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Layover guideToronto · YYZ · YTZ

Local laws that catch crew out in Toronto

Cannabis is legal to buy at 19 in Ontario and a serious criminal offence to carry across the Canadian border in either direction, with or without a medical document.

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All of Toronto

Transporting cannabis across the border in any form, including any oils containing THC or cannabidiol, without a permit or exemption is a serious criminal offence. It applies regardless of whether you hold a medical document authorising cannabis, and regardless of the amount you have with you. If you have any with you, you must declare it to the Canada Border Services Agency; not declaring it could lead to arrest and prosecution. You may not take cannabis out of the country either.

In Ontario you must be 19 or older to buy, use, possess and grow recreational cannabis, the same minimum age as for alcohol and tobacco. You can have a maximum of 30 grams of dried cannabis, or the equivalent, in public at any time.

You cannot smoke or vape cannabis in enclosed public places and enclosed workplaces, at school or on school grounds or in public areas within 20 metres of them, or within 9 metres of the entrance or exit of a hospital. In a vehicle or boat that is being driven or will be driven, no form of consumption is allowed, eating included.

Licensed premises may sell and serve alcohol from 09:00 to 02:00 daily, except on 31 December, when it runs to 03:00 on 1 January. All orders must be served before the end time and all signs of liquor cleared 45 minutes after it, which for most places means 02:45.

Bringing your own alcohol into a Toronto park is allowed only in the 55 parks in the city's Alcohol in Parks programme, only for people aged 19 and over, and only within park hours of 05:30 to midnight. It may not be consumed within two metres of playgrounds, wading pools, splash pads, outdoor pools, natural or outdoor ice rinks, or skateboard and BMX parks. Public intoxication and disruptive behaviour including public urination are not allowed.

The legal drinking age in a licensed establishment in Ontario is 19, and staff must check and verify the identification of anyone who appears under 19 before selling or serving. The ID has to be valid, government-issued and not expired, and the photo has to match the person.

  1. Canada Border Services Agency: cannabis at the border · checked 2026-09-03
  2. Government of Ontario: cannabis laws · checked 2026-09-03
  3. AGCO: hours for liquor sale, service and delivery · checked 2026-09-03
  4. City of Toronto: Alcohol in Parks Program · checked 2026-09-03
  5. AGCO: legal drinking age and photo identification · checked 2026-09-03

The rest of Toronto

The whole guide
Getting out of the airportUP Express runs between Terminal 1 and Union Station in 28 minutes, every 15 minutes, from 05:27 to 00:54 out of Pearson on weekdays and from 06:24 at weekends and on holidays.Ride-hailingHail a taxi on the street or take one from a stand and it must charge the City-regulated rate. Book through an app and you agree the price before the trip starts.Staying connectedPearson's Wi-Fi is free, and subway platforms no longer have free Wi-Fi, but every station on Lines 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 has 5G.WeatherWinter is the operational fact here: at the airport, January does not average above freezing at any hour of the day.Eating near the crew hotelsEvery eating and drinking place posts its latest inspection notice at the door, the menu price may or may not include tax, and the alcohol clock stops at 02:00.What to buyThirteen per cent HST goes on at the till, and the customs quantity limits are tighter than most crew assume.TippingOntario law treats a tip as the employee's money, and treats a service charge on the bill as a tip.