In this edition:
Niagara labour force grows by 7,600, unemployment rate slightly down
St. Catharines reaches agreement on Port Dalhousie development
Statement from Niagara Health regarding mandatory vaccination program
Jagmeet Singh says NDP will support Liberal budget
Niagara labour force grows by 7,600, unemployment rate slightly down
The St. Catharines-Niagara labour force grew to 241,200 in March, up from 233,600 in February. The number of unemployed increased by only 100, producing a drop in the unemployment rate from 6.3% to 6.2%. The participation rate increased two percentage points to 64.3%, representing people entering or re-entering the workforce.
National employment rose by 73,000 (+0.4%) in March. The unemployment rate fell 0.2 percentage points to 5.3%, the lowest rate on record since comparable data became available in 1976.
Total hours worked rose 1.3% in March. Average hourly wages increased 3.4% on a year-over-year basis.
St. Catharines reaches agreement on Port Dalhousie development
During a special meeting on April 7, 2022, St. Catharines City Council accepted the settlement outlining agreement on the development strategy for the lands at 12 Lock Street, 16 Lock Street and 12 Lakeport Road, including Hogan’s Alley, in the downtown of Port Dalhousie. The settlement will see construction of a mixed-use development on the lands with up to 180 dwelling units, at least 19,000 square feet of commercial space, and a 4,400 square-foot community space to be owned by the City.
Statement from Niagara Health regarding mandatory vaccination program
The Niagara Health mandatory vaccination policy was announced in October 2021 and takes effect today. All staff and physicians who work at Niagara Health are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19, unless they have an approved exemption. Mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 is a requirement at the majority of Ontario hospitals. The Province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, has encouraged all healthcare workers as well as all Ontarians to remain up to date in their COVID-19 vaccines, and to receive all doses, including additional doses that are recommended as soon as they are eligible.
The goal of Niagara Health was for the entire workforce to make the choice to get vaccinated and remain a member of the team. Niagara Health is grateful to the nearly 6,100 people (98.7%) on our team who are vaccinated, and has worked hard over the last several months to provide support by answering COVID-19 questions, educating about vaccine benefits and safety, and offering vaccination clinics on site. Unfortunately, 61 individuals who worked in both clinical and non-clinical areas have chosen not to comply with the policy, and Niagara Health has ceased their employment effective today. Plans are in place to minimize any disruption to services.
Jagmeet Singh says NDP will support Liberal budget
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says his caucus will support the 2022 federal budget.
Singh says the budget introduced by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland honours the agreement he made last month to support the Liberals on key votes like budgets in return for the government moving on NDP priorities in health care, housing and reconciliation.
The New Democrats had been confident there would be no surprises in the federal budget and that the Liberals would honour spending pledges made in their confidence and supply pact.
Daniel Blaikie, the NDP finance critic, had earlier said the budget is “the first test” of the agreement and the NDP would be watching closely to see if the Liberals deliver on their promises.
Reading Recommendations
Canada Must Remain Focused on Competitiveness and Economic Growth
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
Two years into a global pandemic, Canada is facing a competitiveness problem. Inflation, supply chain constraints, labour shortages and global uncertainties risk undermining a swift and robust economic recovery. Today, Rocco Rossi, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), responded to Canada’s 2022 budget:
“We welcome Budget 2022’s commitments around increasing productivity, public health, housing, immigration, and training – all of which are fundamental to a strong economy. Budget 2022 also includes a number of measures to support Canada’s net-zero transition and position businesses for increased growth, recognizing the opportunities for all sectors to participate in the green economy.”
Update on Ukraine
Germany will stop importing Russian gas ‘very soon’, says Olaf Scholz
The Guardian
The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has said his country is doing all it can to wean itself off Russian energy, but declined to endorse a claim by Boris Johnson that it would stop importing Russian gas by the middle of 2024.
Scholz said only that the goal would be achieved very soon, and that Germany would stop using Russian coal by the summer and Russian oil by the end of the year.
The two leaders were speaking at a Downing Street press conference after the first extensive bilateral talks since Scholz was elected to head a coalition government.
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.
