New laws and rules coming to Ontario next month

With June just around the corner, there are a few notable laws, rules, and policy changes that are set to come into effect here in Ontario that will impact apartment buildings, tenants, and everyday consumers.

From temperature standards to GST/HST credit top-ups, here are all the changes that you can expect next month.

These are the new laws and rules coming to Ontario in June 2026.

Indoor temperature standards bylaw

Last year, the Toronto City Council approved a new bylaw that requires apartment buildings without air conditioning to provide tenants with access to a cooled amenity space during the summer months.

The bylaw, which officially kicks in on June 1, 2026, replaces the city's existing heating bylaw with a new Indoor Temperature Standards bylaw.

Starting next month, apartment buildings in the RentSafeTO program that do not provide cooling but do have an indoor amenity space must ensure that this space stays at or below 26 degrees C, from June 1 to Sept. 30.

Under the bylaw, an indoor amenity space is defined as a shared, accessible area that's open for all building occupants to use for recreation or social gatherings. Notably, hallways, lobbies, and laundry rooms are not considered amenity spaces, and this does not apply if construction is needed to meet the requirement.

Landlords will also be required to inform tenants about the location and hours of the cooled amenity spaces. In July, Municipal Licensing and Standards is set to propose a maximum temperature bylaw for rental units.

Federal illegal drug protection

Earlier this month, the federal government announced its move to ensure that controls are in place for the seizure of three substances at the border, including two synthetic opioids and a precursor chemical.

Temporary controls were announced under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act for the substances, which include spirobrorphine and spirochlorphine, as well as R 29676. The controls are set to come into force on June 5, 2026, for one year.

'This proactive and accelerated regulatory action is based on evidence indicating these substances are being imported into Canada by criminal organizations or that they are being found in other countries," the federal government said in a news release.

"As part of Canada's Border Plan, these controls give new tools to Canadian law and border enforcement to stop the illegal importation, production and distribution of these substances."

Ontario strengthening its electricity grid

In April, the provincial government revealed that it would further expand its offerings under the Energy Efficiency Framework through the introduction of the new Peak Performance program.

The initiative will use "financial incentives to encourage commercial and institutional properties to reduce heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) use during periods of high demand."

The province notes that this upcoming change will help protect the reliability of Ontario's electricity grid and reduce costs for consumers and businesses.

"With electricity demand projected to increase by up to 90 per cent over the next 25 years, maximizing existing grid capacity is essential to reducing strain and keeping energy costs down," the province says. "Large buildings such as offices, retail centres and universities contribute significantly to peak electricity demand in the summer season while occupancy is often lower during these periods."

Eligible facilities can participate in the program by signing up to reduce HVAC use for up to three hours on business days, between June 1 and Sept. 30. Participants must be able to reduce a minimum of 500 kilowatts or "contribute to a portfolio of aggregated load reduction of at least 500 kilowatts" to be eligible, and will receive a $20 per kilowatt incentive to offset any costs.

The province's Energy Efficiency Framework is expected to reduce Ontario's peak demand by 3,000 megawatts by 2036, which is the equivalent of removing three million homes off the grid.

GST/HST credit top-up

Also in April, the federal government announced that eligible Canadians will receive a one-time GST/HST credit top-up on June 5, 2026. The upcoming payment is part of the transition to the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, which is set to replace the GST/HST credit this June.

According to the federal government, the top-up will be equal to 50 per cent of the GST/HST credit for the 2025-26 benefit year.

Along with the top-up, the quarterly payments (Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit) will mean that a family of four could receive up to $1,890 in 2026, while a single person could receive up to $950.

As long as you (and your spouse, if you have one) previously filed your 2024 tax return and were entitled to the GST/HST credit in January 2026, you should get your one-time top-up payment on June 5.

The quarterly Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit payments, which begin on July 3, will then be based on information from your 2025 tax return.