In this edition:
- Passionate St. Catharines City Councillor, Carlos Garcia, has died
- Seaway investing millions into Welland Canal infrastructure
- Critelli’s Furniture celebrates 110 years of business
- The Canada Post strike involving more than 55,000 has hit 25 days
- Chrystia Freeland to present her fall economic update on Dec. 16
- Bets are high for another big cut by the Bank of Canada on Wednesday
- Clayton named new interim president and CEO of Infrastructure Ontario
- Focus on Human Resources
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Picture credit: Carlos Garcia / Facebook
Passionate St. Catharines City Councillor, Carlos Garcia, has died
Councillor Carlos Garcia, represented Ward 6 in Port Dalhousie. He was retired from the private sector after 25 years of managing his own Strategic Planning firm.
He was serving his third term as a St. Catharines City Councillor, and previously served as a Regional Councillor for St. Catharines.
He was a champion for Port Dalhousie, seniors, and a fierce advocate of free parking at the city’s beaches. Mayor Mat Siscoe issued a statement today saying Garcia will be sorely missed and his thoughts are with his family and friends.
Statement from the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce:
“It is with profound sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Councillor Garcia. His unwavering commitment to many GNCC initiatives and frequent participation in our events significantly enriched our community.
Councillor Garcia’s dedication to fostering growth and collaboration within Niagara will be deeply missed. On behalf of the Chamber, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time. His legacy of service and partnership will continue to inspire us all.”
Picture credit: Reimar – stock.adobe.com
Seaway investing millions into Welland Canal infrastructure
St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. is investing $180 million in maintaining and upgrading locks and bridges along the Welland Canal over the next three years.
The investment also includes improving energy infrastructure and upgrading mechanical and structural systems to extend the lifespan of its critical assets, said a seaway news release.
It’s also investing more than $170 million in the Montreal to Lake Ontario section of the St. Lawrence Seaway system to carry out the same work to enhance critical infrastructure, ensure strong supply chain links and provide reliable transportation for goods.
Picture credit: Critelli Furniture
Critelli’s Furniture celebrates 110 years of business
Critelli’s Furniture & Fine Rugs, an iconic family-owned business, is celebrating 110 years in St. Catharines. Founded in 1914 by Joseph and Thomas Critelli in Thorold, the business expanded through the decades, establishing a permanent St. Catharines location in 1961 with multiple showrooms. In 2002, Critelli Modern Furniture opened, featuring contemporary designs to attract younger clients. By 2014, Critelli’s Rug Market was introduced, showcasing hand-knotted silk and wool rugs from around the world.
Now led by fourth-generation owner Joe Critelli and his daughter Julia, Critelli’s continues to thrive through its commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and customer service. At a recent Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce event, Mayor Mat Siscoe commemorated the business’s 110th anniversary, recognizing its profound impact on the community and its role as a cornerstone of St. Catharines for over a century.
Picture credit: Blacqbook – stock.adobe.com
The Canada Post strike involving more than 55,000 has hit 25 days
In a statement Sunday, Canada Post says it is awaiting a formal response from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers to the proposal it submitted to the union Friday.
In a Friday statement, the union said it was reviewing what Canada Post put forward and questioned when the mediation process will officially resume. The union said it is committed to returning to the bargaining table.
The strike began Nov. 14, and federal mediation was put on hold nearly two weeks ago due to the sides being too far apart.
Calls for government intervention have been mounting from the business community, but so far the government has said it’s not stepping in.
Picture credit: Koch/ MSC – commons.wikimedia.org
Chrystia Freeland to present her fall economic update on Dec. 16
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will table her much-anticipated fall economic update next week – a document that will give Canadians a look at the federal books at a time of great economic uncertainty.
The statement, to be tabled in Parliament on Dec. 16, will reveal whether Freeland is keeping her promise to hold the federal deficit for 2023-24 to $40.1 billion or less. The parliamentary budget officer already has said she’s unlikely to hit that mark.
Freeland also vowed to lower the debt-to-GDP ratio and keep it on a downward trajectory for the years to come – a commitment that could be tested by new big-ticket items like more money for the military and funds to better protect the border to satisfy U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s concerns about migrants and drugs.
Picture credit: JHVEPhoto – stock.adobe.com
Bets are high for another big cut by the Bank of Canada on Wednesday
The Bank of Canada is set to make its final policy rate decision of the year on Wednesday, with markets now betting the central bank will make another outsized cut of 50 basis points, bringing the rate down to 3.25 per cent.
“The November employment report effectively ended the debate around the Bank of Canada’s December 11 meeting,” said Benjamin Reitzes, economist with the Bank of Montreal, in a note last week. “Expectations are now firmly on 50 basis points, with market pricing skewed heavily in that direction.”
BMO and the Bank of Nova Scotia were two of the Big Six banks that changed their call to a steeper cut, after Statistics Canada reported the unemployment rate jumped to 6.8 per cent on Friday, the highest it’s been in almost eight years, excluding the pandemic.
Photo credit: Infrastructure Ontario – infrastructureontario.ca
Angela Clayton named new interim president and CEO of Infrastructure Ontario
The Ontario government has appointed Angela Clayton as the new interim president and CEO of Infrastructure Ontario after news Michael Lindsay is moving to Metrolinx.
According to a release, Clayton’s appointment comes with unanimous support of Infrastructure Ontario’s Board of Directors and she will assume the role later this month.
Clayton has more than 20 years experience in the infrastructure sector, working in both the private and public sectors in the areas of strategic planning, risk management and program management, the release reads.
Did you know?
Ad giant Omnicom has struck a $13.25 billion all-stock deal to buy rival Interpublic Group (IPG.N), creating the world’s largest advertising agency as traditional players look to better compete with Big Tech firms amid accelerating use of AI.
Focus on Human Resources
Why work-life balance still isn’t working for women, especially moms
Natalie Stechyson, CBC
Work-life balance? What’s that?
A new poll provides fresh numbers to illustrate what many exhausted working women have been reporting for decades – work-life balance isn’t exactly working for them.
The U.S. report from Gallup, released last Wednesday, suggests that competing demands of work and home are part of the problem. Compared to the men surveyed, women were more likely to report having to address personal or family responsibilities at work daily, or several times a day, and conversely, were more likely to say they needed to address job-related responsibilities outside of working hours at least daily.
The report also mirrors the data in a recent Canadian report by the Vanier Institute of the Family. Data analyzed by the independent national think-tank shows that women still take on the bulk of domestic duties, including child care, and that women are more likely than men to work part-time or choose self-employment in order to balance family life.
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.
