In this edition:
- No governance facilitator appointed for Niagara, Minister Calandra to “review previous intention”
- Apple users warned to update their devices after University of Toronto researchers expose spyware
- Solutions to housing supply crisis will be explored at free RESCON online summit
- Canada encourages Canadians to explore careers in the skilled trades
- ‘It’s our goal to turn Niagara orange’: Dockstader
- Reading Recommendations: Small Business
No governance facilitator appointed for Niagara, Minister Calandra to “review previous intention”
Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Paul Calandra says he’s reviewing plans to name facilitators to review certain regional municipalities in Ontario.
Under previous housing minister Steve Clark, regional municipalities were told in the fall of 2022 to expect a facilitator who would work to ensure the regions were ready to “deliver on the government’s commitment to tackle the housing supply crisis.”
But in a statement on the website X.com, previously Twitter, Calandra said he will be “reviewing the previously stated intention to appoint facilitators.”
Calandra said the ministry would provide “an update on next steps by the end of September.”
Last month, Clark announced during the annual conference of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario that he would name the facilitators by Sept. 11.
Apple users warned to update their devices after University of Toronto researchers expose spyware
Last week, University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab discovered a vulnerability in iPhone devices being “actively exploited” to deliver NSO Group’s Pegasus mercenary spyware, without any interaction from the victim.
Citizen Lab said it made the discovery while checking the device of an individual employed by a Washington DC-based civil society organization with international offices.
The “zero-click” exploit chain, which Citizen Lab refers to as BLASTPASS, was capable of compromising iPhones running the latest version of iOS (16.6) and involved PassKit attachments containing malicious images sent from an attacker iMessage account to the victim.
Solutions to housing supply crisis will be explored at free RESCON online summit
The Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) is hosting a free online housing summit Oct. 12, 2023, to spark innovative discussions and discuss what needs to be done to boost supply.
The event, called Driving Solutions to the Crisis, runs from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. It is the third virtual housing summit sponsored by RESCON. Storeys is media sponsor for the event.
“The housing supply and affordability crisis is very real and, at a time when we should be increasing the number of starts, they are trending in the wrong direction and the situation is getting worse,” explains RESCON president Richard Lyall. “To fix the problem and boost the number of new housing units being built, we must find ways to move residential development approvals through the system faster, get shovels in the ground sooner, and speed up the building process.”
Canada encourages Canadians to explore careers in the skilled trades
Demographic shifts and high retirement rates are fuelling demand and a growing need to recruit and train thousands more Canadians for careers in the skilled trades.
A series of experiential marketing events will be featured across Canada, including: Ottawa as a first stop, Montréal, Fredericton, Saint John, Toronto and Vancouver.
This new exhibit provides an experience where individuals can learn about different skilled trades careers, find in-demand trades in their province or territory and discover the steps it takes to become a skilled trades worker. The exhibit focuses on creating an in-person and immersive experience.
‘It’s our goal to turn Niagara orange’: Dockstader
Jennifer Dockstader is looking forward to the day Niagara turns orange.
That is why the third annual Unity Walk in Fort Erie — and now Welland — is so important to the executive director of the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre.
“We want to recognize residential school survivors and remember the discovery of unmarked burial sites,” said Dockstader, who is a member of the Oneida of the Thames nation, Bear Clan.
Did you know?
Focus on Small Business
How to perform a root cause analysis and corrective action
When running day-to-day operations and having pressure of hitting sales targets, it’s easy to be reactionary rather than proactive when following up on problems with processes. When this happens, often only symptoms are addressed, and shortcuts are taken. Unfortunately, this leads to implemented measures being wrong, or only a temporary fix and a very expensive solution.
The instinctive reaction is to use “brain storming” and a heavy reliance on using job skill and experience, which seldomly identifies potential root causes. Reactionary problem solvers seldomly seek to identify potential changes and distinctions. Rather than addressing the root cause of the problem, they treat the symptoms. As a result, they fall into a detrimental, cyclical pattern where the problem recurs.
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.
