Ontario sees changes to auto insurance, health care, tenant rights July 1

Several key laws and regulations in Ontario are taking effect as of Wednesday, including auto insurance, healthcare, and tenant rights.

Ontario drivers will be allowed to decline some auto insurance accident benefits, and as of Wednesday, many benefits that were mandatory under Ontario auto insurance policies are now optional.

The nine benefits include: income replacement, caregiver benefits, housekeeping and home maintenance, death and funeral benefits, and non-earners benefits for students and retirees, among others.

“The province has set forth the idea that they would like to give consumers more choice about benefits that they have, and also, they may access a potential of savings on their premium,” said Nainesh Kotak, a disability lawyer with Kotak Law.

Drivers can make these choices when their policy is up for renewal.

Benefits that will remain mandatory are medical, rehabilitation and attendant care.

READ MORE: New Ontario tenant air conditioning rules come into effect

Kotak says while drivers could see the declining of some auto insurance accident benefits as a way to save money, it may not be for everyone.

“For the most part, I would say no… the average saving for the Ontario consumer will be about 60 to 100 dollars per year … However, there are some exceptions to this. If somebody is retired and no longer working, it’s unlikely that they would need income replacement benefits. So they may have some savings if they remove that from their coverage.

The auto insurance changes aren’t the only law we’re seeing this Canada Day.

Starting Wednesday, tenants have the explicit right to install air conditioning units if their landlord doesn’t supply air conditioning — subject to certain conditions, such as the AC unit must not damage the unit, and the landlord is allowed to inspect it.

Meanwhile on the healthcare front, the age for publicly funded colorectal cancer screening is lowered from 50 to 45 and pharmacists will be allowed to assess and treat more minor ailments and administer more publicly funded vaccines.

Just a few changes that have come this Canada day.

WATCH MORE: Ontario auto insurance is changing July 1. Here’s what drivers need to know