Proof-of-Vaccination: Tell us how it’s affected your business
The GNCC is conducting a survey to find out what businesses that require proof-of-vaccination from patrons are experiencing in the early days of the program. We are looking to hear from businesses in the categories identified by the Government of Ontario below, as well as any others who may have voluntarily adopted a proof-of-vaccination policy.
- Restaurants, bars, and nightclubs
- Meeting and event spaces
- Sports and fitness facilities
- Casinos, bingo halls, gaming establishments and racing venues
- Concerts, music festivals, theatres and cinemas
- Adult entertainment
If you are running a business in these categories, please complete the survey – it will take only a few minutes. Your answers will be kept anonymous.
The results from the survey will be released in the Daily Update, although no information that could identify a business or individual is gathered. Feedback from this survey will be passed on to governments and industry associations.
Ontario legislature to reconvene Monday, Speech from the Throne to be delivered
Ontario Premier Doug Ford confirmed that the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, will deliver a Speech from the Throne when the legislature convenes on October 4, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.
Niagara Public Health offers advice for employers to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace
Niagara Region Public Health recently issued a letter to all Niagara employers with advice and recommendations to keep workplaces safe during the fourth wave. With the Delta variant currently driving a fourth wave in Niagara, there have been 13 workplace outbreaks so far in September.
Vaccination polices, screening and rapid tests are the first lines of defence that keep infection out of the workplace.
Further COVID-19 guidance for businesses can be accessed on Niagara Region Public Health’s website. Business that have questions are invited to call the COVID-19 Info-Line at 905-688-8248 press 7, then press 3 or toll-free at 1-888-505-6074.
Click here for more information.
Wainfleet to require proof-of-vaccination for access to Township facilities
The Township of Wainfleet is the latest Niagara municipality to announce proof-of-vaccination requirements for access to municipal facilities. The Township reports that these requirements came into effect on Wednesday, September 22, 2021, and impact some Township facilities, including the Wainfleet Community Centre, the Moore Room, Wainfleet Seniors’ Room and the Wainfleet Arena. Staff will be on site at these locations during operating hours, to verify proof of vaccination and proof of identity of patrons. Proof of vaccination is required each time a patron enters the facility, as vaccination information will not be recorded or stored.
Click here for more information.
Government of Ontario invests $53 million in Niagara Health
To help strengthen the financial stability of public hospitals across the province, the Government of Ontario is providing up to $696.6 million this year to help cover historic working funds deficits of qualifying hospitals, with a focus on small, medium as well as specialty and rehabilitation hospitals. This includes $53,383,900 for Niagara Health.
This funding is a part of the over $1.2 billion investment previously announced to help hospitals recover from financial pressures created and worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, while ensuring they can continue providing the high-quality care Ontarians need and deserve. This funding will also help to ensure that Ontario’s hospitals are able to respond to any scenario as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves.
Click here for more information.
Canadian tourist spending up in Q2 2021
Tourism spending in Canada increased 4.2% in the second quarter, following a 2.5% decrease in the first quarter. Tourism gross domestic product (GDP) (+4.0%) and jobs attributable to tourism (+1.0%) also increased in the second quarter.
The COVID-19 pandemic had a continued economic impact in the second quarter. Throughout this period, restrictions were both expanded and eased in many regions, similar to the previous quarter. The vaccination campaign that began late in the fourth quarter of 2020 also ramped up throughout the second quarter of 2021.
The increase in tourism spending in the second quarter was mostly driven by spending on accommodation services (+6.1%) and food and beverage services (+4.3%). Overall, tourism spending in Canada in the second quarter was 55.4% lower than the pre-pandemic levels in the fourth quarter of 2019.
Click here for more information.
Truth and Reconciliation
Canada’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation will be observed on September 30. It provides an opportunity for us to recognize and commemorate the history and ongoing legacy of residential schools and the trauma experienced by so many. From today until September 30, this section of the Daily Update will contain resources and information to aid and honour residential school survivors and their families, and to promote good relationships and economic reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. We believe the business community has an important role to play in reconciliation.
September 30 is a federal statutory holiday. If your business is federally-regulated, you must observe this holiday. For provincially-regulated businesses, observation is optional.
Help and Resources
For those who need support, a national Residential School Survivor Crisis Line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week: 1-866-925-4419. For non-Indigenous people, Crisis Services Canada is available to help: 1-833-456-4566.
The Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate help to all Indigenous peoples across Canada.
The Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program provides mental health, emotional and cultural support services to eligible former Indian Residential School students and their families.
Court dismisses Ottawa’s appeals of Indigenous kids rulings
CTV News
The Federal Court has dismissed Ottawa’s attempts to appeal a pair of rulings about providing services and compensation to First Nations children.
In September 2019, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruled Ottawa didn’t properly fund child and family services, which resulted in it “wilfully and recklessly” discriminating against Indigenous children living on reserve.
It ordered the federal government to pay $40,000 each to about 50,000 First Nations children as well as their relatives, but the Liberal government appealed the ruling.
Reading Recommendations
YouTube moves to block and remove anti-vaccine content
CBC News
YouTube is moving to block and remove all content that spreads misinformation about vaccines against COVID-19 and other illnesses, such as measles, hepatitis and chicken pox.
The Google-owned online video company said in a blog post on Wednesday that any content that “falsely alleges that approved vaccines are dangerous and cause chronic health effects” will be removed.
“This would include content that falsely says that approved vaccines cause autism, cancer or infertility, or that substances in vaccines can track those who receive them.”
Since 2020, Google says it has taken down 130,000 videos for violating the company’s COVID-19 vaccine policies, and says it is stepping up those efforts.
‘State of crisis’: Canadian Medical Association calls for lockdowns in Alberta and Saskatchewan
CBC News
The Canadian Medical Association is calling for lockdowns in Alberta and Saskatchewan to protect their “crumbling” health-care systems.
Both western provinces are setting hospitalization records for COVID-19, with intensive care capacity running slim.
Dr. Katharine Smart, president of the national association, is urging the federal and provincial governments to take immediate action.
The association is calling for short, controlled lockdowns, often called “firebreakers” or “circuit-breakers,” which would close schools and non-essential businesses.
Niagara COVID-19 statistics tracker
These data show the status of the COVID-19 pandemic in Niagara. The Province of Ontario is now using a provincewide approach to reopening, and these data no longer have any influence on Niagara’s restrictions. Lower numbers are better in all metrics.
| December 18 | December 25 | January 1 | January 8 | January 15 | January 22 | January 29 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reproductive number | 1.4 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.9 |
| New cases per 100,000 | 101.2 | 267.3 | 469.8 | 575.8 | 507.1 | 295.5 | 250.6 |
| New cases per day (not including outbreaks) | 60.7 | 178.7 | 311.7 | 376.9 | 325.4 | 182.7 | 145.7 |
| Percent of hospital beds occupied | 97% | 95.2% | 98.2% | 103.2% | 104.5% | 103.6% | 106% |
| Percent of intensive care beds occupied | 78.8% | 77.3% | 87.9% | 87.9% | 90.9% | 89.4% | 93.9% |
| Percentage of positive tests | 6.1% | 15.6% | 28.1% | 28.6% | 26.6% | 21.2% | 16.2% |
Last updated: September 25, 2021
Click here for definitions of terms used in this table.
On September 28, there were 14 patients admitted to Niagara Health with COVID-19, 12 of whom were unvaccinated and 2 of whom were fully vaccinated. There were 2 patients with COVID-19 in a Niagara Health Intensive Care Unit.
Over the last 28 days, a Niagara resident vaccinated with 1 dose was 4.3 times more likely to contract COVID-19, and an unvaccinated person was 7.9 times more likely. The average weekly rate of hospitalized cases in unvaccinated Canadians was 38 times higher compared to fully vaccinated people. Niagara Health has reported that no vaccinated patients have required intensive care to date.
Data are drawn from Niagara Region Public Health and Niagara Health.
Niagara COVID vaccination tracker
Niagara’s most up-to-date vaccination numbers are presented below, along with comparison data from Ontario, Canada, and G7 countries.
| Percentage of population with one dose | Percentage of population fully vaccinated | |
|---|---|---|
| Niagara | 82.7% | 78.2% |
| Ontario | 84.6% | 79.1% |
| Canada | 84.7% | 78.6% |
| United States | 75% | 64% |
| United Kingdom | 78% | 72% |
| Germany | 76% | 74% |
| France | 80% | 77% |
| Italy | 83% | 76% |
| Japan | 80% | 79% |
| World | 63% | 53% |
Total doses administered in Niagara: 703,099
New daily doses administered to Niagara residents: 1,079
Last updated: September 29, 2021
Data are drawn from Niagara Region, the Government of Ontario, and Oxford University’s Our World in Data project.
Free rapid COVID-19 testing kits are now available to businesses. Visit gncc.ca/workplace-self-screening-kits to learn more and reserve kits for your organization.
Information on government grants, resources, and programs, policies, forms, and posters for download and use, are available here. The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.
Through the Daily Updates, the GNCC aims to deliver important business news in a timely manner. We disseminate all news and information we feel will be important to businesses. Inclusion in the Daily Update is not an endorsement by the GNCC.
