10 New Ontario Laws And Rules In September 2026

September 2026 is delivering one of the busiest months for new provincial rules, policy shifts, and program changes Ontario has seen in years.

Transit fares, rental laws, school grading, university funding, highway speeds, and healthcare access are all changing within the same four-week window.

Some of these changes took effect on September 1, others land on September 8 or September 21, and a few carry deadlines at the end of the month.

Whether you rent an apartment, ride the TTC, drive a 400-series highway, or have a child starting high school, at least one of these items will directly affect your daily life.

Ontario also saw a heavy round of new provincial rules take effect in July 2026, and several new federal laws arrived alongside them in September.

Here is a full breakdown of 10 major Ontario laws, rules, and changes taking effect this month.

1. New Ontario School Rules Begin

Ontario’s Ministry of Education has overhauled secondary school assessment and evaluation practices for the 2026-27 school year, and the changes are among the most substantial in over two decades.

Most secondary courses will now include a mandatory written final exam as a fixed percentage of the final grade.

For Grades 9 and 10, the final mark is now composed of 65% classroom work, 20% final evaluation, and 15% attendance and participation.

For Grades 11 and 12, the breakdown shifts to 65% classroom work, 25% final evaluation, and 10% attendance and participation.

In core subjects like math, English, and science, the written exam accounts for the full 20% or 25% final-evaluation weight.

Other courses generally follow a split of 10% exam and 15% culminating task, or a 15% exam and 10% task combination, depending on the subject.

Exemptions exist for specific course types, including locally developed compulsory credit courses, workplace-preparation and open courses, co-operative education, and interdisciplinary studies.

The Grade 9 EQAO mathematics assessment will now serve as the written final exam and count for 20% of the final course grade.

Attendance and participation are graded together on a five-level scale.

A student who misses more than 10% of classes for unexcused absences falls below level 1, which directly affects their final mark.

Teachers will assess whether students contribute to discussions, ask relevant questions, and support a positive classroom culture.

Students who began Grade 9 in 2025-26 or later must complete the new financial literacy graduation requirement, generally through the compulsory Grade 10 Career Studies course.

Students need a mark of 70% or higher on the financial literacy modules, which make up 5% of their final Career Studies grade.

Ontario also updated the kindergarten curriculum for the first time in several years as part of the broader education overhaul.

These education changes arrive alongside new immigration-linked benefit eligibility rules that Ontario introduced in August 2026.

2. Ontario Tuition And OSAP Rules Change

Ontario’s seven-year freeze on domestic tuition officially ended this fall.

Public colleges and universities can now raise tuition by up to 2% annually for the next three years under a new framework announced on February 12, 2026.

After the initial three-year period, future increases will be capped at 2% or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower.

Even with these increases, the provincial government says Ontario tuition will remain below 2019 levels until at least 2030.

The bigger shift for students is the restructuring of the Ontario Student Assistance Program.

Starting with the 2026-27 academic year, students will receive a maximum of 25% of their provincial OSAP funding as non-repayable grants.

At least 75% of OSAP funding will now be issued as repayable loans.

This is a dramatic reversal from the previous structure, where a much larger share of provincial aid could be delivered as grants.

For eligible study periods beginning on or after August 1, 2026, students at private career colleges are no longer eligible for the Ontario Student Grant, although other OSAP assistance may still depend on individual eligibility.

Alongside the OSAP restructuring, Ontario committed $6.4 billion in additional funding over four years to public universities, colleges, and Indigenous Institutes.

Annual operating support is rising to $7 billion, which the province describes as the highest level in its history.

The province also enhanced the Student Access Guarantee, a needs-based program designed to help low-income students cover tuition, books, and mandatory fees when OSAP falls short.

Students and families planning for post-secondary education can review the full OSAP eligibility requirements before applying.

Major New Landlord And Tenant Rules Take Effect

September 21, 2026, marks the second wave of amendments to Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act under Bill 60 and Bill 97.

These changes follow the first wave that took effect on July 1, 2026, which included shortened review deadlines, doubled maximum fines for landlord misconduct, and a mandatory payment agreement form.

The most significant September 21 change is the reduction of the N4 non-payment notice period from fourteen days to seven days for monthly and yearly tenancies.

Under the current rules, a tenant who misses rent and receives an N4 has fourteen days to pay before the landlord can file an L1 eviction application with the Landlord and Tenant Board.

Starting September 21, that window drops to seven days.

The tenant can still void the notice by paying in full within that seven-day period, but the timeline before a landlord can proceed to the Board is now cut in half.

Ontario is also introducing a statutory definition of persistent late payment for the first time.

The new regulation expressly includes situations where a tenant fails to pay rent within seven days of the due date on at least three occasions within any six-month period, subject to limited exceptions.

A landlord may rely on that pattern in seeking termination through the LTB.

Renoviction protections are also being strengthened with new written communication requirements.

Landlords who issue an N13 for renovations must now provide an estimated completion date, notify the tenant of changes, confirm when the unit is ready, and give tenants at least sixty days to exercise their right of first refusal.

Tenants seeking to raise certain issues during non-payment eviction hearings will now need to pay half of the claimed rent arrears no later than seven days before the hearing.

A separate change allows landlords who serve an N12 personal-use notice with at least 120 days’ notice to waive the standard one-month compensation requirement.

Under Ontario Regulation 240/26, the person named in an N12 must move in within sixty days of the tenant vacating, or a rebuttable presumption of bad faith takes effect.

The 2026 Ontario rent increase guideline remains at 2.1% for units subject to rent control.

4. Ontario Launches Another Major Family-Doctor Expansion

Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones announced on August 18, 2026, that Ontario is opening a new call for proposals in September to create or expand approximately 78 primary care teams.

The stated goal is connecting another 600,000 people to a family doctor or primary-care provider.

This $250 million investment is part of the province’s broader $3.4 billion Primary Care Action Plan, which aims to connect every person in Ontario to primary care by 2029.

Communities across Ontario will be eligible to apply for funding through the September call for proposals.

All Ontario Health Teams will receive guidance in September before the call officially launches.

Primary care teams bring together doctors, nurse practitioners, registered and practical nurses, physiotherapists, social workers, dietitians, and other professionals under one roof.

Separately, 124 successful applicants from the 2026-27 funding round are already receiving funding for new or expanded primary care teams.

Those teams are expected to connect another 500,000 patients to primary care, including people currently waiting through the Health Care Connect registry.

The government says more than 20,000 physicians have been added to Ontario’s health-care workforce since 2018, including a 14% increase in the number of family doctors.

Ontario is also developing a province-wide primary care medical record system intended to integrate patient information and reduce administrative demands on providers.

The province has been making substantial investments across healthcare and social services in 2026, including changes to ODSP payment schedules and new CRA benefit payment timelines for Ontario residents.

5. More Ontario Highways Move To 110 km/h

Ontario is completing the latest phase of its highway speed-limit expansion, with the goal of posting 110 km/h on nearly 89% of the provincial highway network by the end of September 2026.

The province is raising the limit from 100 km/h to 110 km/h on an additional 938 kilometres of highways, with the rollout occurring in stages from late June through September 30.

Currently, approximately 873 kilometres of provincial highways carry a posted speed limit of 110 km/h.

Once all September changes take effect, roughly 89% of the network will operate under the higher limit, up from 43% before the expansion began.

The sections moving to 110 km/h by September 30 include Highway 403 from QEW to Highway 401, Highway 404 from Highway 401 to Mulock Drive, Highway 406 from Westchester Avenue to Highway 58, Highway 407 from Brock Road to Highway 35/115, Highway 412 from Highway 401 to Highway 407, Highway 418 from Highway 401 to Highway 407, the QEW from Freeman Interchange to Highway 403, and two additional QEW stretches in the Niagara region.

Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said drivers travelling between Sarnia and Toronto could save nearly 20 minutes under the new limits.

Those driving from Toronto to Ottawa could save close to half an hour.

The expansion builds on previous speed-limit increases introduced on six highway sections in 2022 and ten sections in 2024.

All affected highway sections underwent detailed engineering and technical assessments before the increases were approved.

Newly constructed freeways, including Highways 413 and 425, are being designed with a posted speed limit of 110 km/h from the start.

The stunt-driving threshold remains unchanged at 40 km/h or more over the posted limit, meaning drivers on an 110 km/h highway who reach 150 km/h face vehicle impoundment and licence suspension.

Ontario introduced new driving licence rules linked to immigration status verification under the same Bill 60 legislation that also delivered the rental law changes.

6. Medical Schools Must Reserve At Least 95% Of Seats For Ontario Residents

Starting with the fall 2026 admissions cycle, all Ontario medical schools must allocate at least 95% of their undergraduate seats to residents of Ontario.

Under the new framework, the remaining seats are generally limited to eligible applicants from elsewhere in Canada, which effectively eliminates the traditional international-applicant pathway for undergraduate medical-school admission in Ontario, subject to the legislation and any prescribed exceptions.

The law does provide an exception if there are insufficient qualified Ontario applicants to fill the reserved seats.

The policy was announced by Premier Doug Ford on October 25, 2024, as part of Ontario’s response to the province’s family-doctor shortage.

More than 2.5 million Ontarians currently lack a primary care provider, and the province says locally trained graduates are significantly more likely to remain and practice in Ontario.

Ontario now has seven operating medical schools, with York University expected to bring the total to eight when its program opens by 2028.

The new legislation formalizes a seat-allocation structure and makes it a binding requirement across all Ontario medical schools.

The province also expanded the Learn and Stay Grant, investing $88 million to cover tuition and educational costs for 1,360 undergraduate medical students who commit to practicing family medicine in Ontario.

Ontario’s broader immigration-linked policy changes in 2026 also include a redesigned Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program with new workforce-priority pathways.

7. Permanent Flashing School-Zone Warning Signs Due

Ontario municipalities that previously operated automated speed enforcement cameras in school zones must have permanent large warning signs with flashing lights installed by September 2026.

This deadline stems from Bill 56, the legislation that banned municipal speed cameras across Ontario effective November 14, 2025.

When the province repealed speed camera authority, it required municipalities to install interim large signs by mid-November 2025 and permanent flashing-light signage by September 2026.

The replacement signs read “Maximum 40 km/h” and “School Zone” and are meant to serve as the primary visual deterrent for speeding drivers near schools.

Several municipalities reported logistical issues with the initial signs, with both Toronto and Ottawa noting that the province-supplied signs were physically too large for existing poles.

The province provided a $210 million fund to help affected municipalities cover the cost of alternative traffic-calming measures, including the flashing signs, speed bumps, raised crosswalks, and curb extensions.

Safety advocates and multiple municipal councils have criticized the speed camera ban, citing research showing cameras reduced speeding by 45% in Toronto school zones.

The permanent flashing-light deadline coincides with the start of the new school year across Ontario.

Parents with school-age children may also want to review Ontario’s 2026 statutory holidays and long weekends to plan around the fall schedule.

8. Major GO Train And Bus Schedule Changes

Metrolinx began rolling out service changes across four GO Train lines on September 5, with additional adjustments starting September 8 and September 12.

The Lakeshore East, Lakeshore West, Barrie, and Stouffville lines are all affected, primarily during off-peak hours.

Rush-hour rail service remains unchanged, but weekend and evening train frequencies are being reduced on several corridors.

Weekend service on the Lakeshore East and Lakeshore West lines is returning to 30-minute intervals, down from the 15-minute service that was in place during the summer and the FIFA World Cup period.

Midday and evening service to and from Niagara Falls on weekdays is also being adjusted.

On the Barrie line, several weekday evening trains have been removed from the schedule, and weekend train service will run every two hours between 2:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.

The Stouffville line will have no weekend train service until after 3:00 p.m., with replacement buses operating on routes 65, 68, and 71.

Metrolinx attributed the changes to seasonal demand adjustments, train-crew training and certification needs, and recovery from elevated ridership during the FIFA World Cup.

The transit agency said the interim measures are expected to remain in place until spring 2027.

GO bus schedules are also changing, with the return of service to post-secondary campuses on several routes and the addition of a new Route 43 between Mount Pleasant GO Station in Brampton and McMaster University in Hamilton.

These schedule changes arrive in the same month as several new CRA benefit payments for Ontario families and ongoing provincial benefit payment adjustments.

9. New TTC Fare-Capping Rules Now In Effect

As of September 1, 2026, the Toronto Transit Commission has introduced monthly fare capping for all riders who pay electronically.

Adults, youth, seniors, and Fair Pass customers who consistently use the same PRESTO card, debit or credit card, or mobile-wallet device will ride free after 47 paid trips within the calendar month.

The trip count resets at the beginning of each new month, and riders do not need to sign up or opt in.

Only the first tap of each new trip counts toward the 47-fare cap, because additional taps within the existing two-hour transfer window remain free.

Riders must tap the same card or device every time for their fares to accumulate toward a single cap.

A physical PRESTO card and the same card loaded into a mobile wallet are treated as separate payment methods.

If a rider switches between devices mid-month, neither device will reach the cap on its own.

The TTC simultaneously discontinued several existing fare products on August 31, 2026.

The adult monthly pass, youth monthly pass, senior monthly pass, Fair Pass monthly pass, youth twelve-month pass, and senior twelve-month pass are no longer available for purchase.

Adult twelve-month passes and post-secondary student monthly passes remain active and continue to offer the lowest per-ride cost for riders who use them daily.

Toronto’s 2026 operating budget approved the fare-capping program alongside a third consecutive fare freeze, with current adult pay-as-you-go fares remaining at $3.30 by PRESTO debit or credit and $3.35 by cash.

The TTC says the monthly cap will drop from 47 paid trips to 40 in 2027.

The Ontario One Fare Program that launched in 2024 continues to operate alongside the new TTC fare cap for riders connecting between TTC and regional transit agencies.

10. GO Transit And UP Express Fare-Evasion Fines Increase

Metrolinx is dramatically increasing fines for fare evasion on GO Transit and the UP Express, effective September 8, 2026.

A first-time offence will now carry a $200 fine, up from the previous $35 penalty.

That represents a 471% increase for passengers caught travelling without valid proof of payment.

Subsequent offences escalate sharply: $300 for a second offence, $400 for a third, and $500 for a fourth.

A fifth offence will result in a Provincial Offence Notice carrying a $600 set fine, while a sixth or subsequent offence can lead to a court summons and a fine of up to $1,000 upon conviction.

Metrolinx says fare evasion costs the transit system approximately $21 million in lost revenue each year.

The agency urged commuters to avoid fines by tapping their PRESTO, debit, or credit card at the start and end of each trip.

Riders who transfer between GO trains and buses, or between GO Transit and connecting transit agencies, should tap the same card every time.

Anyone using a discounted fare, including students and veterans, must carry valid identification in case of an inspection.

The increased fines follow a 2022 graduated-penalty structure that started at just $35 for first offences.

September 2026 is reshaping daily life for millions of Ontarians across transit, housing, education, healthcare, and transportation.

Many of these changes carry specific deadlines and compliance requirements that make it essential to understand the exact dates and rules before they take effect.

Residents should bookmark official provincial and municipal sources and review how each change applies to their specific situation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Will TTC fare capping apply to cash-paying riders?

No, monthly fare capping only applies to electronic payments made with a PRESTO card, debit card, credit card, or mobile wallet. Cash fares are exact-fare, one-way trips that do not count toward the 47-trip cap. Riders who regularly pay with cash and want to benefit from capping will need to switch to one of the accepted electronic payment methods and use the same card or device consistently throughout the month.

Can a landlord serve a 7-day N4 notice before September 21, 2026?

No, any N4 notice served before September 21 must use the existing fourteen-day termination period to be legally valid. A landlord who serves a seven-day N4 before the effective date risks having the notice declared void by the Landlord and Tenant Board. The new timeline applies only to notices served on or after September 21, regardless of when the rent arrears originally accrued.

Do the new OSAP grant-to-loan ratios affect students who are already enrolled and receiving OSAP?

Yes, the restructured 25% maximum grant and 75% minimum loan ratios apply to all OSAP recipients beginning with the 2026-27 academic year, regardless of whether the student is newly enrolled or continuing. Students who received their OSAP for the 2025-26 year under the old structure will see the new ratios reflected in their next funding cycle. The 2026-27 OSAP application already reflects these changes.

What happens if a municipality misses the September 2026 deadline for installing flashing school-zone signs?

The province established the deadline when it banned speed cameras under Bill 56, and municipalities were provided provincial funding through a $210 million traffic-calming fund to help cover installation costs. The Ontario government has not publicly detailed specific enforcement actions for municipalities that miss the deadline, though the requirement is tied to provincial legislation. Affected municipalities have been working with the Ministry of Transportation throughout 2026 to meet the installation schedule.

Will GO Transit rush-hour service be affected by the September schedule changes?

No, Metrolinx has confirmed that rush-hour rail service on all affected lines remains unchanged. The September service reductions apply exclusively to off-peak periods, including weekday evenings and weekends on the Lakeshore West, Lakeshore East, Barrie, and Stouffville lines. Replacement GO bus service is available on routes 65, 68, and 71 during periods when trains are not operating, though buses are subject to road traffic conditions.

Fact-Checked: All information in this article has been verified against official sources as of September 5, 2026, including the TTC’s official September 2026 fare-capping update, Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act regulations and related Bill 60 and Bill 97 amendments, the Ontario government’s postsecondary funding and OSAP changes, the Ministry of Education’s Growing Success assessment and evaluation framework, the Ontario Newsroom’s highway speed-limit expansion announcement, Ontario’s medical-school admissions legislation, Metrolinx’s September GO rail and bus service changes and new GO Transit and UP Express fare-evasion fine schedule, the Ontario government’s September primary-care expansion, and the province’s school-zone speed-camera replacement framework.

Disclaimer: This article is published by Immigration News Canada for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Policies, programs, and regulations described in this article are subject to change. Readers should consult official Ontario government sources, their local municipality, or a qualified professional for guidance specific to their individual circumstances.

Satinder Bains

Satinder brings expertise, knowledge, and experience related to internal work flows at IRCC. She worked at Canadian Consulate in Chandigarh before moving to Canada. Her articles on “Chinook – An internal IRCC tool used to bulk process temporary applications” was one of the notable work on our news website