In this edition:
- Nearly two thirds of Niagara residents reject forced amalgamation, poll shows
- Niagara-on-the-Lake approves seven-storey hotel, restaurant despite parking concerns
- Niagara Local Immigration Partnership launches survey
- Consultants offer Fort Erie council a ‘sobering’ look at future financial needs
- New federal EV incentives lead to sharp uptick in EV sales
- Air travel faces ‘unprecedented’ fuel crisis as war squeezes supply, experts warn
- Focus on Retail
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After a long and snowy winter, we welcomed the arrival of spring on March 20th. Longer days with warmer weather have arrived and with it the traditional spring cleaning to deep clean your home. This year, plan to spring clean your finances too with a comprehensive review and plan of action:
Audit spending
- review your last three months of spending from your bank statements and/or credit card statements and highlight any unusual expenses
- note any recurring expenses that you do not utilize and cancel underused subscriptions, gym memberships, streaming services, etc.
- review insurance policies and cell phone or internet contracts and shop around for more economical rates or contact your provider for new deals
Adjust your Budget
- with the increased cost of food and living expenses and items noted from your audit above, adjust your budget to ensure you are living within your means
Declutter financial documents
- sort through old bank statements, tax returns and invoices and securely scan those you need to retain and shred those you don’t
Consolidate debt
- make a list of credit cards and lines of credit, noting the balances owing and interest rates
- contact your bank to inquire if you can consolidate debt into one loan to pay off sooner
- if your debt list is too overwhelming to handle on your own, reach out to a Licensed Insolvency Trustee to discuss other solutions
Check your credit report
- Trans Union and Equifax provide free reports on their websites at https://www.transunion.ca/product/consumer-disclosure and https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/free-credit-reports/
Aim to have your finances spring cleaned by the end of May so your home and finances will be ready to enjoy summer.
For more information contact Kathy Lenart, Licensed Insolvency Trustee at
905-680-4728, or click here.
Begin your Financial Fresh Start
Featured content by Taylor Leibow Inc. Licensed Insolvency Trustee
Picture credit: Regional Municipality of Niagara
Nearly two thirds of Niagara residents reject forced amalgamation, poll shows
Although amalgamation of Niagara’s municipalities is off the table — at least for now — any future decisions should be made locally and not come down from the province.
That’s the message from a Research Co. poll conducted for CUPE Ontario that surveyed nearly 1,000 residents across Niagara’s 12 municipalities last month.
Picture credit: Mataj Architects Inc.
Niagara-on-the-Lake approves seven-storey hotel, restaurant despite parking concerns
A seven-storey hotel and a restaurant are coming to Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Council approved the official plan and zoning bylaw amendments needed for the project at 524 York Rd. on Tuesday, clearing the way for a 227-room hotel and a restaurant next to two existing hotels in the Glendale area. The decision still needs to be formally adopted at an April 28 council meeting.
Photo credit: Evgenia Parajanian / Adobe Stock
Niagara Local Immigration Partnership launches survey
The Niagara Local Immigration Partnership is conducting a survey of immigrants, the results of which will be used by more than 25 organizations to improve services and living experiences for immigrants in Niagara.
The survey can be accessed at https://surveys.niagararegion.ca/s3/Niagara-Immigrant-Survey-2026.
Picture credit: Town of Fort Erie
Consultants offer Fort Erie council a ‘sobering’ look at future financial needs
Forecasts by consultants suggest Fort Erie residents should expect an average yearly levy increase of 5.5 per cent over the next decade, along with more than $350 million in “strategic debt financing” over the next 20 years in order to keep town-owned assets in fair condition.
While the numbers are substantial, they represent the best course of action in the view of Andrew Mirabella, from Hemson Consulting.
Photo credit: NVB Stocker / Adobe Stock
New federal EV incentives lead to sharp uptick in EV sales
On February 16, 2026, the federal government launched the Electric Vehicle Affordability Program, providing incentives of up to $5,000 for battery electric vehicles and $2,500 for plug-in hybrid vehicles to support emissions reduction. In the same month, Statistics Canada reported today, 12,626 new zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) were sold, an increase of 47.2% from one year earlier. New ZEVs comprised 10.2% of total new motor vehicles sold, compared with 6.9% in February 2025.
Picture credit: heychli / Adobe Stock
Air travel faces ‘unprecedented’ fuel crisis as war squeezes supply, experts warn
As the Middle East war stretches past the six-week mark and fuel prices have more than doubled, costs are starting to be passed onto consumers. One industry seeing the swift impacts of this is about to hit peak season: air travel.
Flying was already getting more expensive due to inflation. Now, something else is happening — it’s getting less predictable.
Focus on Retail
Manitoba moves to outlaw algorithmic pricing—a first in Canada
Carmine Starnino, Vass Bednar, The Walrus
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.
