Ontario’s newly proposed changes to the Employment Standards Act would prohibit companies from charging employees for required uniforms or deducting those costs from their wages, ensuring employees are not forced to pay out of pocket just to do their jobs. The change would apply where uniforms are mandatory and employer-specific, including branded or logo apparel […]
Earlier this year, the provincial government announced that a new wholesale pricing model would be developed and introduced in January 2026. LCBO is taking the necessary steps to implement this new model based on a pricing formula that adds taxes, mark-ups, and fees to the supplier’s quote. The new pricing model closely aligns with industry standard […]
The recent announcement by the Ontario government to increase risk management funding for farmers is welcome news for Ontario’s fruit and vegetable growers. The boost to Ontario’s Risk Management Program, which includes the Self-Directed Risk Management (SDRM) program for edible horticulture farms, means growers will have greater confidence when making production decisions for the 2025 […]
Ontario continues to lift its COVID-19 public health measures. As of March 21, mask mandates will no longer be in effect in most settings, including restaurants. The dropping of mask mandates will see the province take the next step in removing restrictions after it recently ditched mandated proof of vaccination and reopened businesses at full […]
The Ontario government has introduced legislation that would require high-risk workplaces to have life-saving naloxone kits on site. Those workplaces deemed high risk for opioid overdoses would include bars and nightclubs, as well as construction sites. A government release says that between March 2020 and January 2021, around 2,500 people died from opioid-related causes. The government also […]
Ontario has announced “historic” new legislation that would see it become the first province to establish foundational employment standards for app-based gig workers, including extending to them the province’s general minimum wage of $15. The Working for Workers Act 2022 intends to boost protections for digital platform workers who offer rides or deliver food and other […]
Amid the labour shortage that has plagued food production and processing, the governments of Canada and Ontario have announced they are investing up to $4 million to promote agri-food careers. A release says the investment will “help build a strong and competitive agri-food workforce that will ensure people can continue to access the safe and […]
By Tom Nightingale The rollercoaster that Ontario restaurants have been on throughout the last two years makes Canada’s Wonderland look tame by comparison. Operators and staff have had to get used to drastic shifts to how they can operate, often at short notice, on numerous occasions throughout the pandemic. The latest of those came earlier […]
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced on February 14 that the province is lifting all restaurant capacity limits starting at 12:01 a.m. on February 17, three days ahead of schedule. Mandatory proof of vaccination for restaurant guests will then be scrapped from March 1. Last month, Ontario had released its plan to lift public health measures and restrictions, […]
After a brief period of lockdown, Ontario restaurants can reopen for indoor dining once again starting on January 31. Eateries in the province were ordered to shut their dining rooms from January 5 for a minimum period of 26 days. That left outdoor dining, takeout, drive-thru, and delivery as the only operations still on the […]
