders.
Health Care: Ontario is merging several local public health units to address staffing and capacity issues. Additionally, all long-term care homes must install sprinklers by July 2026.
Housing: New planning laws give local municipalities in Durham and Waterloo regions more control, aiming to speed up housing development. The building code is also being harmonized with the National Construction Code.
Other changes include new mental health policies in colleges and universities and the requirement for construction sites to provide menstrual products for on-site crews.
Written by: C. Soares