New Ontario laws and regulations take effect August 1, affecting students and drivers
OSAP changes shift more funding from grants to loans, while speed limits increase on provincial highways throughout the month.
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Multiple new laws and regulations take effect in Ontario in August 2026, impacting students and drivers across the province.
For students, important changes are coming to the provincial portion of the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) for programs starting on or after August 1. The program, which helps hundreds of thousands of students pay for college or university tuition, living expenses, and educational supplies, will shift funding allocations. Students will receive more of their provincial OSAP funding as loans rather than grants. 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 receive all of their provincial OSAP funding as loans.
The program remains open to Ontario residents of any age who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or protected persons. The amount received depends on educational costs, course load, program hours, and personal financial situation.
For drivers, the Ontario government is continuing to permanently increase speed limits on certain sections of provincial highways to 110 km/h. Starting last month, the limit was raised on Highway 401 from Highway 15 to Highway 16 and Highway 416 from Cedar Grove Road to Highway 401.
Throughout August, the province will increase posted speed limits on additional sections, including Highway 7 from Appleton Side Road/County Road 17 to Highway 417 on August 21; Highway 115 from Highway 35 to Parkway Interchange on August 21; Highway 400 from Highway 401 to Lake Joseph Road on August 21; Highway 416 from 1.5 km south of Highway 416/417 to Fallowfield Road/County Road 12 on August 21; Highway 417 from Leitrim Road to Ottawa Regional Road 174 on August 21; Highway 417 from Highway 416/417 Interchange to Highway 7 on August 21; Highway 401 from Merlin Road to Highway 427 on August 31; Highway 401 from Highway 404 to Highway 35/115 on August 31; Highway 401 from Cobourg to Colborne on August 31; Highway 401 from Sidney Street to CNR Overhead Bridge in Belleville on August 31; Highway 401 from County Road 38 to Highway 15 on August 31; and Highway 403 from Highway 401 to Middletown Line on August 31.
Premier Doug Ford previously noted that by October, nearly 90 per cent of Ontario's highway network will be at 110 km/hour.
The facts
What changes are coming to OSAP in August 2026?
Starting August 1, 2026, students receiving Ontario Student Assistance Program funding will get more of their provincial portion as loans rather than grants. Students at publicly assisted colleges and universities in Ontario and Canada, plus private institutions in Ontario, will receive a larger share as loans, while students at career colleges will receive all provincial OSAP funding as loans.
When do speed limits increase on Ontario highways in August?
Ontario is increasing speed limits to 110 km/h on multiple highway sections on August 21, 2026 (including Highway 7, Highway 115, Highway 400, Highway 416, and Highway 417) and August 31, 2026 (including several sections of Highway 401 and Highway 403).
Who is eligible for OSAP?
Ontario Student Assistance Program funding is available to Ontario residents of any age who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or protected persons.
