In this edition:
Ontario introduces “Strong Mayors” legislation for Toronto and Ottawa
The Ontario government has introduced legislation that would give the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa more responsibility to deliver on shared provincial-municipal priorities, including building 1.5 million new homes over the next 10 years.
If passed, the Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, would give the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa the ability to move priority projects forward and get more homes built faster. Proposed changes include:
- hiring the Chief Administrative Officer and municipal department heads, and create and re-organize departments
- appointing chairs/vice-chairs for identified committees and local boards, and establish new identified committees
- bringing matters for council consideration related to provincial priorities
- vetoing bylaws approved by council if they relate to matters of provincial priority
- proposing the municipal budget.
Tickets still available for Niagara College carnival-themed Project Brew
Nearly two dozen beers will be on tap, August 13, for Niagara College’s next Project Brew competition in the courtyard at the Daniel J. Patterson campus.
Dubbed CarnivALE, the event will showcase the unique craft beer creations the graduating students in the Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program have come up with as part of their final term project. It will also serve as a fundraiser for the Matt Soos Memorial Scholarship.
Unifor membership elects Lana Payne as new leader
In its first contested election in almost 10 years, Canada’s largest private-sector union has elected Lana Payne as the new national president of Unifor.
She is the first woman to hold the position.
“We can bring our union to more and more workers because we know every worker deserves to have our union,” Payne said in a speech to delegates after she was elected.
Payne was previously national secretary-treasurer of Unifor. She defeated executive assistant to the president Scott Doherty and Unifor Local 444 president Dave Cassidy.
Ontario health minister won’t rule out privatization as option to help ER crisis
Ontario’s health minister is not ruling out privatization as the government looks at ways to deal with a major staff shortage straining hospitals across the province.
Sylvia Jones said the government is considering many ideas in an effort to keep emergency departments from closing.
When asked if further privatization of the health system could occur, Jones said “all options are on the table.”
Canada Summer Games continue
Tomorrow’s Games include basketball, volleyball, wrestling, soccer, swimming, tennis, triathlon, softball, and box lacrosse. Click here for a list of events, times, and locations.
Focus on Climate
Revealed: how climate breakdown is supercharging toll of extreme weather
The Guardian
The devastating intensification of extreme weather is laid bare today in a Guardian analysis that shows how people across the world are losing their lives and livelihoods due to more deadly and more frequent heatwaves, floods, wildfires and droughts brought by the climate crisis.
The analysis of hundreds of scientific studies – the most comprehensive compilation to date – demonstrates beyond any doubt how humanity’s vast carbon emissions are forcing the climate to disastrous new extremes. At least a dozen of the most serious events, from killer heatwaves to broiling seas, would have been all but impossible without human-caused global heating, the analysis found.
US Senate passes sweeping climate, tax and healthcare package
BBC News
The US Senate has approved a sweeping $700bn (£577bn) economic package that includes major legislation on healthcare, tax and climate change. The bill seeks to lower the cost of some medicines, increase corporate taxes and reduce carbon emissions.
The passing of the bill – a flagship part of President Joe Biden’s agenda – is a boost ahead of mid-term elections. But it is a significantly scaled-back version of the $3.5tn package that was first proposed by his administration.
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.
