The middle of July marked another important filing deadline for many businesses, and we’re pleased to share that our team successfully completed another busy reporting period. After tax season and the July filing deadlines, many members of our team have been taking some well-deserved vacation time to rest and recharge.
We truly believe that taking time to recover allows us to stay healthy, productive, and continue providing the level of service our clients deserve. We hope you’ve also had the opportunity to slow down a little, spend quality time with your family, and enjoy the beautiful Canadian summer. This edition also covers several important Ontario ESA changes taking effect in 2026, along with updates on CRA correspondence, a new federal benefit, and AI in QuickBooks Online.
๐ Team Update
We are excited to welcome Olesia, our new Senior Bookkeeper, to the team. Olesia brings more than six years of bookkeeping and accounting experience, along with a genuine passion for working with clients. She will be assisting with bookkeeping reviews, financial reporting, and ongoing client support.
If you begin receiving emails from Olesia, please know that she is now part of our team and will be happy to assist you whenever needed.
๐ Supporting Our Team
At Piligrim Accounting, we believe that taking care of our team is an important part of taking care of our clients. This summer, we introduced an alternating shortened work week, allowing our staff to enjoy a little more time with their families, recharge, and return refreshed. We have found that creating a healthier work-life balance helps us stay focused, energized, and continue delivering the quality of service our clients expect.
๐ป CRA Reminder: Electronic Mail Is Now the Default
We would like to remind everyone that the Canada Revenue Agency now delivers most correspondence electronically by default. Unless you have specifically requested paper mail, notices and letters from CRA will be delivered through your CRA My Business Account or CRA My Account.
- Regularly log into your CRA account
- Ensure your email notifications are enabled
- Keep your contact information up to date
If you subscribe to our CRA Monitoring Service, our office continues to monitor your CRA account on your behalf and notify you of important updates.
๐ค Artificial Intelligence Is Coming to QuickBooks Online
In June, members of our team attended QuickBooks Get Connected 2026, where Intuit introduced exciting developments focused on artificial intelligence.
Many of us have already become familiar with AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Microsoft Copilot. Intuit has taken a different approach by integrating AI directly into the QuickBooks platform through Intuit Intelligence. Unlike general AI tools, Intuit Intelligence works directly with your accounting data.
- Analyze financial information for an individual business
- Identify trends and unusual transactions
- Answer financial questions using plain language
- Assist accounting firms in analyzing information across multiple client files
- Combine QuickBooks data with uploaded PDF, Excel, CSV, and other documents for deeper financial analysis
Although the technology is still evolving and currently has certain limitations, it’s clear that AI will become an increasingly valuable assistant within bookkeeping and accounting. As always, we’ll continue evaluating new technology that helps us work more efficiently while maintaining the professional judgment and personal service that cannot be replaced by automation.
๐ฐ Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit
The Government of Canada has introduced the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, which replaces the GST/HST Credit beginning in July 2026. Eligible Canadians received a one-time GST/HST Credit top-up on June 5, 2026, equal to 50% of their regular GST/HST Credit. Beginning July 3, 2026, quarterly payments increased by 25%, with the enhanced benefit expected to continue over the next five years.
The purpose of the new benefit is to help Canadians offset increasing grocery and household costs.
๐ Ontario ESA Changes 2026: What Employers Need to Know
Several significant Ontario ESA changes are now in effect or coming into force in 2026. These updates are particularly important for employers, HR professionals, payroll administrators, and business owners. You can review the full legislation on the Ontario Employment Standards Act page.
Increased penalties
Effective January 1, 2026, the maximum penalty for violating the ESA doubled from $50,000 to $100,000 per offence. In certain situations, directors, managers, and HR personnel may also be held personally responsible. Maintaining proper documentation and employment records has never been more important.
Salary transparency
Employers with 25 or more employees are now required to include salary information in publicly advertised job postings. The salary range cannot exceed $50,000 annually, and employers may no longer require applicants to have “Canadian experience.”
AI disclosure during hiring
If your organization uses AI or automated software to screen or evaluate job applicants, this must now be disclosed in the job posting. Many common applicant tracking systems already perform automated screening, so it’s worth reviewing your hiring process.
New 45-day candidate notification rule
Employers with 25 or more employees must notify interviewed candidates of the hiring decision within 45 days after their final interview. Copies of these notifications must be retained for three years.
Written information for new employees
Employers with 25 or more employees must provide each new employee with written information including their legal name, contact information, work location, starting wage, pay frequency, and expected working hours.
Looking ahead
Several additional employment-related initiatives are currently being considered, including:
- Expanded mandatory WSIB coverage for additional healthcare workers
- Allowing retail stores to open on Family Day and Victoria Day
- Increasing Ontario’s minimum wage to $17.95 per hour effective October 1, 2026
If any of these Ontario ESA changes affect your business, our payroll and HR support team will be happy to help you prepare.
๐ Piligrim Website Refresh
We’re excited to share that we’ve been working behind the scenes on a refreshed Piligrim Accounting website. Our goal is to make it easier to navigate, provide more practical resources, and improve your overall experience when looking for information or contacting our office.
We would love your feedback. After visiting our website, let us know what you like, anything that could be improved, and any resources or topics you’d like us to add.
Share Your FeedbackThank you for your continued trust in Piligrim Accounting. We genuinely appreciate the opportunity to support you, your family, and your business. As always, our team remains committed to providing proactive advice, reliable service, and ongoing support throughout the year, not just during tax season.
We wish you and your family a relaxing, healthy, and enjoyable remainder of the summer, and we look forward to speaking with you soon.
Warm regards,Elena Ivanova, Piligrim Accounting Inc.
“Helping businesses grow with confidence.”
