Ford Government Proposes Overhaul of Landlord-Tenant Laws and Foreign Driver Licensing Rules

The Ford government has introduced a sweeping new bill titled the Fighting Delays in Building Faster Act, proposing more than 40 legislative and regulatory changes affecting housing, transportation, urban planning, and environmental policy across Ontario.

One of the most significant areas of reform targets the landlord-tenant system. Under the proposed legislation, tenants would be required to notify landlords in advance of any issues they intend to raise at a hearing. They would be barred from introducing new complaints without prior notice, a move the province says will reduce unnecessary adjournments and improve efficiency in tribunal proceedings.

The bill also eliminates the current requirement for landlords to compensate tenants when reclaiming a property for personal use, provided 120 days’ notice is given. If a landlord provides less than 120 days’ notice, they must either pay one month’s rent or offer a comparable rental unit.

In addition, the government wants to shorten several key timelines. The grace period for issuing eviction notices due to unpaid rent would drop from 14 days to seven. The timeframe for requesting a review of a final hearing order would also be cut in half, from 30 to 15 days.

The bill introduces new restrictions on how foreign driving experience is applied toward obtaining an Ontario licence. Applicants from non-reciprocal jurisdictions would be limited to 12 months of credit for previous experience and would need to complete both G2 and G road tests. Those with verified experience could take the G2 test immediately and drive independently upon passing but would need to wait at least one year before attempting the full G test.

The province is also seeking to eliminate Toronto’s mandatory green roof bylaw. Officials argue the policy increases costs and complexity for developers and creates inconsistency across municipalities. Under the proposed law, green roofs would become voluntary province-wide, with developers encouraged—but not required—to include them in new construction.

Another major shift involves transferring control of water and wastewater services from Peel Regional Council to the cities of Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon. A new public corporation would manage these services moving forward.

The bill also extends the mandate of Waterfront Toronto from 2028 to 2035, with a possible extension to 2040, and gives upper-tier municipalities new powers to create Community Improvement Plans to fund local housing and economic development projects.

The omnibus bill represents one of the Ford government’s broadest policy packages to date, reshaping housing, infrastructure, and environmental frameworks in the name of faster growth and reduced red tape.