Let me be the 673rd to wish you a Happy New Year! We had a wonderful, low key holiday. I found it too cold to do anything outside, but Derek still went for his morning walk most days. I admired his dedication from the warmth of the indoors.
Here are five new things for 2026 that caught my attention and I wanted to make sure to share. In some cases they came into effect Canada-wide. Some others are for Ontario only.
Food Shopping
The Grocery Code of Conduct is now in effect (voluntarily) across the country as of Jan. first. It means grocery giants and suppliers have to deal with each other in a fair manner. It’s not aimed at the high cost of food. Some experts say prices will come down. Others say they’ll go up. They’ve got me for cauliflower at any cost unless I start growing my own.
Job Hunting
If an Ontario company has 25 or more employees, they must now state a salary range in a job posting. As a freelancer who’s always trolling for new work, I’ve noticed salaries popping up in new places. No more ghosting. They have to tell you if you didn’t get the job. Companies also have to state whether they’re using Artificial Intelligence in the hiring process. As I wrote last November, an AI interviewer surprised me with inappropriate questions.
Interprovincial Migration
This province is speeding up access to jobs from professionals in other provinces. It promises a turnaround time of ten business days between registration and starting work. It’s mainly meant to fill gaps in Ontario’s health care sector but it also applies to skilled trades.
Give Me a D
We are a nation deficient in Vitamin D. Even people who aren’t indoorsy sunscreen freaks like me don’t get enough sunlight. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to bone loss. One needs D for calcium absorption. Low levels are especially risky for infants and older folk. To that end, Health Canada has doubled Vitamin D levels in cow’s milk, margarine, and allowed it in goat’s milk. Cue the conspiracy theories!
CO No More
It’s unfathomable to me that people still die from CO poisoning. Carbon monoxide detectors became widely available in the 1990s. It’s an odourless, tasteless, and invisible gas. New rules are now in place for Ontario homes. CO detectors must be on every floor, even those without bedrooms. Landlords are responsible for installing and maintaining them. Tenants have a duty to report when they’re missing. About 50 Canadians die every year from CO poisoning. That’s entirely preventable.
There are plenty of other new things this year. There’s a hike in Highway 407 tolls and a teeny dip in federal income tax for the lowest earners. So, let’s get on with it, shall we? 2025 built resilience. Elbows up, Canada first, and this country is never for sale. We know the assignment. We’ve got this!
Happy New Year.
A couple of things, salary ranges at one time were common in job postings, back in the old days but businesses got away from it especially online postings, reasons unknown.
Since 2013 with the passage of the
Hawkins Gignac Act (Carbon Monoxide Safety), 2013, S.O. 2013, c.
legislation CO detectors have been required on all floors of those residents with fuel burning appliances so this is an expansion of those rules. Just for clarification.
In broadcasting, only CBC ever posted salary ranges. To everyone else it was a secret. As a person who once found out that the guy in the job before her made TWICE the salary, I know why they kept it secret. Yes, the CO rules are added to the ones already there. I made the assumption that everyone knew that. Thanks, Allan.
To increase your Vitamin D you may wish to investigate a therapy lamp which you could place on your desk while recording, it may help. I bought one several years ago to aid in sleep, now I just have to remember to turn it on.
As my brother says, if you’re serious about hiring a new employee, tell prospective applicants the salary.
I agree with your brother, Dan!