As the new year begins, Ontarians will see a wide range of new laws and regulations take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, affecting everything from food on grocery shelves to highway tolls, recycling rules, home safety and impaired driving penalties.
Here’s a look at some of the key changes coming into force across the province.
More Vitamin D in Milk and Dairy Products
Under new Health Canada regulations finalized in 2022, dairy producers must increase vitamin D levels in milk and margarine by Dec. 31, 2025. The rules roughly double the amount of vitamin D required in cow’s milk and allowed in goat’s milk.
Health Canada says vitamin D is essential for bone health and that about one in five Canadians do not get enough. The strategy is also expanding fortification to foods such as yogurt and kefir, whose popularity has grown and which already contain calcium.
Grocery Code of Conduct Comes Into Force
Canada’s Grocery Code of Conduct takes effect Jan. 1, setting standards for commercial relationships between grocers and suppliers. The goal is to improve fairness, transparency and dispute resolution across the grocery supply chain.
Karen Proud, president and adjudicator of the code, says it will foster trust and collaboration among large grocers, independent stores and suppliers.
Food industry expert Sylvain Charlebois of Dalhousie University says the code is intended to level the playing field, particularly given the dominance of major players such as Loblaw, Metro, Empire, Walmart and Costco.
While Charlebois cautions consumers should not expect immediate price drops, he says similar codes in Australia and the U.K. helped stabilize food inflation. Canada’s food inflation rate stood at 4.7 per cent as of Nov. 1, well above the national inflation median of 2.8 per cent.
Stricter Carbon Monoxide Alarm Rules
New Ontario Fire Code standards will expand carbon monoxide (CO) alarm requirements in homes.
Carbon monoxide, an odourless and colourless gas produced by incomplete fuel combustion, is responsible for more than 65 per cent of CO-related injuries and deaths in Ontario homes.
Starting Jan. 1, CO alarms will be required on every storey of a home, even those without bedrooms. Alarms will also be mandatory if a home is heated by a fuel-burning appliance located outside the unit.
Existing rules already require alarms near sleeping areas and in homes with fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces or attached garages. In apartments and condos, alarms are required if units are near service rooms, garages, or receive air from fuel-burning systems.
Building owners and landlords are responsible for installation and maintenance, while tenants must report any issues.
407 ETR Route Relief Program Expands
Eligible Ontario residents can receive up to eight free trips per month on Highway 407 through the Route Relief Program.
To qualify, drivers must be Ontario residents with a personal vehicle, meet household income thresholds, have no outstanding balance with 407 ETR and not be enrolled in another promotion. For example, a family of four with net income under $57,726 may qualify.
Once approved, users receive credits for up to six trips per month. Applications are open, and approvals may take up to 30 days.
Toll and Transponder Fees Increasing on Highway 407
For drivers not enrolled in the relief program, tolls on the 407 ETR will rise Jan. 1.
Peak per-kilometre rates in central zones will increase by up to 34 cents, potentially adding about $5 per month for frequent users. Monthly transponder lease fees will rise from $4.75 to $5.
In some zones and peak periods, tolls will exceed $1 per kilometre, including Zone 7 between Highways 427 and 400 during weekday rush hours.
Expanded Blue Box Recycling Rules
Ontario’s enhanced blue box program rolls out provincewide Jan. 1, shifting recycling costs from municipalities to producers under an extended producer responsibility model.
Circular Materials, which manages the program, says the change will save municipalities more than $200 million.
Residents will be able to recycle more items, including black plastic containers, hot and cold beverage cups, frozen juice containers, ice cream tubs, and deodorant and toothpaste tubes. An expanded list of accepted items is being published to reduce confusion.
Tougher Impaired Driving Penalties
Ontario is tightening rules for alcohol- and drug-impaired driving under the Highway Traffic Act.
Beginning Jan. 1, roadside licence suspensions will increase for young and novice drivers caught with any alcohol in their system or who fail sobriety tests. First suspensions rise from three to seven days, and second suspensions from seven to 14 days.
The province is also extending the “look back period” for prior alcohol- and drug-related driving offences from five to 10 years when assessing penalties.
First-time offenders facing roadside suspensions will be required to complete a remedial education program through the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, while repeat offenders must undergo treatment programs.
The existing 90-day suspension for drivers with a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 or higher, refusals to provide a breath sample, or failed drug evaluations remains unchanged.
Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said the changes aim to deter reckless behaviour and keep dangerous drivers off Ontario roads.