Bill 112: Lydia’s Law (Accountability and Transparency in the Handling of Sexual Assault Cases), 2026

The most directly affected businesses are Ontario regulatory bodies that oversee licensed professionals — such as colleges governing healthcare practitioners (doctors, dentists, massage therapists, psychologists), lawyers, or other regulated professions. These bodies currently run programs that fund therapy and counselling for people who allege sexual abuse by their regulated members, and the bill removes any time limits on that funding, potentially increasing long-term financial obligations. Police services across Ontario are also affected, as they must now inform sexual assault complainants aged 16 and older about the Independent Legal Advice Program, adding a procedural step to complaint intake. The size of the regulatory body matters — larger colleges with more complaints will face proportionally greater ongoing costs for open-ended mental health support funding.