The Government of Ontario has announced that the ban on the use of handheld wireless communication devices, including cell phones, BlackBerries, and PDAs, while driving will come into force on October 26, 2009.  There will be a 3-month educational period, and police will start issuing tickets on February 1, 2010.

There is an exemption that allows drivers to use a cell phone to call 9-1-1 in an emergency situation.  There is also a 3-year phase-out period for the transport industry for the commercial use of two-way radios, including mobile and CB radios.  This is to allow for hands-free technologies to be developed.   School buses, taxis, couriers, transit and highway maintenance workers have specifically been mentioned as being covered by the exemption.

Further information, including a brief overview of the exemptions, is available on the government of Ontario website.