New Year, new laws in Canada – which may or may not affect you

There are 46 new laws this year, some across Canada and others only province wide. Listed here are the new laws that will come into effect in Canada and in the province of Ontario and Quebec in 2020.

January 1, 2020

Act to amend the Canada Business Corporations Act (Canada)

Public corporations incorporated under the CBCA are required to report diversity of directors and senior management. Designated groups are women, Indigenous persons, members of visible minorities and persons with disabilities.

Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families (Canada)

Provides Indigenous governments jurisdiction over child and family services with an overall goal of reducing the number of children in care. Establishes practices, including best interests of the child and cultural continuity, to guide provision of services.

Act to amend the Divorce Act (Canada)

An intended modernization of the Act encourages out-of-court settlements, provides greater enforcement of support obligations and allows perpetrators of family violence to see their parenting time limited.

Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) Act (Ontario)

Creates new powers and offences to combat activities such as neglect and dog fighting, increases penalties and expands the list of those who can enforce laws as well as establishes a provincial advisory board to improve animal care.

Amendment to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (Ontario)

Bans promotion of vape products in convenience stores and gas stations; promotion now only permitted in specialty vape stores and cannabis retail stores, open to people aged 19 plus.

An Act to tighten the regulation of cannabis (Quebec)

Raises the legal age for purchasing and consuming recreational cannabis products from 18 to 21 years and prohibits the consumption of recreational cannabis products in public, except for areas designated by municipalities.

June 25, 2020

Accessible transportation for persons with disabilities regulations (Canada)

Airlines transporting at least one million passengers annually required to communicate and train personnel and provide accommodations, such as guidance through security, for persons with disabilities. Measures phased in over three years.

Oct. 1, 2020

Making Ontario Open for Business Act (Ontario)

Adjusts Ontario’s $14 an hour minimum wage to the rate of inflation. In 2019, the Act canceled the legislated hike of the minimum wage from $14 to $15.