• The Government of Canada has begun consultations with provinces and territories, employers, workers, worker support groups, and other interested parties on a proposal to establish minimum requirements for employer-provided accommodations for the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program across Canada. As a first step, the Government of Canada is seeking input until December 22, 2020 on proposed accommodation requirements in the TFW Program’s primary agriculture stream. The Government is also seeking feedback on potential approaches to strengthen oversight of worker accommodations, both prior to and after workers’ arrivals. Agricultural employers in Niagara utilizing the TFW program should strongly consider providing their input to this consultation, and can do so by emailing Employment and Social Development Canada at NC-TFWP-APT-PTET-EPA-EPA-GD@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca before December 22, 2020.
• Niagara Health is encouraging the community to be a Flu Fighter this fall by getting the influenza vaccination. The flu shot provides protection against contracting influenza and adds a layer of protection for those around you. It also helps reduce strain on healthcare systems responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. A list of Community Flu Clinics can be found here. The shot is also available at many pharmacies. The GNCC recommends that employers encourage their staff to get vaccinated in order to reduce workplace absenteeism and sickness.
• The City of St. Catharines will hold a public meeting on November 16, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. to discuss a proposed City initiated Zoning By-law Amendment to consider short term rental usage of properties, such as bed-and-breakfasts or AirBnB rental of properties or rooms. More information, including how to attend the virtual meeting, is available here.
• The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is developing a Transportation Master Plan (TMP) which will serve as a long-range strategic plan for the Town that addresses existing challenges and opportunities, supports growth, and recommends policies that support an efficient, multi-modal transportation network – including vehicular, bicycle, pedestrian, and transit mobility.
• New dates have been announced for the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games, which was previously pushed back owing to the pandemic. The Canada Summer Games in Niagara have been officially rescheduled for August 6-21, 2022. These new dates were identified after consultation with each provincial/territorial team, National Sport Organizations (NSOs), sport/non-sport venues and all levels of government.
• The Bank of Canada will release its rate setting and Monetary Policy Report at 10 a.m. tomorrow, followed by a press conference at 11 a.m. with Governor Tiff Macklem. The Bank has recommitted to keep interest rates at historic lows, and will use its policy decision Wednesday to reinforce that guidance. It will hold the overnight interest rate at 0.25 per cent, possibly for years, and will continue purchasing government bonds worth $5 billion per week as part of a quantitative easing program.
• Tech company Reddit has announced that it will offer its 600 staff the opportunity to work remotely, with exceptions such as IT support and facility maintenance. Shopify had previously announced that the vast majority of their staff would work remotely on a permanent basis, while other tech firms Twitter and Square had, like Reddit, offered their staff a permanent remote work option.

Reading recommendations: