TORONTO — As Ontarians usher in 2026, a wide range of new provincial laws and regulations are coming into force, affecting everything from job postings and home safety to impaired driving penalties and health-care access.
Here is a look at some of the most notable changes taking effect this year.
Pay transparency and AI disclosure in hiring
Job seekers in Ontario will see greater transparency when applying for work. Under new rules, publicly posted job ads must include the expected salary or compensation range, provided the range is $50,000 or less — for example, $75,000 to $125,000.
David King, senior managing director at Robert Half, said the change removes guesswork for candidates and helps employers attract suitable talent.
“It takes the guesswork out of what people will earn and helps organizations attract the right talent by being transparent,” King said in an interview with BNN Bloomberg.
Employers are exempt from disclosure if the expected salary is $200,000 or more.
Other hiring-related changes include:
- Employers may no longer require “Canadian experience” in job postings.
- Job ads must disclose whether artificial intelligence is used during the hiring or screening process.
- Employers must state whether a posting reflects a current vacancy.
- Interviewed candidates must be informed within 45 days if a hiring decision has been made.
- Employers must retain job postings, application forms and follow-up communications for three years.
The new requirements apply only to employers with more than 25 employees.
Expanded carbon monoxide alarm requirements
Changes to the Ontario Fire Code mean homeowners will need to install more carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in 2026.
All homes with fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, attached garages, or heating systems connected to fuel-burning appliances must now have CO alarms:
- Adjacent to every sleeping area, and
- On every storey of the home, including basements and floors without bedrooms.
Carbon monoxide is often referred to as a “silent killer” because it has no smell, colour or taste. According to the Ontario Poison Centre, about 300 people die and 200 are hospitalized each year in Canada due to CO exposure, with risk increasing during winter months.
Tougher penalties for impaired driving and vehicle theft
Several amendments strengthen penalties under the Highway Traffic Act:
- Drivers convicted of impaired driving causing death will face indefinite licence suspensions.
- A first vehicle theft conviction will result in a 10-year licence suspension; a second conviction carries a 15-year suspension; third and subsequent convictions result in indefinite suspensions.
- Drivers convicted of racing or stunt driving face fines between $2,000 and $10,000, up to six months in jail, and escalating licence suspensions.
Police are also granted new authority to search for and seize electronic devices intended for use in vehicle theft.
‘As of Right’ rules expanded for health-care workers
Ontario has expanded its “As of Right” mobility rules, allowing more regulated health professionals licensed in other provinces to work in Ontario for up to six months while completing registration.
Previously limited to physicians, respiratory therapists and medical laboratory technologists, the rule now applies to 16 additional professions, including dentists, dental hygienists, pharmacists, midwives, optometrists, psychologists and dietitians.
The province has said the move is intended to support a more unified and resilient Canadian economy.
Alcohol, energy drinks and wine pricing
Ontario is introducing a minimum retail price for five-litre containers of wine sold in grocery and convenience stores.
The province has also removed the requirement for those stores to maintain a dedicated alcohol sales page on their websites. Energy drinks will now be permitted to be displayed next to alcohol products.
Electronic property assessment notices
The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation will be able to deliver property assessment notices electronically, rather than solely by mail.
New requirements at construction sites
Defibrillators will be mandatory on construction sites with 20 or more regularly employed workers where projects last at least three months. A worker trained in CPR and defibrillator use must be present while work is underway.
Employers must also maintain records of washroom cleaning under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, including the date and time of the two most recent cleanings. Records must be posted visibly or made electronically available to workers.
Additional changes taking effect in 2026
Other notable updates include:
- Hotels and online accommodation providers must keep standardized guest registers to support police investigations into human trafficking.
- The Canadian Disability Benefit payment will no longer be considered when determining eligibility for child care fee subsidies.
- Boundary changes to select provincial parks to accommodate Highway 69 expansion and the reclassification of Devil’s Glen Park.
- Ontarians with a Digital Health Identifier will gain secure access to certain records within the provincial electronic health record.
- The scope of practice for midwives is expanding to include 29 additional tests and five new point-of-care tests.
Together, the new measures mark a significant regulatory shift across multiple sectors as Ontario enters 2026.