Starting in May, Ontario will see two major changes: the federal dental benefits plan will officially expand, and millions of Canadian residents will be eligible to apply for the first time; at the same time, the provincial government will extend the "Strong Mayor" system to all 169 cities and districts across the province. These new regulations will profoundly impact the healthcare benefits of ordinary people and the local government landscape.

Federal Dental Benefits Expand Again, Adult Applications Set to Begin!

The federal government has officially announced that the Canadian Dental Care Plan will further expand its coverage in May!

This expansion will cover residents between 18 and 64 years old without dental insurance and open applications in batches:

  • May 1: People aged 55 to 64 can apply;
  • May 15: Applications open for those aged 18 to 34;
  • May 29: Applications begin for those aged 35 to 54.

Eligible residents must meet the following conditions:

  • No dental insurance;
  • Have filed their 2024 personal tax returns;
  • Adjusted family net income below CAD 90,000;
  • Are Canadian tax residents.

Benefits will start as early as June 1. The application methods remain diverse: applicants can apply online, by phone, or visit Service Canada centers.

This expansion will greatly alleviate the burden of dental care costs for middle- and low-income families, especially against the backdrop of high inflation and a high proportion of "moonlighting" households, which is truly like "bringing coal on a snowy day."

Ontario Extends "Strong Mayor" System to 169 Cities and Districts

The provincial government of Ontario also announced that starting May 1, the "Strong Mayor" system will be extended to all 169 municipalities in the province to coordinate the advancement of provincial priorities such as housing and transportation construction.

This system was first introduced in Toronto in 2022 and has since gradually been rolled out. So far, it has been implemented in 47 municipalities. This extension covers an unprecedentedly wide range, including lower-tier or single-tier municipalities with six or more members on the city council.

"Strong Mayor" will have the following key powers:

  • Appoint the Chief Administrative Officer;
  • Appoint specific department heads;
  • Propose and formulate municipal budgets;
  • Propose specific municipal regulations;
  • Reject certain municipal regulations.

This policy aims to cut bureaucratic processes, accelerate approval decisions, and make local governments more operational and efficient when pushing forward housing and infrastructure issues.

It has been confirmed that many municipalities with large Chinese communities, including Markham, Vaughan, and Oakville, are included in this extension list.

Source of news:

https://www.blogto.com/city/2025/04/new-laws-and-rules-coming-ontario-next-month-may/

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7496712257355792930/

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