New Ontario rules to overhaul job postings take effect Jan. 1
The Ontario government is bringing in new rules for publicly advertised job postings starting Jan. 1, 2026, but some experts question how much they will help jobseekers.
The changes fall under the Employment Standards Act and apply to employers with more than 25 workers. Companies will be required to list pay information in job ads, with salary ranges limited to a maximum spread of $50,000 a year.
Employers must also say whether artificial intelligence is used in the hiring process, stop asking for Canadian work experience, and notify applicants within 45 days if a hiring decision has been made.
Kathryn Tremblay, owner of Altis Recruitment, welcomed the push for transparency but said the impact may be limited. She pointed to British Columbia, which introduced similar pay rules in 2023 and has seen only modest progress in closing the gender wage gap.
Tremblay said wide salary ranges could reduce the usefulness of posted pay and questioned whether AI disclosure will ease concerns about bias. She also warned the new rules may add pressure for employers at a time when unemployment in Ontario is rising.
