Legal Changes to Watch For in 2025

In the News
Share
Print

Legislative changes can take a long time, especially when the reforms involved are complex or wide-ranging. Several legal reforms were started in 2024 and are scheduled to take effect in 2025. Here are four to keep an eye on! 

A higher penalty for pricing errors  

As of May 7, 2025, merchants will be subject to new rules on pricing errors. Already, under the Accurate Pricing Policy, merchants who use scanners at the checkout, such as supermarkets, must offer you a discount on an item when there’s an error. This discount will go from $10 to $15 on May 7. For items less than $15, you’ll be entitled to get it for free.  

However, this policy does not apply to all products or stores. For example, it does not apply to beer, wine, or milk. In addition, it’s not mandatory in stores where prices are indicated directly on the item. 

New rules about tipping 

Also as of May 7, 2025, merchants who want to suggest a tip will have to respect some new rules.  

You’re never obliged to leave a tip, but it’s a common practice in many situations, such as when eating at a restaurant. When paying a bill, you may have received tip suggestions of 15%, 18%, or 20%. Such suggestions will still be permitted, but under the new rules, suggested tips will have to be calculated on the bill amount before taxes. 

Merchants will also be obliged to present the option of setting the tip amount yourself or choosing not to leave one. In addition, all tipping options displayed will have to be equally visible. In this way, merchants won’t be able to promote one option over another. 

A new parental union regime 

A new law will come into effect on June 30, 2025 giving more protection and rights to common-law partners with children. A common-law relationship (also known as a “de facto union”) is one in which two people make a life together without being married 

Common-law partners with children born or adopted after June 30, 2025 will automatically benefit from this new parental union regime. If you are in a common-law relationship and have children born before that date, you’ll be able to opt in by mutual agreement. 

The law will also create a “parental union patrimony” consisting of assets that must be shared equally in the event of separation or death. Consequently, the value of the following assets will be divided equally between the partners in a parental union: 

  • the family residence(s), 
  • the furniture, 
  • the vehicle(s) used by the family. 

Common-law couples who become parents after June 30, 2025 will be able to add or withdraw property from their parental union patrimony — or renounce to it entirely — it by signing a deed before a notary.  

The law also provides protection for the family residence. In the event of separation, a court could allow the parent with custody of the children to live temporarily in a family residence, even if the other parent is the sole owner of the residence. 

A new recourse to prevent the sharing of intimate images 

As of June 4, 2025, people whose intimate images are shared without their consent will have access to a new recourse via a quick and simple procedure. They’ll be able to file an urgent request with a judge of the Court of Quebec by filling out a form online or at a courthouse.  

They can ask the court to order:  

  • the person who shared the intimate image to stop sharing it and to destroy it,  
  • a person threatening to share an intimate image not to share it, and to destroy it.  

If a person does not respect the court’s decision, for example, by sharing an intimate image anyway, they may be subject to a penalty. For example, they could be fined $500 to $5,000 for each day the judgment is not respected. A prison sentence of up to 18 months is also possible.  

This reform also includes new measures to help and support victims of family, conjugal, or sexual violence. For example, from June 4, 2025, they will be able to testify remotely in civil court, and be accompanied by a person they trust, or a support dog.