In this edition:
- Niagara unemployment ticks downward in July
- Applications now open for New Retail Modernization Project Grant
- Government of Canada launches consultation on the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act
- Retail sales increase 4.4% year-over-year
- Pelham approves $1 million contribution for new South Niagara Hospital
- Focus on Canada-U.S. Business
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Picture credit: skrotov / Adobe Stock
Niagara unemployment ticks downward in July
Niagara’s unemployment rate fell from 6.4% to 6.3% in July in seasonally unadjusted data. However, both employment and participation rates also fell, indicating that the decline may have been due to people leaving the workforce rather than job creation. The seasonally adjusted employment rate, which compensates for seasonal changes in the economy, showed a decline from 7% to 6.9%.
Nationally, employment fell by 41,000 (-0.2%) in July and the employment rate declined 0.2 percentage points to 60.7%. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.9%.
Picture credit: Krakenimages.com / Adobe Stock
Applications now open for New Retail Modernization Project Grant
Photo credit: Wangkun Jia / Adobe Stock
Government of Canada launches consultation on the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act
The Government of Canada has initiated consultations with Canadian industry, businesses and labour representatives, to develop the regulations for the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act.
In-person and virtual meetings will be held across the country in cooperation with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Interested parties can also submit their feedback directly in writing by August 22, 2025.
Photo credit: Andrey Popov / Adobe Stock
Retail sales increase 4.4% year-over-year
Retail sales reached $76.5 billion in May, an increase of 4.4% compared with the same month one year earlier. Higher sales were recorded in 16 of the 18 commodity classes.
In May, the largest gain in dollar terms came from motor vehicle sales, which posted a year-over-year increase of 6.2%.
Photo credit: Town of Pelham
Pelham approves $1 million contribution for new South Niagara Hospital
Pelham Town Council on Wednesday approved a $1 million donation to Niagara Health for the new $3.6-billion South Niagara Hospital. Niagara Health had come hat in hand to Pelham in June, asking for $5.8 million for the project, a number roundly derided by local officials.
Focus on Canada-U.S. Business
What do current trade negotiations mean for next year’s CUSMA review?
Katherine DeClerq, The Trillium
Slow and steady wins the race — or at least that’s what some experts say as Canada continues to work with the White House amid rising tariffs and a free trade agreement review on the horizon.
U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods were increased to 35 per cent last week after the two countries were unable to reach a trade deal. Those tariffs do not apply to goods under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), but they are on top of sectoral levies on steel, aluminum, copper and lumber.
The federal government’s response appears to be measured, with Prime Minister Mark Carney releasing a statement saying that Ottawa “is disappointed” in the trade aggression.
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.
