Ontario to announce important changes starting January 1st, 2026!

Ontario to announce important changes starting January 1^st, 2026!

1. Instant integration of specialists from other provinces into the Ontario labor market: work can begin within 10 days.

Occupations covered by the new rules:

Engineers
Doctors
Architects
Electricians
Other regulated occupations

Now, if the regulator confirms their qualifications and compliance with basic requirements, work can begin within 10 working days, and full registration can be completed within 6 months.

2. Transparency in hiring: salary is now mandatory in job postings. Employers with 25+ employees are required to include salary or income range in each open position.

The goal is simple: to combat the lack of transparency in hiring and the artificially lowering of expectations.

3. Artificial intelligence in recruitment is no longer a secret. If AI is used to evaluate resumes or candidates, employers are required to disclose this. This is the province's response to global conversations about algorithmic discrimination and hiring fairness.

4. "End Ghosting": Candidates will no longer disappear into silence. If a candidate passes an interview, the employer is required to notify them of the outcome within 45 days of the final interview. This does not apply to those who only submitted a resume.

5. The public sector is returning to offices full-time. Effective January 5^th, 2026:

Ontario Public Service
Agencies
Commissions and boards will return to a full five-day office week.

The province openly states that efficiency and governance require an offline presence.

6. Effective June 1^st, 2026: New requirements for residential buildings without air conditioning. If the building does not have central air conditioning:

Residents must be provided with at least one cooled common area,
Temperature—no higher than 26°C,
Valid from June 1^st to September 30^th,
Landlords are required to inform residents of the location and operating hours of this area.