New laws and rules coming to Ontario next month
A few new laws and regulations in Ontario will be going into effect next month that will impact municipal governments across the province, as well as how everyday residents access dental care.
From eligibility expansions to increased powers for mayors, here are the key changes you need to be aware of.
Here are all the new laws, regulations, and proposals that could come into effect in May 2025.
Expansion of Canadian Dental Care Plan
The federal government is officially expanding the Canadian Dental Care Plan to include millions of new eligible Canadians. Applications are set to open next month by age group, starting with residents between 55 to 64 years old on May 1.
Applications for residents between 18 to 34 years old will open on May 15, and those between 35 to 54 years old can submit their application starting on May 29.
To qualify for the plan, you must not have access to dental insurance, have filed your individual 2024 tax return in Canada, have an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000, and be a Canadian resident for tax purposes.
Coverage is set to start as early as June 1, 2025, and, as with previous cohorts, eligible Canadians will be able to apply online, by phone, or by visiting a Service Canada Centre.
Expansion of strong mayor powers
The provincial government is proposing to expand strong mayor powers to the heads of council in 169 additional municipalities starting on May 1, 2025, to help deliver on provincial priorities, including building more homes and transit.
"This significant expansion reflects Ontario’s commitment to streamline local governance and help ensure municipalities have the tools they need to reduce obstacles that can stand in the way of new housing and infrastructure development," a news release from the province reads.
The powers would allow heads of council within single- and lower-tier municipalities with councils of six members or more to support shared provincial-municipal priorities, which include encouraging approval for new housing.
Strong mayor powers, which were initially introduced for Toronto in 2022, have been gradually rolled out across the province, and there are currently 47 municipalities across Ontario with these enhanced powers.
Strong mayor powers and duties include choosing to appoint the municipality's chief administrative officer, hiring certain municipal department heads, proposing the municipal budget, proposing certain municipal bylaws, and vetoing certain bylaws.
The following heads of council could get access to strong mayor powers, effective May 1, 2025:
Township of Adjala-Tosorontio
Town of Amherstburg
Town of Arnprior
Municipality of Arran-Elderslie
Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh
Township of Athens
Town of Atikokan
Town of Aylmer
Town of Bancroft
Township of Black River-Matheson
Town of Blind River
Municipality of Bluewater
Town of Bracebridge
County of Brant
Municipality of Brighton
Township of Brock
Municipality of Brockton
City of Brockville
Town of Carleton Place
Municipality of Central Elgin
Township of Central Frontenac
Municipality of Central Huron
Municipality of Central Manitoulin
Township of Centre Wellington
Township of Champlain
City of Clarence-Rockland
Township of Clearview
Town of Cobalt
Town of Cobourg
Town of Cochrane
Town of Collingwood
City of Cornwall
Town of Deep River
City of Dryden
United Townships of Dysart, Dudley, Harcourt, Guilford, Harburn, Bruton, Havelock, Eyre and Clyde
Township of East Zorra-Tavistock
Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley
City of Elliot Lake
Town of Englehart
Town of Espanola
Town of Essex
Town of Fort Erie
Town of Fort Frances
Municipality of French River
Town of Gananoque
Township of Georgian Bay
Township of Georgian Bluffs
Town of Goderich
Town of Gore Bay
Town of Gravenhurst
Town of Greater Napanee
Municipality of Greenstone
Municipality of Grey Highlands
Town of Grimsby
Town of Hanover
Municipality of Hastings Highlands
Town of Hawkesbury
Town of Hearst
Town of Huntsville
Municipality of Huron East
Municipality of Huron Shores
Township of Huron-Kinloss
Town of Ingersoll
Town of Iroquois Falls
Town of Kapuskasing
City of Kenora
Township of Killaloe, Hagarty & Richards
Municipality of Killarney
Municipality of Kincardine
Township of King
Town of Kingsville
Town of Kirkland Lake
Township of Lake of Bays
Municipality of Lakeshore
Municipality of Lambton Shores
Township of Lanark Highlands
Town of LaSalle
Town of Latchford
Township of Laurentian Valley
Municipality of Leamington
Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands
Town of Lincoln
Loyalist Township
Township of Malahide
Town of Mattawa
Municipality of Meaford
Municipality of Middlesex Centre
Town of Midland
Township of Minden Hills
Town of Minto
Municipality of Mississippi Mills
Township of Muskoka Lakes
The Nation Municipality
Municipality of Neebing
Town of New Tecumseth
Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake
Norfolk County
Township of North Frontenac
Township of North Glengarry
Township of North Huron
Municipality of North Middlesex
Municipality of North Perth
Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands
Town of Orangeville
City of Orillia (The City of Orillia was granted temporary strong mayor powers on April 3, 2025, to help the municipality respond to the ice storm that impacted the region in late March. These powers will become permanent on May 1, 2025).
Township of Oro-Medonte
City of Owen Sound
Town of Parry Sound
Town of Pelham
City of Pembroke
Town of Penetanguishene
Town of Perth
Township of Perth East
Township of Perth South
Town of Petawawa
Town of Petrolia
Town of Plympton-Wyoming
City of Port Colborne
Municipality of Port Hope
Town of Prescott
County of Prince Edward
City of Quinte West
Town of Rainy River
Township of Ramara
Town of Renfrew
Township of Rideau Lakes
Township of Sables-Spanish Rivers
Town of Saugeen Shores
Township of Scugog
Township of Seguin
Township of Severn
Town of Shelburne
Municipality of Sioux Lookout
Town of Smiths Falls
Township of South Algonquin
Municipality of South Bruce
Township of South Frontenac
Municipality of South Huron
Township of Southgate
Municipality of Southwest Middlesex
Township of South-West Oxford
Township of Springwater
Township of St. Clair
Town of St. Marys
City of St. Thomas
Township of Stone Mills
City of Stratford
Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc
Township of Tay
Tay Valley Township
Town of Tecumseh
Municipality of Temagami
City of Temiskaming Shores
Township of The Archipelago
Town of The Blue Mountains
Town of Thessalon
City of Thorold
Town of Tillsonburg
City of Timmins
Municipality of Trent Hills
Township of Uxbridge
Town of Wasaga Beach
Municipality of West Grey
Township of West Lincoln
Municipality of West Nipissing
Municipality of West Perth
Township of Whitewater Region
Township of Wilmot
Township of Woolwich
Lead photo by Erman Gunes/Shutterstock.com
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Sandra P. 4/27/2025 |
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