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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

'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.

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.

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'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'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.

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 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.

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.