

Chris Fox, CP24.com





A number of changes, including some that will hit Torontonians in the wallet, will go into effect once the clock strikes midnight while several others will be on hold until later in 2016.

As of New Year’s Day, water rates will go up eight per cent and garbage collection will rise by three per cent.

In 2015, the average Toronto household paid $882 for water, so an increase of eight per cent will translate into an extra $70.56 on the average bill. Meanwhile, the three per cent increase to garbage rates will cost Torontonians an extra $7.35 to $14.35 depending on the size of their trash bins.

The increases, which were previously approved by city council, are needed to help boost the capital reserves in the water and solid waste budgets and pay for necessary repairs.

Water and garbage collection aren’t the only things that will be more expensive in 2016, either.

On Sunday, a previously approved TTC fare increase will go into effect.

The cost of the cash fare will increase by 25 cents to $3.25 while tokens/ Presto will go up 10 cents.

The fare hike is necessary to help address a $58.4-million shortfall in the TTC’s budget; however even with the increase the transit commission still has a $35 million deficit that it will have to fill in the early days of 2016.

“We need money from elsewhere and we kind of keep harping on that,” TTC Chair Josh Colle told CP24 in November. “The reality is that transit costs money to provide and we need three levels of government to help us do that.”

On top of the increases to water and garbage rates, the licensing fee charged to taxi drivers is also scheduled to rise by the rate of inflation in January; however Mayor John Tory is calling for a freeze on the rates while new regulations are drafted for the entire ground transportation industry, including services like Uber.

Currently, the holders of a standard taxi plate pay an annual renewal fee of more than $1,200 while all taxi drivers are required to pay an annual licence renewal fee of $329.43.

“I believe such a freeze is fair, sensible,” Tory said in an open letter to budget chief Gary Crawford earlier this week.

While a number of fee increases for the New Year are already known, at least one additional cost for residents remains unclear.

City Manager Peter Wallace is calling for a 2.17 per cent property tax increase in order to balance the budget, but Tory has told CP24 that he is “determined” to keep the hike to 1.3 per cent.

It should be noted that a 1.3 per cent property tax hike would actually end up being about 2.69 per cent when a number of previously approved increases are added on. Such an increase would cost the average homeowner an extra $72.26 a year.

Expanded Sunday subway service starts Jan. 3

While many of the changes taking place in 2016 will mean an added cost for Toronto residents, some do come in the form of service improvements.

One such improvement will see the start of subway service on Sundays pushed up by an hour to 8 a.m. as of Jan. 3. Another will see a boost in service frequency on the 501 Queen streetcar line as of Jan. 3.

The TTC will also continue with its rollout of Presto and 2015 will mark the final year that conventional monthly Metropasses are sold.

Riders can already pay with Presto at 26 subway stations and on most streetcars and in the spring the TTC will start installing the technology on buses as well.

The goal is for tokens and paper transfers to be eliminated completely sometime in 2017.

“If the rollout goes anything like Oyster did (in London), very rapidly people will become accustomed to tapping and realize how convenient it is,” TTC CEO Andy Byford told reporters last month.

Hookah lounge ban starts in April

One of the other changes that looms large for 2016 is a ban on hookah lounges that will go into effect on April 1.

The new law approved by city council this fall outlaws smoking tobacco from a water pipe at city-licenced business.

A staff report previously estimated that 70 such businesses currently operate in the City of Toronto and it remains to be seen what fate awaits them in the spring.

Other changes on tap for 2016:

Ontario’s Office of the Ombudsman takes on full oversight of municipalities as of Jan. 1.

Sale and supply of e-cigarettes to those under the age 19 will be banned as of Jan. 1.

Ontario will allow test-runs of self-driving cars as of Jan. 1.

Remember for instant breaking news follow @cp24 on Twitter.