New laws that could affect you coming to Ontario in 2025

New laws and regulations are coming to Ontario in 2025.

From gig workers’ wages to cannabis regulations, there are a few changes to laws and regulations coming in the new year.

The Ford government has been busy announcing revisions to acts. The government has said the changes will streamline services, “reduce red tape” or improve safety.

Here are some of the changes coming in 2025:

Minimum wage for gig workers

New protections for gig workers, including ride-share, delivery, courier, and other digital platform-based services such as Uber and Door Dash, are coming.

Ontario’s Digital Platform Workers’ Rights Act will come into force on July 1, 2025. The act requires operators to pay at least minimum wage for each work assignment and provide detailed information about how worker pay is calculated.

Operators will also be prohibited from withholding earnings or tips, except in limited circumstances.

This act comes as gig workers protested at Pearson Airport in Mississauga about unclear pay models this year.

Child care

Starting in January 2025, parent fees will be capped at $22 per day for children under the age of six in Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care programs.

Health

Nine local public health agencies will be consolidated. The new units will be Brant County Health Unit and Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit; Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit and Peterborough County-City Health Unit; Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Health Unit, Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox and Addington Health Unit and the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit; and the Porcupine Health Unit and Timiskaming Health Unit.

Cannabis regulations

Changes will streamline current licensing processes for cannabis retailers by reducing the time it takes for people to purchase an existing store.

The Cannabis Control Act, 2017 will also be amended to prohibit the cultivation of recreational cannabis in licensed and unlicensed home-based child care settings. Convicted offenders would be subject to a fine of up to $1,000 for a first conviction and up to $5,000 for subsequent convictions. 

Children’s Aid

Children’s aid societies must visit children in out-of-home care placements every 30 days, as well as conduct safety assessments, create safety plans and develop plans of care for children in adoption placements.

University and college students

Through the Strengthening Accountability and Student Supports Act, 2024, every publicly assisted college and university in the province must establish clear policies to support student mental health, as well as address and prevent racism and hate on campus.

Highway Traffic Act

Drivers involved in minor collisions won’t have to report to the police. The total threshold to report a collision that involves property damage to police is being raised from $2,000 to $5,000.

Payday loans

Often seen as predatory lenders, payday loan businesses often take advantage of low-income Canadians, newcomers and those with limited credit history.

The criminal interest rate under the Criminal Code will be lowered from the equivalent of approximately 48 per cent to 35 per cent. The maximum cost of borrowing on payday loans should be at $14 per every $100 borrowed.

Menstrual products at construction sites

Under the Working for Workers Five Act, 2024, large construction projects and employers at other workplaces must keep washrooms in clean and sanitary condition. Menstrual products must be provided on larger construction sites.

Long-term care homes

All long-term care homes should have sprinklers by Jan. 1, 2025. To account for additional infrastructure work, Ontario is extending the compliance deadline by 18 months to July 1, 2026 for designated LTC homes and will implement additional fire safety measures in the interim.

Ontario Building Code changes

Major revisions to the Ontario Building Code will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.

Announced on April 10, the changes are intended to streamline processes for the building sector and increase harmonization with the National Construction Codes, eliminating more than 1,730 technical variations between the provincial and national requirements, according to the Ontario Association of Architects.

More information on changes in Ontario for 2025 can be found here.

Lead photo: P Hsuan Wang