In this edition:
- 2.46% tax hike for St. Catharines homeowners if budget unchanged for 2025
- 8 appointed to committee tasked with downtown Niagara Falls matters
- Legislative Assembly picks Fielding Estate, Lailey wineries for official 2025 wines
- Niagara berry farm among recipients of provincial and federal agricultural investment
- Ontario motor vehicle retail leads charge in national sales growth
- Ontario plans to bar international students from medical schools starting in 2026
- Focus on Markets
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Photo credit: City of St. Catharines
2.46% tax hike for St. Catharines homeowners if budget unchanged for 2025
St. Catharines residents got a first look at how their property tax bills are shaping up for 2025 on Wednesday night, but the final numbers are still to be worked out.
City staff presented a proposed 2025 operating budget to city council with a 2.46 per cent increase over 2024 for residential property tax bills.
Photo credit: Niagara Falls Tourism
8 appointed to committee tasked with downtown Niagara Falls matters
Eight people have been appointed to serve on a new downtown committee of Niagara Falls city council.
The municipality received 23 applications and council voted in eight members Tuesday.
Photo credit: Maurizio De Mattei / Adobe Stock
Legislative Assembly picks Fielding Estate, Lailey wineries for official 2025 wines
The Grape Growers of Ontario, along with speaker of the Legislature and MPP for Wellington-Halton Hills, Ted Arnott, hosted the 45th annual wine tasting event at Queen’s Park on Wednesday, choosing three Niagara wines as the official wines of Ontario’s Legislative Assembly for 2025.
“As the legacy partner of the Legislature’s wine tasting event, the Grape Growers of Ontario praised Speaker Arnott for continuing the tradition of choosing the official VQA wines of the Legislative Assembly for the coming year,” said Matthias Oppenlaender, GGO chair.
Photo credit: Andrii Yalanskyi / Adobe Stock
Niagara berry farm among recipients of provincial and federal agricultural investment
The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $7.5 million to support 365 projects that will help the province’s farmers, food processors, and essential farm-supporting agribusinesses protect their operations against pests and diseases while enhancing operational resilience and strengthening public trust in our food supply system.
Among them is a berry farm in Niagara Region, receiving up to $29,353 for a steam treatment system to eliminate damaging pests and diseases.
Photo credit: Nomad_Soul / Adobe Stock
Ontario motor vehicle retail leads charge in national sales growth
Retail sales increased 0.4% to $66.6 billion in August, Statistics Canada reported today. Sales were up in four of nine subsectors and were led by increases at motor vehicle and parts dealers.
The largest provincial increase was observed in Ontario (+0.9%), led by higher sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers. In the census metropolitan area (CMA) of Toronto, sales were up 0.6%.
Photo credit: Niagara College
Ontario plans to bar international students from medical schools starting in 2026
Did you know?
Focus on Markets
Macklem sees little inflation impact from immigration reform
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.
