In this edition:
- Government of Canada announces GST/HST break for groceries and holiday essentials
- Ontario will rebate over $2.5 billion in WSIB payments
- Two Welland projects win Brownie Awards for redevelopment excellence
- Niagara College Vice-President Marc Nantel wins national trailblazer award
- Simpson and Boggios bring pharmacy biz back into NOTL hands
- Canadian Council for Indigenous Business launches business holiday gift guide
- Number of EI claimants in Niagara holds steady while Canada, Ontario post declines
- Focus on Markets
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Photo credit: World Economic Forum / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Government of Canada announces two-month GST/HST break for groceries and holiday essentials
The government announced that it will be introducing legislation in Parliament that would provide for a two-month Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) break for groceries and holiday essentials.
The government is proposing that the GST/HST be fully and temporarily relieved on holiday essentials, like groceries, restaurant meals, drinks, snacks, children’s clothing, and gifts, from December 14, 2024, to February 15, 2025.
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce said that it was “pleased to see recognition that the affordability crisis continues to hurt Canadians,” but noted that there was still no clear plan to revive the economy.
The NDP won’t support ending the privilege debate but said that they will back a motion to support this relief.
Picture credit: Andrey Popov / Adobe Stock
Ontario will rebate over $2.5 billion in WSIB payments
The Ontario government has announced that it intends to return over $2.5 billion by rebating Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) surpluses to hundreds of thousands of safe employers, reducing business premium rates.
Eligible employers will receive their one-time rebate starting in February 2025 if they are a safe employer.
Picture credit: City of Welland
Two Welland projects win Brownie Awards for redevelopment excellence
Two transformative projects in Welland earned top honours at the 2024 Brownie Awards. These national accolades, presented by the Canadian Urban Institute in partnership with the Canadian Brownfields Network and Actual Media, highlight innovation and collaboration in turning brownfield sites into vibrant residential and commercial hubs.
Niagara College Vice-President, Research, Innovation, Strategic Enterprises Dr. Marc Nantel. | Picture credit: Niagara College
Niagara College Vice-President Marc Nantel wins national trailblazer award
Marc Nantel, PhD, Vice-President of Research, Innovation and Strategic Enterprises at Niagara College, has won the Trailblazer Award in Innovation Policy at the 2024 Canadian Science Policy Centre Conference (CSPC) in Ottawa.
According to the Selection Committee, Nantel was selected for the many contributions that he has made to Canadian innovation policy and for several ways in which he is leading the way at the forefront of this community.
Pharmacist Sean Simpson. | Picture credit: Sean Simpson
Simpson and Boggios bring pharmacy biz back into NOTL hands
With two of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s pharmacies back under local ownership, its former owner — now a partial owner — hopes it can get back to providing exceptional customer service.
Both Simpson’s Pharmasave in Virgil and Pharmasave Simpson’s Apothecary in Old Town were sold on Oct. 18, with partial ownership returning to Sean Simpson.
Picture credit: Canadian Council for Indigenous Business
Canadian Council for Indigenous Business launches business holiday gift guide
The Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB) has launched its 2024 Indigenous Business Holiday Gift Guide, featuring exceptional consumer goods for this holiday season from Certified Indigenous Businesses. Organizations seeking gift ideas can celebrate tradition and support Indigenous businesses by choosing from the guide.
Photo credit: Backcountry Media / Adobe Stock
Number of EI claimants in Niagara holds steady while Canada, Ontario post declines
The number of employment insurance (EI) claimants in Niagara was essentially unchanged between August and September, falling from 5,920 to 5,910 (-0.17%). The number of Canadians receiving regular EI benefits declined by 9,600 (-1.9%) in September, however, while Ontario recorded a drop from 156,620 to 154,590 (-1.3%).
Did you know?
Focus on Markets
Ottawa’s GST relief and rebate measures ‘all but close to the door’ to jumbo BoC rate cut, says economist
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.
