July Brings Major Law Changes Across Ontario

Ontario entered July with one of its busiest rounds of rule changes this year, bringing updates to auto insurance, healthcare, housing, credit reporting, transit safety, child care, professional licensing and municipal fees.

The changes, now in effect across the province, affect millions of residents in everyday ways. Drivers may need to review their insurance coverage. Families may see new child care safety rules. Tenants and landlords face tighter limits at the Landlord and Tenant Board. Several cities have also introduced new local fees or fare changes.

Major Auto Insurance Changes

Ontario’s auto insurance system has been restructured under changes confirmed by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario.

Medical, rehabilitation and attendant care coverage remain mandatory. However, several benefits that were previously included automatically are now optional for new policies. These include income replacement benefits of up to $400 per week, caregiver benefits, non-earner benefits, housekeeping expenses, death benefits and funeral benefits.

Existing policyholders whose plans renew after July 1 will keep their current coverage unless they choose to opt out in writing. New policyholders must select optional benefits when buying coverage.

Auto insurers must also pay eligible accident-related medical and rehabilitation costs before private or workplace health plans are used, except for medication expenses. Ontario has also raised the minor collision damage threshold from $2,000 to $5,000.

Credit, Health and Housing Updates

Ontario residents can now request a free electronic consumer report every month from Equifax and TransUnion. Credit scores must also be provided at no cost. Residents can place or remove a security freeze on their credit file for free to help prevent identity theft.

In healthcare, pharmacists can now prescribe for nine more minor conditions and administer more publicly funded vaccines. Colorectal cancer screening eligibility has dropped from age 50 to 45, opening access to about 900,000 more Ontarians aged 45 to 49.

The province has also simplified nurse practitioner registration and clarified income rules for the Seniors Co-Payment Program.

Housing rules have changed too. The Landlord and Tenant Board now has stricter limits on when it can reconsider its own decisions. The Ontario Trillium Benefit lump-sum threshold has increased from $360 to $500, meaning more low-income residents will receive one larger July payment instead of small monthly deposits.

Driving, Transit and Public Safety

Ontario has cancelled annual fee increases for road tests, driver’s licences and driving instructor licences. The province says the move will save drivers $66 million over this decade.

The province has also tightened driver’s licence eligibility rules to fight fraud. Drivers who complete an ignition interlock period after an impaired driving conviction now face a six-month zero-tolerance condition for alcohol or drugs.

Transit special constables on Metrolinx, TTC and OC Transpo systems now have expanded powers to remove, arrest or ticket people using illegal substances on transit property.

Families, Records and Local Changes

Licensed child care programs now face stronger health and safety rules, including faster access to emergency medications and broader criminal offence screening.

Freedom of Information response timelines have changed from 30 calendar days to 45 business days for requests filed on or after July 1.

Ontario has also reduced the professional engineer work experience requirement from four years to two years and added about 2,570 hectares to provincial parks and conservation reserves.

Municipal changes include updated development charges in Mississauga and Brampton, a new four per cent short-term rental tax in Hamilton, higher Oakville Transit PRESTO fares, and rent-geared-to-income adjustments in Toronto.