In this edition:
- Property Brothers make surprise appearance to praise ADU grant program
- China lashes back over Canadian decision to introduce electric vehicle tariffs
- Half of all Canadian businesses expect inflation challenges in Q3 2024
- Search for attainable housing solutions intensifies with new Region report
- St. Catharines couple redirecting surplus food to people in need
- Focus on Finance & Economy
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Photo credit: City of St. Catharines / YouTube screen capture
Property Brothers make surprise appearance before St. Catharines city council to praise ADU grant program
The Property Brothers brought some star power to St. Catharines city council chambers Monday night in support of a motion to increase grant money for people adding apartments to their homes and yards.
Councillors voted unanimously Monday night to quadruple the maximum grant amount for homeowners who create an exterior detached unit, such as a granny or garden suite, to $80,000 from $20,000.
Disclaimer: The GNCC supports the ADU grant program and lobbied City Council in favour of the proposed grant increase.
Photo credit: Marius Faust / Adobe Stock
China lashes back over Canadian decision to introduce electric vehicle tariffs
China is slamming Canada’s decision to impose a 100 per cent import tariff on Chinese electric vehicles, promising there will be retaliation.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the move at the federal cabinet retreat in Halifax on on Aug. 26, four months after U.S. President Joe Biden announced similar plans.
The U.S. EV tariff was set to take effect on Aug. 1 but has been delayed until at least September, while Canada’s will kick in Oct. 1.
Disclaimer: The GNCC and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce have expressed support for the Government of Canada’s position on EV tariffs.
Photo credit: Monster Ztudio / Adobe Stock
Half of all Canadian businesses expect inflation challenges in Q3 2024
Half (50.2%) of all businesses expect rising inflation to be an obstacle over the next three months, cementing it as the top obstacle expected by businesses in each quarter since the first quarter of 2021, Statistics Canada reported today.
Businesses most likely to expect rising inflation to be an obstacle over the next three months operated in accommodation and food services (66.9%); retail trade (66.6%); and agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (57.6%).
Photo credit: Regional Municipality of Niagara
Search for attainable housing solutions intensifies with new Region report
An attainable housing strategy with a host of options has been endorsed by Niagara Region’s planning and economic development committee.
Cheryl Selig, the Region’s strategic initiatives manager, told the committee earlier this month Niagara is experiencing housing pressure due to multiple factors, including changing demographics, market trends and the cost of new construction.
Photo credit: kuarmungadd / Adobe Stock
St. Catharines couple redirecting surplus food to people in need
Craig Adams and his wife Cathy are doing their part to prevent good food from going to the landfill and are instead making sure it gets to people who need it most.
The St. Catharines couple has been collecting surplus food destined for the dump from restaurants and businesses in St. Catharines, a practice known as food recovery, and distributing it to people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity.
Did you know?
Focus on Finance & Economy
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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.
