Ontario's Week in Governance: New Rules for Towing, Child Care, and Your Commute
A plain-language summary of new legislation and regulations from the latest Ontario Gazette, including major changes for the towing industry and updates for GTHA commuters.
Hello everyone,
Welcome to your briefing on the latest from Queen's Park. The official
Ontario Gazette was published on June 28, 2025, and it’s filled with new regulations and laws that will affect people across the province.
From a major overhaul of the towing industry to new rules for commuters and protections for workers, here’s a straightforward summary of the key government business.
New Laws Passed in Ontario 📝
On June 5, 2025, several new bills officially became law after receiving Royal Assent from the Lieutenant Governor. Here are some of the most significant ones:
Bill 17: An Act to amend various laws concerning infrastructure, housing, and transit.
Bill 24: An Act to implement the province's budget measures.
Bill 11 & Bill 13: Two separate Acts to enact or amend various laws related to health care and primary care.
Bill 5: This bill enacts the Special Economic Zones Act, 2025, and replaces the Endangered Species Act, 2007 with the new Species Conservation Act, 2025.
Bill 6 & Bill 10: Two new laws aimed at public safety: the Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act, 2025 , and the
Measures Respecting Premises with Illegal Drug Activity Act, 2025.
A Major Overhaul for the Towing Industry 🚗
The government has introduced a comprehensive set of new regulations for the towing and vehicle storage industries, which will take effect on July 1, 2025. These changes are designed to increase transparency and protect consumers.
Here are the key highlights from the new rules:
Charges & Invoices:
Tow operators are now forbidden from charging for several services, including:
Transporting a driver or passenger of a towed vehicle.
Allowing access to the towed vehicle.
Preparing invoices or other administrative services.
Time spent on standby for an inspection or enforcement action.
Any unnecessary services or equipment.
If a tow operator uses a third party for additional services, they cannot mark up the third party's invoice by more than 15% (1.15 times the amount charged).
Invoices must be itemized in detail , and if a third party was used, their legal name and invoice must be included.
Consumer Protection & Operations:
Tow operators and vehicle storage operators
must accept common forms of payment, including credit cards, debit cards, contactless mobile payments, and cash. They cannot pressure customers to use one method over another.
Tow truck drivers must now take photographs of a vehicle before starting intermediate or advanced towing services to accurately show the scene.
Consent documentation for towing and storage must be provided to the customer before the service begins, if practical.
Changes for Commuters and Drivers 🛣️
New rules are also in place for drivers on Ontario's highways, particularly those using High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes.
Tow Trucks in HOV Lanes: The regulations have been amended to clarify that tow trucks can operate in HOV lanes when they have been requested by police or a driver to provide assistance to a vehicle in or near that lane, and using the lane is necessary to reach the vehicle.
Commercial Vehicles: The rules restricting commercial vehicles over 6.5 metres in length from using the far-left lane on certain highways now include an exception for tow trucks providing necessary roadside assistance.
Updates on Worker and Family Services
Worker Rights:
When giving notice of mass termination (50 or more employees), employers must now provide prescribed information to affected employees about
available provincial employment services. This change takes effect July 1, 2025.
The government has authorized the Minister of Revenue to provide collection services for amounts owing under the Digital Platform Workers' Rights Act, 2022.
Child Care:
Licensed child care operators are now required to share any communications or informational materials provided by the Minister of Education directly with parents.
These materials must be shared without any revisions and within the timeframe specified by a director.
These new regulations touch on many aspects of daily life in Ontario. Which of these changes do you think will have the biggest impact?
Share your thoughts in the comments below. 🇨🇦