Ontarians will see some new laws and rules kick in next month
Multiple new laws and regulations in Ontario will be taking effect or coming to an end next month that will impact drivers, the construction industry, and possibly, everyday shoppers.
The Ontario government is slated to introduce new rules this March, and the federal government could be preparing to introduce retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. Here are some of the updated rules that you should be aware of.
Updated regulations under the Highway Traffic Act
Ontario is officially amending regulations under its Highway Traffic Act to extend the deadline for motor vehicle inspection station owners to switch to the new DriveON program from Dec. 31, 2024, to March 31, 2025.
This update allowed inspection stations that had yet to join DriveON to continue operating over the holidays, giving them more time to receive equipment, train staff, and familiarize themselves with the new program.
Ontario Building Code
The 2024 Ontario Building Code officially came into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, and has a three-month grace period that lasts until March 31, 2025, for certain designs that are already underway.
The code seeks to reduce regulatory burdens for the construction industry, while simultaneously increasing the safety and quality of buildings.
Along with this, the code makes it easier to build housing in the province and increases harmonization with the National Construction Codes by eliminating at least 1,730 technical variations between the provincial and national requirements.
According to the province, the new code was developed through consultations with partners in the sector, including building officials, fire prevention officials, architects, engineers, builders, and the construction industry.
Potential U.S. tariffs
On Feb. 3, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. tariffs on Canada would be paused for up to 30 days after Trudeau committed to a series of border security measures.
The pause came just hours before 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods and 10 per cent tariffs on energy exports to the U.S. were set to take effect. Following the news, Trump announced that he planned to add a 25 per cent tax on all global steel and aluminum imports to the U.S. starting on March 12.
Recently, all 13 of Canada’s premiers visited Washington D.C. in an effort to strengthen Canada-U.S. relations. “We had a very construction conversation,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford told reporters after a meeting at the White House.
Just one day earlier, Trudeau appointed Kevin Brosseau as Canada’s new fentanyl czar.
Brosseau, who is a former member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and intelligence adviser to Trudeau, will work closely with U.S. counterparts and law enforcement agencies to accelerate Canada’s efforts to dismantle the fentanyl trade.