In this edition:
- Ontario releases 2023-24 first quarter finances
- Nearly two-thirds of Canadians satisfied with work-life balance
- Ontario to establish working group to deal with Greenbelt probe fallout: memo
- Town of Grimsby Council appoints Chief Administrative Officer
- Niagara-on-the-Lake launches customer service survey
- Welland positioned to capture growing electric vehicle industry
- Not hiring a new CAO an option for Welland city councillors
- Economists expect rise in inflation as price-growth fight enters new phase
- Reading Recommendations: Small Business
Ontario releases 2023-24 first quarter finances
Today, the Ontario government released the 2023-24 First Quarter Finances, the first update on the province’s economic and fiscal outlook since the 2023 Budget: Building a Strong Ontario.
In the first calendar quarter of 2023, Ontario’s real gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 1.0 per cent, supported by growth in exports and household spending. This follows a slight decline of 0.2 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2022. As of the first quarter, Ontario’s real GDP stood 4.9 per cent higher than the pre-pandemic level in the final quarter of 2019. Since the 2023 Ontario Budget, private-sector forecasters have raised their GDP projections for 2023, reflecting better-than-expected economic performance so far this year.
As of the 2023–24 First Quarter Finances, the province’s 2023–24 deficit is projected to be $1.3 billion — unchanged from the outlook published in the 2023 Ontario Budget. Revenues in 2023–24 are projected to be $204.4 billion, and expenses are projected to be $204.7 billion, largely unchanged from the budget projections. New investments, funded from existing contingencies, include supports for Ontario’s manufacturing sector, policing and anti-crime initiatives, and municipal infrastructure.
Nearly two-thirds of Canadians satisfied with work-life balance
In 2023, nearly two-thirds (65%) of Canadians were satisfied with how much leisure time they had. This proportion was lowest among adults aged 30 to 49 years (53%), and highest among seniors aged 65 and older (82%).
Having a good work-life balance is closely tied to satisfaction with free time. Among the population aged 15 to 64, close to four out of five (78%) who were satisfied with their work-life balance were also satisfied with their amount of free time. In contrast, 27% who were not satisfied with their work-life balance were satisfied with their leisure time.
On average, persons with a disability (55%) were less likely to be satisfied with their free time than those without a disability (67%). Results also indicate that women and men have similar levels of satisfaction with time spent on leisure activities.
Ontario to establish working group to deal with Greenbelt probe fallout: memo
The province says it is creating a working group to implement recommendations made in a damning auditor general’s report on the government’s decision to remove land from the protected Greenbelt.
A memo from Premier Doug Ford’s chief of staff and the secretary of the cabinet to ministers’ chiefs of staff and deputy ministers says all cabinet submissions to address the recommendations must be complete and include options and risks during the approval process.
Town of Grimsby Council appoints Chief Administrative Officer
The Town of Grimsby is pleased to announce Sarah Kim has been appointed as the Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Grimsby. Sarah Kim has been previously working in the Acting Chief Administrative Officer role since December 2022.
Sarah Kim has a legal background and training, as well as has several years municipal experience, successfully holding senior administrative roles in the public sector during this time. She has previously served as the Director of Legislative Services/Town Clerk for the past four (4) years for the Town. Sarah holds a Bachelor degree from University of Waterloo, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Kingston University, a Master of Laws (LLM) from University of Edinburgh, as well as a Diploma in Municipal Administration (DMA) and a Geospatial Management Graduate Certificate.
Niagara-on-the-Lake launches customer service survey
The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is seeking feedback on its customer service through a survey on Join the Conversation, the Town’s public engagement site. Community members and visitors are invited to participate in this Customer Experience Survey until September 1, 2023, to share input on their experiences.
“Providing customer service excellence is essential to the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and the residents, community partners, stakeholders and businesses that Staff serve,” stated Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa. “This survey will allow Town Council and Staff to gauge what is working well and what needs improvements.”
Welland positioned to capture growing electric vehicle industry
Welland is positioning itself to capture the growing electric vehicle industry, says Mayor Frank Campion.
“It’s coming, and we want to be in that market early, which is what’s happening here. It’s something very viable for the community,” said Campion.
Two companies are moving to the city, with land purchased and construction underway on one site.
Linamar, an advanced manufacturing company with 69 facilities worldwide, including North America, Europe and Asia, is building a 27,870-square-metre Giga casting facility on Ontario Road and Canal Bank Street.
Also moving to Welland is Aluminum Surface Technology (AST), which purchased nearly five hectares of land in River Road Industrial Park.
Not hiring a new CAO an option for Welland city councillors
Hiring an executive search firm, recruiting internally, hiring a consultant, extending the interim position and postponing recruitment, or not hiring a chief administrative officer are choices facing Welland city councillors Tuesday night.
A report from human resources manager Andrea Daisley outlines the pros and cons of each as the city decides what to do after former CAO Steve Zorbas was fired by council in mid-July.
Two weeks ago, infrastructure services director Sherri-Marie Millar was appointed interim CAO in Zorbas’s place.
Economists expect rise in inflation as price-growth fight enters new phase
Forecasters anticipate this week’s consumer price index report to show inflation rose last month, signalling a reversal in progress after a year of steady declines in inflation.
Canada’s annual inflation rate fell back to the country’s target range in June for the first time since March 2021, tumbling to 2.8 per cent.
But economists expected the victory against high inflation to be short-lived, as underlying price pressures suggest it will take some time for inflation to return to the two per cent target.
Did you know?
British Airways serves its passengers 35 million cups of tea per year.
Focus on Small Business
8 Quick Tips for Start-ups
Before starting your business, considering a few basic concepts and questions can help clarify your expectations. Understanding your market and industry, knowing your skill set, formulating a business plan and understanding legal, financial and communications issues are all key to laying a foundation for success in the early years of your business.
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.
