The Ontario government has introduced a slate of reforms aimed at improving road safety, addressing mismanagement in school boards, and cracking down on crime, among other initiatives. The new measures are set to come into effect on July 1, Canada Day.
Among the changes, the Ministry of Transportation will introduce mandatory ignition interlock devices for those convicted of impaired driving, as well as new "zero-tolerance" conditions that prohibit driving with any alcohol or drugs in their systems. The province will also end annual hikes for driver's licences and road tests, saving Ontario drivers $66 million this decade.
The province is also cracking down on driver's licence fraud by making it harder to get an Ontario licence, particularly for those seeking reciprocity from jurisdictions without exchange agreements with Ontario. "Drivers from jurisdictions that do not have driver's licence exchange agreements with Ontario can get credit for up to 12 months of verified foreign driving experience but will need to complete the vision test, knowledge test, G2 and G road tests and wait at least 12 months after completing the G2 test before attempting the G test," a press release from Queen's Park stated.
The Ministry of Education will also introduce changes to address concerns of mismanagement at Ontario's school boards. The Putting Student Achievement First Act, which received royal assent in May, will change the role of trustees and their expense accounts, rebrand Directors of Education as "Chief Executive Officers," and require business qualifications as a condition for the role.
New "Chief Education Officer" (CEdO) positions will be established, with candidates required to hold Ontario College of Teachers certification and a mandate to focus on improving student achievement. The province will also introduce new rules under the Child Care and Early Years Act, which will expand the list of criminal offences that would disqualify one from working in child care, clarify unacceptable conduct, and ensure emergency medicines can be accessed promptly.
The Ministry of the Solicitor General will introduce new regulations that will hold landlords and property owners accountable for knowingly permitting the production of illegal drugs on their property. The province will also expand the powers of police and transit special constables on Metrolinx-owned lines, as well as the TTC and Ottawa's OC Transpo, to "remove, arrest and issue provincial offences to individuals using illegal substances on public transit and in public transit areas."
The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services will introduce amendments to the Child, Youth and Family Services Act and related regulations that will tighten disclosure rules concerning personal information for youth who are about to age out of Ontario's child protection framework. The province will also allow those subjected to related court proceedings to publicly identify themselves.
The Ministry of Health will introduce changes that will allow pharmacists to diagnose and prescribe medications for nine new minor ailments, including dandruff, corns and callouses, headaches, head lice, ringworm, warts and jock itch. Pharmacists will also be able to administer six new vaccines, including tetanus, pertussis, shingles and diphtheria.
The Ministry of Finance will introduce measures to recover unpaid bail debts, including collection tools such as liens, wage garnishment and property seizures. The province will also make changes to Ontario's car insurance regime, requiring providers to pay eligible collision-related medical and rehabilitation expenses ahead of supplementary health insurance plans.
