• The GNCC is calling for revisions to federal business aid eligibility requirements so that more new and seasonal businesses can be included. Many new businesses do not qualify for some support programs because revenue loss is generally used to establish need, but growing businesses often do not experience significant revenue loss because their revenues were very small to begin with, and rather than shrinking, are simply not growing with anything like the speed that was anticipated before the pandemic. The eligibility dates for some programs have also effectively eliminated the possibility of support for highly seasonal businesses. In the rent subsidy program, for example, a business may use either the corresponding period of 2019 or January-February 2020 as a baseline to establish eligibility. The problem is that if a business is highly seasonal and does most of its business during the warmer months, the revenue in these comparison periods will be close to zero, making them ineligible. The GNCC has pointed out these shortcomings to Minister Freeland and to Niagara’s Members of Parliament, and offered policy suggestions that would address them.
• The Ontario government is providing over $147 million to immediately expand access to the provincial mental health and addictions system for people of all ages and address capacity issues in response to COVID-19. This funding builds upon the $176 million provided earlier this year as part of Roadmap to Wellness, the government’s comprehensive plan aimed at high-quality care and a modern, connected and comprehensive mental health and addictions system.
• Niagara College is pleased to announce the appointment of five members to the Niagara College Board of Governors.  The new members include Janet Allan, a retired partner from KPMG LLP; Mishka Balsom, CEO of the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce; Michael Mann, a partner at Lancaster Brooks & Welch LLP; and Carolyn Hurst, a seasoned business executive and board member. Emily Irwin will also join the board for a one-year term as student representative.
• Today, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, announced the Government of Canada will provide a record $83.9 billion in transfer funding for provinces and territories in 2021-22. This represents an increase of over $2.2 billion from 2020-21. All provinces and territories are expected to see a year-over-year increase in total major transfer amounts. Major transfers include: the Canada Health Transfer (CHT); the Canada Social Transfer (CST); Equalization; and Territorial Formula Financing (TFF).
• The City of Welland is partnering with the city’s service agencies (PDF link) to ensure that masks donated by MedSup Canada are distributed to various demographics. The Welland Library branches are now distribution hubs where people can access the free non-medical grade face masks. Library visitors are welcome to pick-up a package at any of the three branches while supplies last. Library locations and times of service can be found at wellandlibrary.ca. The City of Welland is seeking more partnership opportunities with Welland’s organizations and agencies to act as distribution hubs for the non-medical masks. To learn more about becoming a distribution hub, call the City of Welland’s Manager of Fleet, Equipment & Purchasing at 905-735-1700 ext. 3017.
• New data from Statistics Canada has shown that in October, on a seasonally adjusted basis, 1.4 million Canadians received regular EI benefits, more than triple the number in February (446,000). This was the highest number of EI recipients in Canada since comparable data became available in 1997. In comparison, immediately following the recession of 2008/2009, the number of EI beneficiaries peaked at 822,000 in June 2009. To support Canadians facing the labour market impact of the COVID-19 economic shutdown, CERB was introduced in March 2020. The number of regular EI beneficiaries increased in March and April, as those with active claims remained in the EI program. It then declined sharply beginning in May, as all new claims were redirected to CERB, and reached a low of 160,000 in August.
• The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has heard a request from the Hudson’s Bay Co. which claims that Ontario’s regulations forcing some retailers to close while others with similar merchandise remain open are “irrational and arbitrary.” A lawyer representing HBC noted, for example, that large swaths of Walmart and Costco sell very similar products to HBC, while discount retailer Dollarama sells substantially non-essential goods with its food offerings consisting mostly of candies, sweets and some canned goods — but no fresh groceries. HBC is asking the court to review the province’s decision to temporarily close non-essential retailers in Toronto, Peel and more recently York and Windsor-Essex.
• Dozens of states filed an anti-trust lawsuit against Google today, following yesterday’s similar filing, alleging that the search giant has an illegal monopoly over the online search market that hurts consumers and advertisers. The lawsuit, announced by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, was filed in federal court in Washington, D.C. by states represented by bipartisan attorneys general. The lawsuit was joined by the attorneys general of 34 other states as well as the District of Columbia and the territories of Guam and Puerto Rico. The case is the third antitrust salvo to slam Google during the past two months. CBC News opined that the flurry of U.S. antitrust suits represents an attempt to catch up with European regulators who have spent the past several years trying to crack down on Google, mostly with huge fines, to little noticeable effect so far.

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