Tobacco Tax Rate Increases

Ontario’s tobacco tax rates are increasing. Official details of the changes published are available here.

Ontario Bill # 45 Updates and Clarification

The OCSA has completed a meeting with the Ministry of Health and Wellness on Friday December 4th to clarify areas of concern under bill #45 that take effect on January 1st 2016 as well as E Cigarettes and vapour for our members as follows: Flavour Bans: Effective January 1, 2016 all tobacco products with flavours […]

Convenience Store Retailers Welcome Measures in Bill 139 to Address Illegal Tobacco

  CONVENIENCE STORE RETAILERS WELCOME MEASURES IN BILL 139 TO ADDRESS ILLEGAL TOBACCO TORONTO, ONTARIO – (Marketwire – November 17th  2015) – Ontario’s convenience store retailers are welcoming a private member’s bill introduced by MPP Todd Smith (Prince Edward-Hastings) which seeks to address illegal tobacco through new measures for policing agencies and a public education […]

Required: New Ministry of Labour Employment Standards Poster

On May 1, 2015, a new version of the Ministry of Labour’s Employment Standards Poster will be published (version 6.0).  This replaces version 5.0. The poster describes important rights and requirements under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) and must be posted in the workplace where it is likely that employees will see it.  If […]

OCSA Healthy Kids Panel Recommendations

The OCSA is strongly committed to working with governments to ensure healthier living for Ontario communities and the families who reside within them. OCSA president, Dave Bryans, is a member of the Ontario Healthy Kid’s Panel which is made up of 18 members who’s goal is to develop recommendations on how Ontario can best make […]

Ontario Healthy Kids Panel Report Released

Report From Healthy Kids Panel Appointed By Government of Ontario Ontario has an ambitious goal to reduce childhood obesity by 20 per cent over five years. Achieving this goal will help to keep Ontario healthy and is part of the Ontario government’s Action Plan for Health Care. By helping kids and their families lead healthier […]

City of Toronto’s Bag Ban Hurry Up Offense

The City of Toronto’s attempt to push through legislation to ban t-shirt and other plastic bags provided at convenience and grocery stores was what is called in football “hurry up offense”. Characterized by a strategy when time is running out or the other side of the fence (the opposing team) is completely unready, the team […]