Changes to several pieces of legislation and regulations have taken effect with the arrival of the new year.

All licensed child care operators in Ontario must now have a Safe Arrival and Dismissal Policy in place to carefully monitor when a child does not arrive at the licensed child care program or is not picked up as expected.

The change is intended to prevent the rare cases of children being left in hot cars.

In addition, Ontario is enacting a regulation from the recently proclaimed Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, designed to build schools faster and help students attend school close to home. The province says the changes will streamline the processes for building schools on shared-use sites such as condominium buildings, and for identifying and disposing of surplus school board property at fair market value, with priority for student accommodation needs and other provincial priorities such as creating more affordable housing and long-term care spaces.

Ontario is making several amendments to regulations under the Insurance Act, to reform auto insurance in the province. The amendments are intended to allow an insured person to have more choice in how to recover damages and receive compensation.

Changes are coming to the Tow Truck industry, as well. 

Regulations under the Municipal Act and City of Toronto Act will transfer the authority to license tow truck and vehicle storage businesses to the province, and exempt towing services and vehicle storage businesses from municipal business licensing by-laws.

Customers will see their rights improve when it comes to a tow, including the right to provide consent for a tow.