Federal rules aimed at protecting the environment are causing serious risks to drivers in Ottawa and everywhere else in Ontario.

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Ever feel like the road markings disappeared the moment it started to rain? You’re not alone — and it’s not your imagination. From Orléans to Highway 174 and across the country, drivers are finding themselves navigating invisible roads.

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The culprit? A federal regulation that changed the very paint we use to mark them.

Back in 2023, the federal government introduced new requirements targeting Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in commercial products like paints and adhesives. On paper, this looks like progress: cutting VOCs helps reduce air pollution. But in practice, the regulations have turned our road lines into something out of a magic act. You’d be forgiven for thinking they were painted with disappearing ink.

This change has had ripple effects: municipalities now have to