Can You Turn Right on a Red Light in Ontario?

Under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act, turning right on a red light is permitted throughout the province, provided you first come to a complete stop. After stopping, you must yield to all pedestrians in the crosswalk and to any vehicles that have the right of way (cross traffic with a green light). Once the way is clear, you may complete your right turn. This rule applies at every intersection in Ontario unless a sign specifically prohibits it.

There are specific situations where you must not turn right on a red light:

According to the Ontario Driver's Handbook, the correct procedure is:

On the G2 and G road tests, examiners expect you to know that right on red is legal and to execute it correctly. Sitting at a red light waiting to turn right when there is no prohibition and no traffic can be marked as 'hesitation' or 'failure to proceed.' Conversely, turning right on red without a full stop or without checking for pedestrians is a critical error. The key is demonstrating that you know the rule, come to a full stop, and check thoroughly before proceeding.

Under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act, you can also turn left on a red light, but only when turning from a one-way street onto another one-way street (turning left into the direction of traffic on the one-way). This is far less common than right on red. The same rules apply: full stop, yield to pedestrians and traffic, and check for signs prohibiting the turn.