Are you aware of these changes? What our community needs to know about new regulations and legislature in Ontario

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

As I was driving the other day, I thought about how much our society has changed over the years. Each and every day we encounter social issues, medical developments, and the explosion of new types of technology. With these changes come moral and legal questions that our government is forced to answer; questions that revolve around the reform of laws and how these laws affect the community. Our society continues to change, and our lawmakers are always adjusting to meet the challenges of the ever-changing society.

It is safe to say that some laws must become obsolete. New situations arise that no existing laws deal with, and this is why it is important that we at Toronto Caribbean Newspaper keep our community well informed about the legal changes that are happening across Canada. What I have summarized for you below is a look at some of the laws that will affect our community this year. I have provided links to the websites for your reference. If you are reading this, you will not be able to click on the link, but as soon the online version is available, please feel free to oversee your own research, and if you find anything else that will help our community out, please feel free to engage and let us know.

Distracted driving
https://www.ontario.ca/page/distracted-driving

These will officially take effect in every province on Feb. 1^st, 2020.

Drivers convicted of distracted driving under the new laws will be punished with a licence suspension, a hefty fine and demerit points. The severity of the punishment increases with the number of subsequent offences committed:

• First offence: 3 days suspension and $3,000 fine
• Second offence: 7 days suspension and $6,000 fine
• Three or more offences: 30 days suspension, $8,000 fine and six demerit points
• Police will not be able to seize driver’s licences at roadside. They would have to get the approval of a judge in order to be able to suspend any driver’s licences.

Once you’re convicted, whether it is through a guilty plea or trial, you will lose your licence for three, seven or thirty days.

Please note: Distracted driving is no longer limited to just texting and making phone calls. The Government of Canada has posted a list of activities that counts as distracted driving and it includes anything from simply holding an electronic device in one’s hand to eating while behind the wheel.

Amendments to the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (Canada)
Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SOR/2018-108)
https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2018-108/index.html

These will officially take effect Jan. 31^st, 2020.

Growers and harvesters of fresh fruit and vegetables must meet safety requirements to prevent food safety hazards and add labels allowing produce to be quickly traced for investigation and potential recall.

The internet code (Canada)
Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission
https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/internet/codesimpl.htm

Internet service providers, such as Bell and Rogers, must provide easier-to-understand contracts and policies, clearer information about prices, ‘bill shock protection’ through notifications and more consumer-friendly rules for cancelling contracts.

Smoking, vaping, and cannabis
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/smoking-tobacco/vaping.html

Ontario announced regulations against the promotion of vaping products inside gas stations and convenience stores in the fall. Vaping ads have been pulled from Ontario convenience stores and gas stations, effective on January 1^st, 2020.

Now, vape product promotion is only permitted in specialty vape and cannabis retail stores, open to people 19 years or older.

At the end of 2019, Ontario legalized the purchase of edibles.

It was reiterated that advertising these products must not be appealing to children and must not contain any health claims.

The government reiterated its restrictions on advertising these products, specifically noting that products must not be “appealing to kids” and contain no health claims. “All products containing THC will carry standardized symbols and contain a warning message. Cannabis cannot be manufactured in the same facility where regular food products are manufactured,” officials added.

Health care while travelling
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/ohip/outofcountry/travellers.aspx#1

Students and staff who rely on travel insurance, or those wishing to purchase travel insurance, should review OHIP’s 2020 cuts to its travel insurance coverage.

OHIP has limited out-of-country health care coverage for emergencies. This can include up to $400 per day for emergency in-patient services, and $50 per day for emergency outpatient services.

These cuts apply to Ontarians travelling outside of Canada. The overall impact of these cuts would heavily depend on the travelling country.

Starting January 1^st, 2020 Ontario is launching a new program to fund out-of-country dialysis services, ensuring that Ontarians living with kidney failure can continue to receive support for the dialysis care they need when they are travelling outside of Canada.

The launch of the new program to fund out-of-country dialysis services will coincide with the wind down of the limited Out-of-Country Travellers Program on December 31^st, 2019.

Carbon and corporate taxes
https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/pollution-pricing.html

Residents in Ontario are now eligible for carbon tax rebates, which must be claimed through 2019 income taxes. A single adult or first adult in a couple will get $224 back in rebates. For a family of four, the baseline amount is $448.

Small businesses in Ontario will save approximately $1,500 annually after a recent tax reduction for this entity. To encourage entrepreneurs starting businesses in the province, the government has also reduced corporate income tax by 8.7% for small businesses.

Stay informed! Pay attention! Educate yourself on what you need to know in our ever-changing society.