Ontario Government Introducing Legislation For Employers to Disclose Salary Range and AI Use In Hiring

The Ontario Government intends to introduce legislation that, if passed, would require employers to include expected salary ranges in job postings and disclose if artificial intelligence (AI) is used in its hiring process, announced at the YMCA on Monday morning.

SCreenshot.

Disclosing this information allows employees to make informed decisions in their career search, according to the Ontario Government. Ontario would be the first jurisdiction in Canada to require businesses to disclose if AI is used during their hiring process.

“At a time when many companies are posting record profits, it is only fair they communicate transparently about how they pay workers,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “And as the use of artificial intelligence in Ontario skyrockets, our government will continue to take action to ensure workers aren’t excluded from the job market because of technological biases and that their privacy rights are protected.”

AI tools and algorithms are being adopted by Ontario businesses at a rapid rate and generate high volumes of personal data about job applicants and employees, according to a press release. In response to the growing concerns about the ethical, legal and privacy implications of AI, the provincial government is proposing to require employers to inform potential employees if it is being used in the hiring process.

The Ontario Government continues to vow to help end workplace misconduct and hold abusers to account. They will also be conducting consultations and detailed analysis on ending the use of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) in the settlement of cases of workplace sexual harassment, misconduct or violence, as stated by Piccini.

“The consultations will identify legislative options to restrict the use of NDAs while protecting the rights of victims and survivors,” he said. “It’s past time we end a practice that allows businesses to shelter the behaviour of some of the worst members of our communities.”

These changes are part of a larger package that, if passed, would expand on the ground-breaking actions introduced in the Working for Workers Acts, 2021, 2022 and 2023. They will be unveiled in the coming days to protect workers, help them earn bigger paycheques and help newcomers contribute to building Ontario according to a press release.

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Peterborough Police Engaging in 'Prime Prevention Week' for 2023 From Nov. 5 - 11

The Peterborough Police Service is participating in Crime Prevention Week 2023, from Nov. 5 to 11 with ‘Awareness. Engagement. Prevention’ as this year’s theme.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“Crime prevention is an important part of community safety and a way everyone can participate in keeping their communities safe. It’s important that residents report crime or suspicious activity to police,” said Chief Stuart Bettes. “Through reports, whether it’s 9-1-1, the non-emergency line or online reporting portal, we can learn about the crime trends in our community and work toward proactive measures.  This way we can ensure that we have the right information to have the right people in the right place to do the right thing.”

The Peterborough Police Service Auxiliary Unit conducts several crime prevention audits for homes and businesses.

Police are announcing several crime prevention tips throughout the week.

For emergencies or to report a crime in progress please call 9-1-1. 

For non-emergencies, call 705-876-1122 x225 or report online through the online reporting portal.

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Little Lake Cemetery to Hold Remembrance Day Public Sunrise Service

A public sunrise Remembrance Day service is taking place at the war memorial in Little Lake Cemetery at 7:30 a.m. this Saturday.

Photo courtesy of Little Lake Cemetery Co.

“This is the second year we are providing this service to the public,” said James Belk, Little Lake Cemetery Co. president and CEO. Approximately 70 people attended the service last year and we hope even more people are able to attend this year. We had many attendees voice their appreciation to us for putting on the service.”

The service is being officiated by Regimental Chaplain Nancy Wilson of the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment. There is going to be The Last Post followed by two minutes of silence included in the service.

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Kawartha Food Share Named Recipient of Tim Hortons Holiday Smile Cookie Campaign

Tim Hortons famed Holiday Smile Cookies have given Kawartha Food Share (KFS) a big reason to be happy as the latter is the recipient of this year’s campaign running from Nov. 13 to 19, announced on Monday.

The Smile Cookie campaign began in 1996 as a way to help raise funds for the Hamilton Children’s Hospital in Ontario, and has grown to become a major fundraising event at Tim Hortons Restaurants. Photo courtesy of KFS.

The announcement was made by KFS on social media posted Monday morning.

Purchasing a Holiday Smile Cookie during the designated week will have half the proceeds benefit KFS while the other half goes to Tim Horton’s Foundation Camps.

Cookies purchased at Tim Hortons in Peterborough, Lakefield, Curve Lake, Havelock and Bridgenorth will contribute to KFS.

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StoosNews Spotlight: Check Out The Business Beat This Week Featuring The First Five Club, JHS Bookkeeping Plus, Heather Bradley and Belmont Spiritual Health

PTBOCanada is delighted to be running StoosNews columns each week here, spotlighting new businesses and startups in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here is this week’s edition…

The First Five Club is the brainchild of Whitney Stoner, who is using her entertainment, recreation and fitness industry experience to create a vibrant community of fellow parents and families.

Stoner says the first five years of life are a crucial period that not only shapes a child's development but also shapes the bonds between caregivers and children. With a focus on fun and wellness, the First Five Club offers everything from lively meetups to workouts and zen time with diverse programming, affordability, considerate scheduling and expert instructors.

Peter and Michelle Davis recently launched JHS Bookkeeping Plus.

They offer Full-Service Bookkeeping, CRA Representation, Church, Not for Profit and Fund Bookkeeping, QuickBooks Online Set Up and assistance and QuickBooks Online Payroll and more. With over 30 years of experience, Peter, a CPA-CGA, possesses in-depth knowledge of all aspects of small businesses, and Michelle brings many years of experience handling operations. Both are Certified ProAdvisors for QuickBooks Online.

Award-winning children’s author Heather Bradley recently launched her new book ‘We Both Speak English But…’

It is the story of two cousins, two countries and one language. The cousins live over 3,000 miles apart. One wears a slicker, wellies and carries a brolly while the other wears a raincoat, rubber boots and carries an umbrella. One cousin wears a jumper, the other a pullover but Granny knit them both!

It’s a different kind of bilingualism that demonstrates that it’s not our differences that set us apart but our refusal to embrace them. You’ll find We Both Speak English But… at Kent Books, the Wee Tartan Shop, The Book Lady or online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble or Friesen Press.

Karen Kearney recently joined the team at Belmont Spiritual Health and Wellness Centre, which opened in June in Havelock.

Kearney is a graduate of the Esthetician program at Fleming College, holds a diploma in OTA, and is certified in reflexology. She offers facial massages, Royal pedicures and manicures, relaxation back massage, full relaxation massage, hot stone body massage, waxing, lash and eyebrow tints and ionized foot detox.

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Peterborough Petes Trade Connor Lockhardt to the Oshawa Generals For Two Draft Picks

Forward Connor Lockhardt is headed to the rival Oshawa Generals as the Peterborough Petes traded him for London’s third-round pick in 2025 and Oshawa’s fifth-round pick in 2027 announced on Friday night.

Photo courtesy of Kenneth ANdersen and the Peterborough Petes.

The overage forward from Kanata played 73 games for the Petes since being acquired from the Erie Otters on Aug. 8, 2022. During that time, he has scored 30 goals and added 56 assists for 86 points.

During his championship run with the Petes last season, he had seven goals and nine assists for 16 points, playing in all 23 playoff games. In the 2023 Memorial Cup, he scored twice and added an assist for three points in five games.

He was originally selected by the Erie Otters in the first round, third overall, in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection. the Kanata Lazers product has played in 194 OHL games between the Otters and Petes, picking up 164 points.

“I’d like to thank Connor for his dedication to the Petes Organization and the Peterborough Community over the past two seasons,” said Michael Oke, Petes general manager and vice president of operations. “With league rules only allowing three over-age players per team, we had to make the very difficult decision to move Connor. We believe that we found a great fit for him to finish his junior career in search of an NHL contract and we wish him the best of luck moving forward.”

The Petes are back on the ice as part of a home-and-home series as they will play the Generals again in Oshawa at the Tribute Communities Centre on Friday night.

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Peterborough Woman Wins First Fitness Competition After Losing Over 155 Pounds

Peterborough’s Terri-Lynn and her three-year weight loss quest of over 155 pounds resulted in a first-place finish at the International Drug Free Athletics (IDFA) Bodybuilding Competition at the City Playhouse Theatre in Vaughan.

Terri-Lynn’s before and after photos of her 155 pound transformation. Her competition outfit was made using roughly 6,000 rhinestones that she handmade. Photos courtesy of Terri-Lynn.

Terri-Lynn (who requested her last name be withheld) won in the intergender Transformational Challenge on Oct. 23. She started training for the event in July, working out six days a week for two to three hours. Terri-Lynn lost an additional 20 pounds leading up to the competition.

“I’ve been training with Krista Easto,” she explained. “She gave me a set meal plan and workout plan and was with me every step of the way including cheering me on when I walked across that stage.”

She started her transformation in February 2020 after feeling dissatisfied and coming to terms with her prior lifestyle. She did lots of weightlifting as most of her workout routine during her weight-loss journey.

“I was just not happy. I wasn't living my life the way I wanted to,” explained Terri-Lynn. “I couldn't move very easily. I had knee pain and I was on medication that I didn't want to be on. I just needed to make a full lifestyle change.”

Terri-Lynn said she felt she was regressing in her exercise routines and needed something to reignite her fitness regime. The competition was the perfect motivation to get her back on track.

“In July, I had gotten back into a rut and I needed something to motivate me and get me out of it,” she explained. “I've seen a few people I follow on Instagram who have also lost a massive amount of weight. They were doing fitness competitions.”

Originally, Terri-Lynn wanted to enter the competition to give her ‘biggest loser’ finale moment as her journey’s climax and becoming dramatically healthier.

“This was solely for me,” she said. “I didn't care to compete. I wanted to walk on that stage — in a jewelled bikini that I made myself — and show off to the world that I did it.”

For anyone wanting to start their journey similar to Terri-Lynn’s, she says now is the best time to start.

“Just do it,” she said. “You slowly start to fall in love with doing that it makes you want to do more and be more active.”

Terri-Lynn says she wants to compete in future competitions next summer if possible.

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Fleming Phoenix Roundup: Nov. 1

The Fleming Phoenix had rough outings with their basketball and volleyball teams to kick of November.

The Fleming Phoenix logo was unveiled for the college on Sept. 8, replacing the Fleming Knight. Photo courtesy of Fleming College.

The Fleming Phoenix men’s basketball team fell 97-64 to the George Brown Huskies at the Casa Loma Campus on Wednesday night.

Tyler Murray (16 points), Keandre Golaurb-Jackson (13 points) and Marcus Parnell (nine points) were the top scorers for Fleming. Miyake Ugbogbo had three blocks, four steals, and eight rebounds with his seven points.

The Phoenix hit the road Saturday to take on Centennial Colts at the Progress Campus Athletic and Wellness Centre at 1 p.m.

Both the men’s and women’s volleyball teams hosted the Centennial Colts at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre with unfortunate results on Wednesday.

The men’s team dropped all three sets to the Colts 25-20, 25-14 and 25-19.

The women lost 3-0 to the Colts 25-13, 25-13 and 25-15.

The volleyball teams return to action on Wednesday to face the Loyalist Lancers in Belleville. The women start at 6 p.m. and the men play at 8 p.m. at the Kente Building Gymnasium.

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City of Peterborough Beginning Decorative Streetlight Retrofitting For November

The City of Peterborough is retrofitting decorative street lighting to more efficient Light Emitting Diode (LED) fixtures starting early this month, with expected completion in late fall of next year.

File Photo.

The City’s contractor, Guild Electric Limited, will supply and install energy-efficient LED retrofit kits with smart photocell controllers and accessories for all roadway decorative streetlights.

Access for local traffic will be maintained during the work and traffic control will be provided as required for each location.

Decorative street lighting retrofit locations will be along the following streets:

Downtown Peterborough

• George Street and Water Street from McDonnel Street to Rink Street

• Charlotte Street from Aylmer Street to Simcoe Street

• King Street from Aylmer Street to Water Street

• Hunter Street from Aylmer Street to Rogers Street

West End of Peterborough

• Ravenwood Drive from Parkhill Road West to Glenforest Boulevard including adjacent roads with decorative light fixtures

• Glenforest Crescent, Lillico Crescent, Tamblin Way, Hancox Court and Eagle Crescent

• Waddell Avenue, Waddell Crescent, College Park Drive and Forster Avenue

• Bowen Drive, Peace Crescent and Logan Lane

Heritage Park Subdivision

• Heritage Trail, Blacksmith Way, Farrer Crescent, Colonial Crescent, and Carriage Lane.

Related information is available on the Road Construction Map posted on the City’s website.

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Peterborough Police Release October Traffic Initiative Results

During October, the Peterborough Police Service Traffic Unit released its Traffic Initiative results that focused on the Big Four driving offences.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The offences are as follows:

• Aggressive Driving

• Impaired Driving

• Distracted Driving

• Seatbelt Offences

Here are the results from the October initiative:

• Cellphone infractions - 35

• Follow too close - 1

• Seatbelts - 6

• Careless Driving -14

• Turn not safe - 8

During November, the Traffic Services Unit will focus on stop signs and stop light infractions.  

Peterborough Police Service reminds the public always to drive safely and according to road and weather conditions. Traffic complaints can be made online through the Online Reporting Portal.

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