New laws and rules coming to Ontario next month

Multiple new laws, regulations, and civic deadlines will come into effect next month, impacting students, drivers, and innovators across the province.

From important aid program updates to new speed limits on certain provincial highways, these are all of the new changes you need to be aware of next month. 

These are the new laws and regulations coming into effect in Ontario in August 2026. 

OSAP changes 

If you're a student, you might want to listen up, because important changes are coming to the provincial portion of the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) next month. 

The program, which offers funding through both grants and student loans, helps hundreds of thousands of students each year pay for their college or university tuition, living expenses, and educational supplies. 

Changes to the provincial portion of OSAP were announced back in February and are set to come into effect for programs that start on or after Aug. 1, 2026.

The new changes mean that students will receive more of their provincial OSAP funding as loans rather than grants, and students attending publicly assisted colleges and universities in Ontario and Canada, plus private institutions in Ontario, will receive a larger share of their provincial OSAP funding as loans. 

Students enrolled in career colleges will also receive all of their provincial OSAP funding as loans. 

As always, the program is open to Ontario residents of any age who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or protected persons, and the amount they receive depends on educational costs, course load, program hours, and personal financial situation. 

New speed limits on provincial highways

Starting last month, the Ontario government began permanently increasing the speed limit to 110 km/hour on certain sections of provincial highways, including Highway 401 from Highway 15 to Highway 16 and Highway 416 from Cedar Grove Road to Highway 401. 

Throughout August, the provincial government will continue increasing the posted speed limit to 110 km/hour on more sections of provincial highways, including: 

• Highway 7 from Appleton Side Road/County Road 17 to Highway 417 on Aug. 21, 2026
• Highway 115 from Highway 35 to Parkway Interchange on Aug. 21, 2026
• Highway 400 from Highway 401 to Lake Joseph Road on Aug. 21, 2026
• Highway 416 from 1.5 km south of Highway 416/417 to Fallowfield Road/County Road 12 on Aug. 21, 2026
• Highway 417 from Leitrim Road to Ottawa Regional Road 174 on Aug. 21, 2026
• Highway 417 from Highway 416/417 Interchange to Highway 7 on Aug. 21, 2026
• Highway 401 from Merlin Road to Highway 427 on Aug. 31, 2026
• Highway 401 from Highway 404 to Highway 35/115 on Aug. 31, 2026
• Highway 401 from Cobourg to Colborne on Aug. 31, 2026
• Highway 401 from Sidney Street to CNR Overhead Bridge in Belleville on Aug. 31, 2026
• Highway 401 from County Road 38 to Highway 15 on Aug. 31, 2026
• Highway 403 from Highway 401 to Middletown Line on Aug. 31, 2026

Premier Doug Ford previously noted that by October, nearly 90 per cent of Ontario's highway network will be at 110 km/hour. 

Deadline for Critical Minerals Innovation Fund (CMIF) 

An important deadline is coming up for companies, innovators, researchers, mining firms, and technology developers who are finding new ways to extract, process, and use critical minerals here in Ontario. 

The province's CMIF supports projects that advance research and development of innovative technologies and solutions for critical minerals. The fund also aims to increase critical minerals exploration, mining, production, and stimulate investment in the province's critical minerals supply chain. 

Businesses have until Aug. 25, 2026, to submit their applications for funding, and eligible recipients could receive up to $500,000 per project to cover 50 per cent of eligible costs. 

"The CMIF is a key initiative in the government's plan to update its Critical Minerals Strategy and position the province as a reliable global supplier of responsibly sourced critical minerals and build one, fully integrated, made-in-Ontario supply chain," the province notes. 

Municipal election candidate deadline 

While not technically a new law or rule, it's important to note that an important civic deadline is just around the corner, namely, nominations to become a candidate in the 2026 Toronto municipal election. 

Nominations officially opened up on May 1, and the period to file ends on Friday, Aug. 21, at 2 p.m. Along with filing a nomination, Aug. 21 will be the last day for candidates to withdraw a nomination or change office. 

The municipal election is scheduled to be held on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, with advance voting days taking place on Tuesday, Oct. 6, to Sunday, Oct. 11.