Daily Update: July 10 2024

July 10, 2024 | Daily Update

In this edition:

  • LCBO ordered to do better on VQA market share at their stores
  • Niagara-on-the-Lake unveils latest section of Upper Canada Heritage Trail
  • Town of Pelham announces new Director of Community Planning and Development
  • Ontario Premier says he will not budge on beverage alcohol
  • Candace Laing to head Canadian Chamber of Commerce
  • Canada to stop processing study permits for colleges, universities that fail to track international students
  • Speed limit rising on more provincial highways, including parts of Highways 401 and 403, starting July 12
  • Focus on Sustainability

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LCBO ordered to do better on VQA market share at their stores

In a rather startling letter to the LCBO, the provincial government has clearly expressed that it wants the Ontario booze monopoly to fix the historically low market share for VQA wines on their shelves.

Ontario finance minister Peter Bethlenfalvy sent a detailed letter to Carmine Nigro, chair of the LCBO, listing several bullet points that point the way to increased market share for Ontario wines — and he wants it done this summer.

Click here to read more.

Photo credit: Upper Canada Heritage Trail

Niagara-on-the-Lake unveils latest section of Upper Canada Heritage Trail

The proposed 10-kilometre-long Upper Canada Heritage Trail continues to roll along with the latest section from Line 1 to Line 2 now open up for users.

Heritage trail committee chair Rick Meloen said the trail is expected be completed to Line 3 by the fall.

Click here to read more.

Photo credit: Pam Duesling

Town of Pelham announces new Director of Community Planning and Development

The Town of Pelham is pleased to announce the appointment of Pam Duesling PhD, MAES, BES, MCIP, RPP, Ec.D., CMMIII, to the position of Director of Community Planning and Development, effective July 29, 2024.

Ms. Duesling brings over 25 years of extensive experience in municipal development, land use planning and policy planning.

Click here to read more.

Photo credit: Eurasia Group

Ontario Premier says he will not budge on beverage alcohol

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he will not budge from his plan to have ready-to-drink cocktails sold at convenience and grocery stores across the province.

Workers at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario went on strike last week and their union says wages are not the issue, rather they oppose Ford’s alcohol expansion plan.

Click here to read more.

Photo credit: Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Candace Laing to head Canadian Chamber of Commerce

Candace Laing will become the new President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Canada’s largest business network, on September 1.

Born and raised in Saskatchewan, where her family maintains a longstanding farming operation, Ms. Laing brings her experience as a senior executive with more than two decades of experience with both the private and public sectors.

Click here to read more.

Photo credit: Satiricalman

Canada to stop processing study permits for colleges, universities that fail to track international students

The federal government plans to suspend processing of study permits from post-secondary students if the schools fail to keep track of international students’ enrolment.

The proposed regulations would compel colleges and universities to report to the federal Immigration Department whether a student is attending school and complying with all study permit requirements.

Click here to read more.

Photo credit: mikecleggphoto

Speed limit rising on more provincial highways, including parts of Highways 401 and 403, starting July 12

The speed limit is increasing on several more sections of provincial highways starting July 12.

Speed limits will be permanently raised to 110 kilometres per hour from 100 km/h on 10 additional highways in northern and southern Ontario.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

It takes twelve litres of water to grow a single California almond.

Focus on Sustainability

Corporate greenwashers beware. The price for failing to back up your environmental claims is about to go way up

Whether by act or by omission, greenwashing will not be tolerated in Canada.

A new era in environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosure and regulation is upon us.

With the federal Competition Act (Bill C-59) passing into law, Canadian organizations will now be required to back up their environmental and social claims about products or services with “adequate and proper tests.” Similarly, they must substantiate any claim they make about their business protecting or restoring the environment or mitigating the environmental and ecological causes or effects of climate change (i.e., net-zero or carbon-neutral claims) with an “internationally recognized methodology.”

Click here to read more.

KPMG will host a webinar about Bill C-59 on July 18th. Click here for more information.

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.

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Legislative update: What proposed changes to the OHSA mean for your workplace

June 30, 2024 | WSPS

Employers can expect to see several changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) in the near future as Bill 190, Working for Workers Five Act, 2024 makes its way through the legislature, says Kristin Onorato, WSPS Health and Safety Consultant. “Some of the amendments will impact employers’ duties under the OHSA, which may, in turn, affect health and safety policies and procedures.”

Introduced into the Ontario legislature on May 6, 2024, the Working for Workers Five Act, 2024 is the latest in a series of bills designed to “open pathways into the skilled trades, remove barriers to employment, protect frontline heroes and workers and support women at work,” says the Ontario government. The bill also amends other legislation including the Employment Standards Act (ESA) and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act.

“Some of the amendments contained in Bill 190 reflect the evolution of workplaces since COVID-19 and support a virtual first work environment,” says Kristin. “We now have virtual workplaces, hybrid workplaces, and traditional workplaces that are increasingly adopting virtual technologies.”

“At the moment, Bill 190 is in second reading,” says Kristin, “But it is expected to pass. We won’t know the fine details until that happens, but employers should start preparing for the changes that affect them now.”

Understanding the amendments

Bill 190 contains five key amendments to the OHSA. Kristin explains what they are and what they may mean for you.

1. Employers can now post copies of the OHSA and other MLITSD health and safety posting requirements electronically. As the legislation stands now, explains Kristin, employers must post a physical copy of these documents in the workplace where they are easily accessible to workers. “Although you can now post documents virtually, you still have to ensure they are easily accessible to workers,” says Kristin. “That means providing direction on where and how workers can access them and ensuring that workers are comfortable on the platform the documents are posted on.”

2. The definition of harassment is being modernized to include protection against virtual harassment, including virtual sexual harassment. “This change is significant,” says Kristin. “Virtual harassment continues to increase in workplaces.” The amendment in all likelihood will apply to any virtual platform that allows remote and hybrid teams to communicate and collaborate, such as Teams, Zoom, or Google Meet,” says Kristin, “as well as social media, such as email, Facebook, Linkedin, X, etc.”

“Companies will need to update all policies and programs as well as training related to harassment to include the new definition. The change could also potentially change the way companies are dealing with and investigating harassment at work.”

3. Joint health and safety committee (JHSC) meetings can now legally be held virtually. The law currently says that JHSC meetings must be done in person. But the rise in home offices and remote work means some committees are not able to do that anymore, says Kristin. “The law is catching up with the reality of what people are doing.”

“If committee members are physically in the same place, I would encourage them to continue to meet in person,” says Kristin. “Face to face meetings are very valuable, and are often more focused, interactive, engaging and productive than virtual meetings.”

4. Washrooms for workers must be kept clean and sanitary, with records of cleaning. This change is designed to support women at work, says the government, and would make Ontario the first province in Canada to require a record of cleaning in its health and safety legislation. “The move is in direct response to advocacy from tradeswomen and other sector stakeholders who have cited better washroom facilities as a key policy to encourage more women to join the building trades.”

“We don’t know how often cleaning will be required or if the cleaning times will be mandated,” notes Kristin, “but employers may be required to adjust procedures, train staff, and develop a system of documentation.”

5. Asbestos-related data will be incorporated into the ministry’s forthcoming occupational exposure registry. “This move is designed to prevent future asbestos-related illnesses,” says Kristin. “The Ontario government is working with the Ontario Centre for Cancer Research (OCRC) to develop the registry.”

Ontario says the goal of the registry is to track harmful exposure levels, help diagnose diseases faster, improve workers’ compensation, and reduce costs to the healthcare system. “We’ll provide updates on the registry as soon as they are available,” says Kristin. “I don’t anticipate that this amendment will affect the employer’s day to day activity. ”

More information

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The information in this article is accurate as of its publication date.

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Daily Update: June 21

June 21, 2024 | Daily Update

In this edition:

  • GNCC celebrates Indigenous businesses on National Indigenous Peoples Day
  • Legislation to ban use of replacement workers receives royal assent
  • Raw material prices increase by 7.6% year-over-year, outpacing inflation
  • Retail sales volume ticks up in April, led by gasoline sales
  • Federal government launches call for proposals regarding sustainable jobs training
  • Alectra joins Canadian Council for Indigenous Business, seeks Progressive Aboriginal Relations™ certification
  • Focus on Retail

GNCC celebrates Indigenous businesses on National Indigenous Peoples Day

There are over 50,000 Indigenous-owned businesses in our country, contributing around $50 billion to our economy each year – more than the province of New Brunswick.

According to the Indigenomics Institute, that number could double if governments and corporations embrace more inclusive policies and business practices to engage with Indigenous companies.

There are many policy options and proposals in the 2022 National Indigenous Economic Strategy for Canada. We hope to see its proposals implemented, and we look forward to a future National Indigenous Peoples Day when we hit that $100 billion for Indigenous businesses.

Click here to read more.

Legislation to ban use of replacement workers receives royal assent

Yesterday, Bill C-58, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code and the Industrial Relations Board Regulations, 2012, received royal assent. Bill C-58 represents one of the most significant changes to federal collective bargaining rules since the 1990s. Specifically, Bill C-58 has two main components:

  • Banning employers from using replacement workers to do the work of unionized employees who are on strike or locked out.
  • Improving the maintenance of activities process by requiring employers and unions to come to an agreement early in the bargaining process.

This legislation only applies to federally-regulated industries. Click here for a list.

Click here to read more.

Niagara Custom Crush Studio partners with Chateau des Charmes Winery

Niagara Custom Crush Studio (NCCS), one of Ontario’s newest and most innovative wineries, is pleased to welcome Chateau des Charmes, one of Ontario’s oldest and most esteemed wineries, as a new, strategic investor. Chateau des Charmes was founded in 1978 and has played a pivotal role in shaping the region’s winemaking heritage and NCCS was founded in 2022 with the mission of supporting emerging winemakers and providing specialized custom crush services to Ontario’s growing wine industry.

Click here to read more.

Raw material prices increase by 7.6% year-over-year, outpacing inflation

Prices of raw materials purchased by manufacturers operating in Canada, as measured by the Raw Materials Price Index (RMPI), declined 1.0% month over month in May 2024 and increased 7.6% year over year, Statistics Canada reported today.

Click here to read more.

Retail sales volume ticks up in April, led by gasoline sales

Retail sales increased 0.7% to $66.8 billion in April. Core retail sales—which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers—were up 1.4% in April.

The largest increase in retail sales in April was recorded at gasoline stations and fuel vendors (+4.5%), up for the first time in three months.

Click here to read more.

Federal government launches call for proposals regarding sustainable jobs training

On Jun. 21, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault, alongside Ministers Wilkinson and O’Regan, launched a call for proposals under the new Sustainable Jobs Stream of the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy’s Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP). An investment of over $95 million over five years will try to help unions and their partners provide green training to approximately 20,000 apprentices and journeypersons. This call for proposals will be open until September 5, 2024.

Click here to read more.

Alectra joins Canadian Council for Indigenous Business, seeks Progressive Aboriginal Relations™ certification

Alectra today announced that it has become a member of the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB) and is committed to the Progressive Aboriginal Relations™ (PAR) Certification program. By joining a diverse group of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous companies across Canada, Alectra is dedicated to fostering meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities and promoting economic reconciliation.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

Loan approval rates stand at 90% for Canadian companies, but only 58% for Indigenous firms.

Focus on Retail

Is the sun setting on self-checkout?

It could be the beginning of the end for self-checkout machines.

In the U.S., Walmart has removed self-checkout lanes at six locations so far, owing in part to losses from theft, including items like fruit and vegetables being scanned with codes for cheaper produce. Safeway has also shut down self-checkout at a number of locations in the San Francisco Bay area because of theft.

A Giant Tiger in Stratford, Ont., meanwhile, recently scrapped self-checkout kiosks for a different reason. “The biggest complaint you have from everybody is, ‘You don’t pay me to work here,’” Scott Savage, the franchisee of the location which has a mostly older clientele, told the CBC of customers having to scan and bag their own groceries. “They would line up at my regular registers.”

Click here to read more.

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.

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Daily Update: June 20

June 20, 2024 | Daily Update

In this edition:

  • 812-unit, ‘world-class’ buildings to overlook Niagara’s falls
  • Ontario wineries, bottle shops ramp up for looming strike at LCBO stores
  • New Niagara transit buses to cost more than $21 million
  • Niagara Falls couple donates $1M to South Niagara Hospital campaign
  • Number of EI claimants up 15% year-over-year
  • 20% of apartments in 20-storey Niagara Falls building to have monthly rents ‘well below’ $2,400
  • Canadian Chamber labels Digital Services Tax “discriminatory and damaging”
  • WestJet mechanics take strike off the table as two sides resume talks
  • Loblaw says it’s on track to open 40 new stores, convert dozens this year
  • BCRSP and CRBOH streamline path to certification by both bodies
  • Frontier Networks to resell Starlink internet in Canada and U.S.
  • Focus on Technology

812-unit, ‘world-class’ buildings to overlook Niagara’s falls

A vacant underused property in an urban area at the edge of Niagara Falls’ tourist commercial district will be home to what’s described as a “world-class” and “innovative” 812-unit apartment development.

City council on Tuesday approved 29- and 38-storey towers on 1.24 hectares of land on Portage Road, north of Marineland Parkway.

Click here to read more.

Ontario wineries, bottle shops ramp up for looming strike at LCBO stores

Until now, there has never been a strike at the LCBO and both sides hope that can be avoided. In 2005, 2009 and 2013, liquor board employees voted in favour of work stoppages, but in all instances the two sides reached agreement before the strikes came into effect.

Paul Speck, president of Henry of Pelham Estate Winery in Niagara, which sells 60% of its wines through LCBO, said this strike threat feels more dire. “This situation comes around every couple of years as the union renegotiates its contract with the LCBO,” he told Wines in Niagara. “They always seem to threaten to strike and in the past, they have made a deal avoiding any disruption. This year appears to be more acute due to the Ford administration upping the timeline on retail modernization, so the union is very concerned about job safety, losses and closures. All that to say we may be in for a strike.”

Click here to read more.

New Niagara transit buses to cost more than $21 million

Niagara Transit Commission has approved the purchase of 19 conventional buses and 11 specialized transit vehicles.

Carla Stout, general manager of Niagara Region Transit, told the commission on Tuesday that the purchases won’t impact the tax levy because they are funded through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), the provincial gas tax and the commission’s capital reserves.

Click here to read more.

Niagara Falls couple donates $1M to South Niagara Hospital campaign

The Niagara Health Foundation is recognizing a signification donation from a Niagara Falls couple in support of the new South Niagara Hospital.

Alfredo and Mary Varalli contributed $1 million to the It’s Our Future campaign and are being recognized as “future builder donors.”

Click here to read more.

Number of EI claimants up 15% year-over-year

On a year-over-year basis, the number of regular EI beneficiaries was up by 60,000 (+15.1%) in April 2024, Statistics Canada reported today.

In April, 456,000 Canadians received regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, down 2.8% (-13,000) from March. Prior to the decline in April, the number of regular EI recipients had trended higher from February to December 2023 (+78,000; +19.8%) and held relatively steady in the early months of 2024.

Click here to read more.

20% of apartments in 20-storey Niagara Falls building to have monthly rents ‘well below’ $2,400

A minimum of 39 of 193 units proposed for a 20-storey residential development on the south side of Main Street in Niagara Falls, west of Allendale Avenue, are being touted as affordable to moderate-income households.

City council on Tuesday approved development for an irregularly shaped property made up of four parcels of land formerly occupied by three single-detached dwellings and a portion of the former Murray Street road allowance that was purchased from the city.

Click here to read more.

Canadian Chamber labels Digital Services Tax “discriminatory and damaging”

“Regrettably, the Government has moved one step closer to implementing this discriminatory and damaging digital services tax (DST) via Bill C-59, in contravention of prevailing international tax principles,” said Jessica Brandon-Jepp, Senior Director, Fiscal and Financial Services Policy at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, in a statement issued today.

“At a time when Canadians are struggling with affordability, this tax will increase costs for consumers on a variety of everyday products and services that rely on digital platforms including digital subscriptions, a rural getaway booked online, takeout after a long work week, or the handmade products purchased from Canadian artisans.”

Click here to read more.

WestJet mechanics take strike off the table as two sides resume talks

The threat of a strike by WestJet airplane mechanics is off the table — for now — after both sides agreed to resume negotiations, but not before nearly 50 flights were cancelled.

The Canada Industrial Relations Board said it needs more time and submissions from each party before deciding whether to create a collective agreement via binding arbitration, as proposed by WestJet earlier this week.

Click here to read more.

Loblaw says it’s on track to open 40 new stores, convert dozens this year

Loblaw celebrated the opening its 16th new location in May, a small-format No Frills in downtown Toronto and says it’s on track to open 40 new stores this yer and convert dozens more.

The new stores are part of a larger announcement in February of this year, whereby the company committed to a capital investment of more than $2 billion dollars into the economy in 2024. This investment is expected to create more than 7,500 jobs in Canada.

Click here to read more.

BCRSP and CRBOH streamline path to certification by both bodies

On June 14,  the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (BCRSP) ratified a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Canadian Registration Board of Occupational Hygienists (CRBOH).

The new agreement, signed in Moncton, N.B., in advance of the BCRSP governing board meeting, will give BCRSP and CRBOH certificants alternative routes to achieve certification.

Click here to read more.

Frontier Networks to resell Starlink internet in Canada and U.S.

Frontier Networks has become an authorized reseller of SpaceX-engineered and operated satellite internet constellation, Starlink. This agreement allows Frontier Networks to offer Starlink’s satellite internet services to customers in Canada and the U.S.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

British drivers drive on the left because it made jousting easier.

Focus on Technology

Will AI threaten jobs in grocery?

Artificial intelligence, AI, seems to have the same forewarning as “The British are coming!” – Paul Revere’s famous cry on that April night in 1775. But even Paul himself knew that the British were already here. So has been the case with AI.

Its origins go back to 1950 when Alan Turing published his work “Computer Machinery and Intelligence”. It eventually became The Turing Test, in what was used to measure computer intelligence. In 1952 computer scientist Artur Samuel developed a program to play checkers, which was the first to ever learn the game independently. John McCarthy, Princeton Ph.D. in Mathematics, held a workshop in 1955 at Dartmouth on “artificial intelligence” which is the first use of the phrase.

Click here to read more.

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.

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New multi-language resources help raise workers’ awareness of 8 significant hazards

June 13, 2024 | WSPS

Ontario is looking to fill gaps in its labour market by welcoming newcomers to the province at historic levels. This, in addition to temporary foreign workers, means tens of thousands of new Canadians will be entering our workforce, bringing with them a varied understanding of health and safety rights, responsibilities, and workplace hazards. Language barriers may also complicate their ability to communicate with their employer about health and safety and integrate into the workforce safely. Many may also be hesitant to speak up and ask questions.

“As a result, many newcomers lack proper awareness of the hazards on the job, how to stay safe, and their rights and responsibilities under the Occupational Health and Safety Act,” says Bill Chen, WSPS Account Representative. “This puts them at higher risk of injury than their Canadian counterparts, which is bad news for these workers and their employers.”

In response to this challenge, WSPS has launched two new sets of multi-language resources for the high-risk sectors of manufacturing and agriculture. These resources are designed to increase awareness of common hazards that often lead to serious injuries and fatalities. “Providing health and safety information in a worker’s first language is the best way to ensure they fully understand what’s being taught, and can protect themselves from hazards,” says Bill.

“Workplaces can use these free resources for new hire orientation, health and safety training, health and safety talks, daily communication or pre and post-shift chats,” notes Bill.

Mobile-friendly hazard awareness

WSPS’ new resources  – a collection of mobile-friendly videos and visual tip sheets – provide information on common hazards in the manufacturing and agriculture sectors and use animation, plain language, graphics, subtitles and other means to engage workers in their first language.

Resources for the manufacturing sector are available in French, Mandarin, Punjabi, Spanish, Tagalog and English, and address five hazards that may lead to serious workplace injuries:

  • loading and unloading trailers safely
  • lockout/tagout – staying safe with hazardous energy
  • machine and conveyor safety
  • safety around cars, vans and trucks
  • slips, trips and falls

Resources for agriculture are available in Spanish, Thai, Vietnamese and English, and address:

  • ladders and heights
  • safely working with machines
  • safely working with tractors

You can also download two QR code posters, one for manufacturing and another for agriculture. These provide an easy way for employers, health and safety managers, human resources, joint health and safety committee members or health and safety representatives to connect workers to these resources via their mobile devices.

The benefits to your workplace

Misinterpretation of health and safety information because of language barriers can lead to injury, loss of life, and higher costs for businesses. Bill recommends that businesses of all sizes take advantage of WSPS’ multilingual resources to:

  • improve health and safety communication;
  • develop a better understanding of health and safety compliance;
  • increase understanding, knowledge and awareness of hazards;
  • reduce the risk of injuries and fatalities; and
  • improve the workplace’s safety culture.

Bill notes, however, that the new resources don’t replace job-specific training. “Businesses should always take a three-pronged approach to training all workers, including those who don’t speak English: teach them how to do it, make sure they understand, then have them demonstrate how to do it.”

More actions you can take

Businesses with non-English speaking workers can take additional steps to ensure understanding of health and safety information.

  • Provide access to English language training.
  • Use translation services for important documents.
  • Encourage employee participation and let employees know they can ask questions about safety in the workplace.
  • Take advantage of new technologies, like Google Translate, Bing Translator or ChatGPT, but be mindful of their limits and possible inaccuracy
  • During training,
    • use simple language, no jargon or acronyms, speak slowly, and enunciate clearly.
    • check for comprehension by providing quizzes. Have a translator in the room to help if possible.
    • be available for questions after the training session ends – many newcomers may not feel comfortable asking questions in class.

How WSPS can help

Connect with a consultant to help your workplace develop training courses aimed at a multilingual workforce.

New Multilingual Resources

Free 45-Minute Webinar

Articles

The information in this article is accurate as of its publication date.

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Daily Update: June 5

June 5, 2024 | Daily Update

In this edition:

  • Bank of Canada cuts key interest rate to 4.75 per cent
    • Canada becomes first G7 nation to cut interest rates
    • What the Bank of Canada rate cut means for mortgages, consumer loans and investments
  • Arja Vainio-Mattila named Brock University’s new Provost and VP Academic
  • Border strike could start Friday afternoon if mediation fails
  • Canadian Chamber expresses concern after Pharmacare Bill passes third reading in the House of Commons
  • Focus on Climate

Bank of Canada cuts key interest rate to 4.75 per cent

The Bank of Canada has lowered its key interest rate to 4.75 per cent, marking the bank’s first rate cut since March 2020.

Bank governor Tiff Macklem said in opening remarks that the bank’s monetary policy no longer needs to be as restrictive. “We’ve come a long way in the fight against inflation. And our confidence that inflation will continue to move closer to the two per cent target has increased over recent months,” Macklem said.

Economists were largely expecting the move. The inflation rate has moved closer to the bank’s two per cent goal in recent months, coming in at 2.7 per cent in April, with the bank’s preferred core measures of inflation also easing throughout the spring.

Click here for more details.

📰 Related articles:

Arja Vainio-Mattila named Brock University’s new Provost and VP Academic

After an extensive global recruitment process, Arja Vainio-Mattila has been appointed Brock’s new Provost and Vice-President, Academic, effective July 22.

Vainio-Mattila has nearly 30 years of experience in institutional development and global leadership, having worked in Africa and Asia with interdisciplinary teams on education, natural resources management and infrastructure development.

Among her leadership roles, she has served as Dean of the School of the Arts and Social Sciences at Cape Breton University and Provost and Vice-President Academic and Research at Nipissing University. She was also an assistant professor in Brock’s Environmental Policy Institute from 1996 to 1998.

Click here for more details.

Border strike could start Friday afternoon if mediation fails

The union representing thousands of Canadian border workers says they will begin job action Friday afternoon if no deal is reached by then.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada says it still hopes to avoid strike action and border disruptions but has set a deadline of Friday at 4 p.m. eastern time.

More than 9,000 union members who work for the Canada Border Services Agency have been without a contract for more than two years.

The two sides went into mediation on Monday.

Click here for more details.

Canadian Chamber expresses concern after Pharmacare Bill passes third reading in the House of Commons

Kathy Megyery, Senior Vice-President and General Manager with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC) expressed the following: “CCC believes that all Canadians should have access to the prescription medications they need. We are therefore disappointed bill C-64, the Pharmacare Act, has not been amended to clarify that a federal pharmacare program will not jeopardize the private insurance of 27 million Canadians.

While the Minister of Health, Mark Holland, has stated that the federal pharmacare program would not jeopardize Canadians’ private coverage, the bill repeatedly references a national universal single-payer system. This contradicts the Minister’s claim, suggesting that only public funds will be allowed to cover the drugs included their plan.

Currently, the majority of Canadians access valued drug insurance through their employers and public plans. A universal pharmacare program will use billions of taxpayer dollars to provide coverage to Canadians who already have it and risks limiting choice in the specific medications Canadians currently access. This is neither pragmatic nor fiscally responsible.”

Click here for more details.

Did you know?

HanesBrands to sell sportswear business Champion to Authentic Brands in $1.2 billion deal.

Focus on Climate

UN chief says that ‘we are playing Russian roulette’ as planet endures 12 straight months of unprecedented heat

CNN, Laura Paddison

The planet just marked a “shocking” new milestone, enduring 12 consecutive months of unprecedented heat, according to new data from Copernicus, the European Union’s climate monitoring service.

Every single month from June 2023 to May 2024 was the world’s hottest such month on record, Copernicus data showed

Click here to read more. 

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.

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Daily Update: June 3

June 3, 2024 | Daily Update

In this edition:

  • Fort Erie welcomes $10 million of commercial investment
  • To cut or hold interest rates – all eyes are on the Bank of Canada
  • Investors reshaping Canadian agriculture
  • A CBSA strike could soon snarl border traffic. Here’s what you need to know
  • St. Catharines Council adopts Waterfront Access Master Plan (WAMP)
  • Loblaw testing out small format No Frills grocery stores
  • Immigration provides important buffer for Canadian economy as population greys: RBC
  • June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada
  • Focus on Health and Safety

Fort Erie welcomes $10 million of commercial investment

The Town of Fort Erie is delighted to announce the official ground-breaking construction of the long-awaited Ridgeway Centre, a new multi-use, retail commercial development at the intersection of Gorham Road and Dominion Road, servicing the Ridgeway, Crystal Beach, and Stevensville areas.

With an initial investment of $10 million, Phase 1 of the development includes 16,000 square feet of commercial space. The anchor tenants include McDonald’s and the LCBO. McDonald’s is expected to be open by late July with the LCBO opening by the end of 2024.

Additional units are available for lease and range in size from 1,200 square feet to 6,700 square feet. Phase 2 development planning for the Ridgeway Centre is already underway.

Long-time Fort Erie developer David Kompson and his business partner Anthony Annunziata have provided a steadfast determination to bring this project to life. Their shared vision, creativity, and focus on the community, will enhance Fort Erie’s commercial business landscape.

Click here for more details.

To cut or hold interest rates – all eyes are on the Bank of Canada

This Wednesday’s rate-setting announcement will be closely watched for the obvious reason that some expect the Bank of Canada to cut rates for the first time since it began cranking them up in March 2022.

A less obvious reason is that a failure to cut or at least signal that a trim is coming very soon risks grinding the economy to a harmfully slow pace.

“It would be a mistake to maintain this degree of pressure on the economy now that inflation is decelerating sharply,” said Avery Shenfeld, chief economist at CIBC Capital Markets, adding that a cut to the current five per cent overnight rate would be “well justified” in June.

“Standing pat for too long while inflation tumbles risks dishing out more economic pain than necessary to hit the two per cent (inflation) target,” he said.

Click here for more details.

Investors reshaping Canadian agriculture

Experts say the economic forces now reshaping agriculture are similar to ones that have transformed residential real estate over the last two decades, with investors – from pension plans to well-to-do urban families – fuelling speculation and driving up real estate prices.

“Any time you increase the amount of buyers and increase the demand, it’s definitely going to contribute to the increases in values,” said Ryan Parker, an agricultural real estate appraiser with London-based, Valco Consultants.

In the 11 counties Parker monitors in southwestern Ontario, farmland values have risen 60 per cent from 2020 to 2023, to an average of about $35,000 an acre — a price that puts land acquisition out of reach for many.

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A CBSA strike could soon snarl border traffic. Here is what you need to know

Just as the summer travel season gets into gear, Canadians and visitors could find themselves waiting in long lines at the border — delays that could also deal a blow to the economy.

It all depends on what happens with a potential strike by workers at the Canada Border Services Agency, which could start as soon as Thursday.

What’s going on?

More than 9,000 Public Service Alliance of Canada members who work for the CBSA, including border guards, have secured a strike mandate. The two sides go into mediation on June 3, and the union will be in a position to strike as of June 6.

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St. Catharines Council adopts Waterfront Access Master Plan (WAMP) 

The City’s WAMP provides recommendations to improve access, connectivity, and enjoyment of the Lake Ontario waterfront at City-owned shoreline properties.

The project study area runs the entire shoreline, including the beaches, parks, trails, and other access points along the waterfront. Existing waterfront access is via either beach, boat launch, lookout, or stairs.

The City completed the WAMP as a guiding document to determine how existing and future access points could be provided to residents and visitors in a safe, accessible, and equitable way.

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Loblaw testing out small format No Frills grocery stores

Loblaw is testing smaller-format discount stores across the country this year as shoppers increasingly look for ways to save on their grocery bill.

The company has a handful of smaller discount stores already but plans to “lean in” to the strategy as a way of reaching more customers, said Melanie Singh, who leads Loblaw’s discount division that includes No Frills and Maxi.

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Immigration provides important buffer for Canadian economy as population greys: RBC

Carrie Freestone, an economist with RBC, said Canada’s retirees are still consuming goods and services, including health care, Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security benefits, creating an imbalance between demand and what the economy can produce. As fewer people pay into public service programs and more people become recipients, Freestone added it widens the gap between government tax revenue and money needed to pay for services.

“That’s a problem,” she said in an interview. “If we have fewer people working and producing goods and services and we have more people consuming, there’s a mismatch between supply and demand.”

With Canada’s recent scale-backs to its immigration policies, the country’s population size is expected to be 2.5 per cent smaller in 2027, compared with the original estimates if the policy remained unchanged, the report said. The cap on non-permanent residents means 1.1 million fewer people in Canada by 2027.

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June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada 

This is an opportunity to learn about the unique cultures, traditions and experiences of First Nations, Inuit and Métis. It is a time to honour the stories, achievements and resilience of Indigenous Peoples, who have lived on this land since time immemorial and whose presence continues to impact the evolving Canada.

Each week throughout the month of June, specific aspects of Indigenous history, cultures and perspectives will be highlighted. Explore learning resources on each theme:

  • June 1 to 9: Environment, traditional knowledge and territory
  • June 10 to 16: Children and youth
  • June 17 to 23: Languages, cultures and arts
  • June 24 to 30: Women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people

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Did you know?

Boeing’s Starliner test flight was scrubbed on Saturday after hold in final countdown. The ground launch sequencer computer called a hold at T-minus 3 minutes, 50 seconds.

Focus on Health and Safety

Union members and allies marked Injured Workers’ Day in locations across Ontario

OHS Canada

The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) supported several events across Ontario on June 1, as injured workers and their allies marked Injured Workers’ Day in the province.

In Toronto, over 100 people joined a rally at Queen’s Park, which included speeches by injured workers and supporters.

The Ontario Federation of Labour represents 54 unions and one million workers in Ontario. It is the largest provincial labour federation in Canada.

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Why Canada needs to prioritize public safety

BNN Bloomberg Editorial 

As we head into summer, Canadians across the country are bracing for what could be another intense wildfire season. So too are the country’s first responders, who will once again be working day and night to keep citizens and the country’s forests safe. While firefighters and other emergency personnel have many tools needed for the job, there is one area that needs improvement: wireless communications.

According to a 2022 Public Safety Canada report, the country’s emergency response system has potentially hazardous shortcomings that could make a tough situation worse. Most notably, Canada’s first responders rely largely on legacy land mobile radio (LMR) networks – walkie-talkies – and for data connectivity they tap into commercial cellular networks without any specialized security or prioritization. “This effectively creates communication silos that make coordination a significant challenge,” according to the report.

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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.

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Daily Update: May 30

May 30, 2024 | Daily Update

In this edition:

  • Lincoln reports almost 2,000 new jobs and over $143M in construction
  • Niagara Falls Supper Market kicks off on June 5, vendor spaces still available
  • Public Interest Commission recommends Border Services union and Treasury Board return to bargaining table
  • Ontario to update Secondary School Diploma requirements for first time in 25 years
  • Number of unfilled jobs posts largest decline since September as employment ticks up
  • Legal insights for navigating Bill S-211
  • Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business rebrands
  • Focus on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Lincoln reports almost 2,000 new jobs and over $143M in construction

Town of Lincoln staff have presented the accomplishments and highlights of the 2019-2023 Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan: Lincoln’s Pathway to Prosperity, reporting that all the actions outlined in the plan have either been completed or completed and ongoing.

In total, approximately 160 permits have gone through the Town’s building permit process for either agricultural, commercial, or industrial purposes. Of the 160 permits, 122 came from existing businesses expanding or growing their operations. This has yielded approximately $143,840,100.00 in construction value.

Since 2018, Lincoln has also seen an increase of 1,992 jobs or 14%.

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Niagara Falls Supper Market kicks off on June 5, vendor spaces still available

The Niagara Falls Supper Market is set to take place on Wednesday evenings from 4 pm to 8 pm; beginning on June 05 and running until September 25, 2024 at the City’s new arts and cultural hub, located at 5943 Sylvia Place.

Interested vendors can still apply for the 2024 season. Applications are available online. To learn more about the Exchange, visit nfexchange.ca.

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Public Interest Commission recommends Border Services union and Treasury Board return to bargaining table

Yesterday, the Public Interest Commission (PIC) released its recommendations for reaching an agreement between the Treasury Board Secretariat and the Public Service Alliance of Canada for the Border Services (FB) Group. Importantly, the PIC recommends that both sides resume negotiations immediately and start to reduce the number of outstanding issues. The Commission also urges the parties to use improvements achieved during negotiations at other PSAC tables to determine “how those resolutions might be adjusted or adopted” to reach an agreement for the Border Services group.

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Ontario to update Secondary School Diploma requirements for first time in 25 years

The Ontario government is modernizing the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) requirements for the first time in 25 years, and launching consultations with parents, job creators, educators and stakeholders on what skills students need to be better prepared for life beyond the classroom through the reintroduction of modernized home economics education.

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Number of unfilled jobs posts largest decline since September as employment ticks up

The number of employees receiving pay and benefits from their employer—measured as “payroll employment” in the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours—increased by 51,400 (+0.3%) in March following an increase of 14,600 (+0.1%) in February. On a year-over-year basis, payroll employment was up by 232,100 (+1.3%) in March.

Meanwhile, job vacancies in Canada decreased by 40,600 (-6.2%) to 610,700 in March, marking the largest decline since September 2023.

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Legal insights for navigating Bill S-211

“This legislation is transparency legislation,” says Melanie Cole, partner at Aird & Berlis LLP and chair of the firm’s ESG & Sustainability group. As Bill S-211 comes into effect, health and safety professionals in Canada who also have social governance, corporate responsibility, or compliance in their portfolios must grapple with its requirements and implications. The bill, which aims to enhance transparency around forced and child labour in supply chains, presents unique challenges and responsibilities for organizations.
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Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business rebrands

After 40 years of supporting Indigenous businesses across Canada, the former Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business has announced a name change, to the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business, bringing with it a modernized and refreshed brand.

In addition to the new name, the Certified Aboriginal Business designation has been renamed Certified Indigenous Business (CIB), the Progressive Aboriginal Business program has been renamed Partnership Accreditation in Indigenous Relations (PAIR), and the Tools and Financing for Indigenous Business program has been renamed Tools for Indigenous Business (TIB).

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Did you know?

97.5% of Canadian exporters are small-to-medium-sized businesses.

Focus on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

CCAB Accelerator Program for Indigenous Businesses open to new applicants

The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) has announced that the Indigenous Business Defence Sector Accelerator program will open to new applicants on June 14, 2024.

Now in its second year, the Indigenous Business Defence Sector Accelerator program creates opportunities for Indigenous businesses in Canada to engage with defence suppliers.

Inaugural partner General Dynamics is extending its partnership for another year through its Business Units General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada, General Dynamics Mission Systems – Canada and Ordnance & Tactical Systems–Canada.

The program pairs Indigenous businesses with organizational sponsors who provide opportunities to leverage connections in their global supply chains, learn regulatory requirements, and acquire knowledge and skills to work within the defence industry.

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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.

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Daily Update: May 2

May 2, 2024 | Daily Update

In this edition:

  • Welland finalizes sale of Northern Reach lands to developer for $35 million
  • Funding for Niagara College’s Food & Beverage Innovation Centre will support businesses to develop and market new beverages
  • Ontario Land Tribunal supports Fort Erie opposition to proposed housing development
  • 2024 National Greenhouse Gas Inventory reveals emissions increased in 2022, petrochem and transportation still account for majority
  • Canada posts largest trade deficit since June 2023 as exports fall 5.3%
  • Open bidding, more apprenticeship spots are key to labour shortage, says Cardus
  • Loblaw CEO expresses optimism about grocery code of conduct
  • New RESCON guide gives construction employers a blueprint to build positive workplace culture
  • Focus on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Welland finalizes sale of Northern Reach lands to developer for $35 million

The City of Welland has sold 62 hectares of prime real estate land fronting the Welland Recreational Canal in north Welland for $35 million.

The City and Liv Communities closed the sale last week on the property known as the Northern Reach — 52.53 hectares in Welland and 8.95 hectares owned by the city in Thorold — that stretches nearly two kilometres along the canal and backs onto Towpath Road to the south and west and Merritt Road to the north.

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Funding for Niagara College’s Food & Beverage Innovation Centre will support businesses to develop and market new beverages

Niagara College is excited to share that the Food & Beverage Innovation Centre (FBIC) will receive funding of up to $200,000 from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP). This support will help FBIC deliver services to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to de-risk innovation in new beverage product development, which includes prototyping, food safety guidance, testing, and producing marketable products at FBIC’s new Beverage Research & Development Pilot Processing Facility.

This NRC IRAP funding allows FBIC to connect SMEs with its highly qualified and experienced FBIC staff, faculty, recent graduates, and students, with the right expertise and equipment to meet their needs and provide solutions for industry innovation challenges.

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Ontario Land Tribunal supports Fort Erie opposition to proposed housing development

The Town of Fort Erie’s decision to oppose a development proposal along its historic waterfront properties on Erie Road was upheld by the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) in a decision made Monday, April 29, 2024. The OLT dismissed an appeal to amend the Town of Fort Erie’s Zoning By-law (No. 129-90) sought by Crystal Bay Cottages Inc. to permit the redevelopment of their property at 4409 Erie Road in the community of Crystal Beach. The proposal requested a rezoning of the property from its current Waterfront Residential (WR) zoning to allow eight new housing units to be built.

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2024 National Greenhouse Gas Inventory reveals emissions increased in 2022, petrochem and transportation still account for majority

The National Inventory Report—a yearly report required by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement—tracks emissions from all sectors of the Canadian economy. Environment and Climate Change Canada published Canada’s 2024 National Inventory Report on May 2, 2024.

Although total emissions are up slightly in 2022, this year’s report also shows Canada has continued to keep emissions below 2019 levels, the last year of economic activity before pandemic-related slowdowns. This is noteworthy, with strong economic and population growth in 2021 and 2022.

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Canada posts largest trade deficit since June 2023 as exports fall 5.3%

In March, Canada’s merchandise exports declined 5.3%, while imports were down 1.2%. As a result, Canada’s merchandise trade balance with the world went from a surplus of $476 million in February to a deficit of $2.3 billion in March. This represents the largest trade deficit since June 2023.

Following an increase of 5.3% in February, total exports fell back 5.3% in March, erasing the gains made in the previous month. Overall, decreases were observed in 9 of the 11 product sections.

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Open bidding, more apprenticeship spots are key to labour shortage, says Cardus

Moving toward open bidding and creating more apprenticeship spots for skilled trades regardless of union affiliation is critical to resolving the issues of labour supply to meet the housing shortage, says think-tank Cardus.

Renze Nauta, the program director for work and economics at Cardus, a longtime advocate of open bidding, says to meet the demand for skilled labour and the building boom driven by government investment, a rethink of how we recruit, train and deploy those workers is needed.

“I think there are two pillars here,” he says. “One is the future and the other is right now.”

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Loblaw CEO expresses optimism about grocery code of conduct

Loblaw CEO Per Bank says he’s “cautiously optimistic” the company will come to an agreement on the grocery code of conduct, according to a report from the Canadian Press.

“Where it’s going to land, I’m of course not sure, but I’m more optimistic now than before that we can land an agreement on the code,” Per Bank told a conference call discussing Loblaw’s first-quarter earnings Wednesday.

The code, which intends to promote fair practices in the industry, has been delayed due to concerns that it would raise prices for consumers.

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New RESCON guide gives construction employers a blueprint to build positive workplace culture

he Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) has released a best practice guide with tips and strategies to help build a more positive workplace culture on construction sites, improve satisfaction of employees and boost productivity.

“Construction employers and other industry stakeholders have a moral obligation to cultivate a positive and collaborative workplace culture as well as a legal responsibility to safeguard workers from acts of racism, harassment and violence in the workplace,” explains RESCON president Richard Lyall. “This best practice guide will help them understand why it is critical to have a corporate environment where teamwork, safety and efficiency are paramount, and how it can benefit them both from a safety perspective and financially.”

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

Peanut butter is a Canadian invention, first patented by Montreal’s Marcellus Gilmore Edson in 1884.

Focus on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Women-owned businesses have benefited more from exporting from innovation activities, education and management experience, compared with men-owned businesses

In 2017, 15.6% of all small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and 14.8% of all SME exporters were owned by women, compared with 84.4% of all SMEs and 85.2% of all SME exporters that were owned by men, suggesting that women-owned SMEs are as likely to export as men-owned ones, although women-owned SMEs were smaller and concentrated in sectors that are less likely to export.

The article “Women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises in Canada: Exporting story,” co-authored with Global Affairs Canada, found that women-owned SMEs benefit more from the adoption of online payment systems, organizational innovation, and selling strategies for entering export markets than men-owned SMEs. For instance, the predicted probability of exporting for women-owned SMEs that had adopted an online payment system was 18 to 20 percentage points higher than for male-owned SMEs. When it comes to increasing export intensity, women-owned SMEs also benefit more than their peers from more education and years of management experience of primary decision makers.

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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.

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