In this edition:
- Ontario invests $62.9 million in foundational skilled trades programs
- Ottawa to launch pre-approved home design catalogue, bring back post-war effort
- St. Lawrence Seaway putting $36.5M into canal infrastructure renewal
- St. Catharines prepares zoning changes to allow more accessory rental units
- Town of Lincoln celebrates Jordan Village Improvement Project milestones achieved in 2023
- Focus on Finance & Economy
Ontario invests $62.9 million in foundational skilled trades programs
The Ontario government is investing over $62.9 million in two of the province’s foundational skilled trades programs to help more than 18,000 young people explore and prepare for life-long careers in a growing industry. The record increase in funding is aimed at relieving the housing shortage, and is estimated to help train the 100,000 skilled workers needed to build transit, hospitals and at least 1.5 million homes by 2031.
Ottawa to launch pre-approved home design catalogue, bring back post-war effort
The federal government intends to resurrect a post-war effort to ramp up housing construction across Canada — but with a 21st-century twist. A consultation process will begin next month on developing a catalogue of pre-approved home designs to accelerate the home-building process for developers, Housing Minister Sean Fraser said Tuesday.
It’s a reboot of a federal policy from the post-Second World War era, when the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. developed straightforward blueprints to help speed up the construction of badly needed homes, Fraser said.
St. Lawrence Seaway putting $36.5M into canal infrastructure renewal
Thirty-six million dollars of infrastructure work on the Welland Canal will result in bridges in Port Colborne, Thorold and St. Catharines being closed for extended periods of time this winter.
St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. said the infrastructure renewal includes locks along the eight-lock, 43-kilometre-long waterway between lakes Ontario and Erie.
In a release, it said the ongoing investments ensure the safety and reliability of infrastructure while providing economic benefits to communities and businesses in Niagara.
St. Catharines prepares zoning changes to allow more accessory rental units
The City of St. Catharines is looking to open the door to more housing units across the city. City Council has asked staff to change zoning by-laws to allow up to four residential units on lots around the city.
Mayor Mat Siscoe says they also want staff to include the appropriate provisions. “This is a step that a lot of municipalities are taking because there is a lot of funding available at the provincial and federal level,” said Siscoe, “but those levels of government have asked municipalities to open up zoning policies to make it easier for accessory dwelling units to get built.”
Town of Lincoln celebrates Jordan Village Improvement Project milestones achieved in 2023
The Town of Lincoln is pleased to provide a comprehensive update on the progress of the Jordan Village Improvement Project as we approach the end of 2023. This ambitious initiative, focusing on the revitalization of Main, Nineteenth, Twenty-First, Wismer, and King Streets, has seen significant advancements since the project broke ground in Spring 2022.
Construction activities have been in full swing this past year, achieving substantial milestones in transforming the heart of Jordan Village. The core areas, including Main Street, the new Snure Lane, Nineteenth Street North of Snure Lane, Twenty-First Street, and Wismer Street, now boast a new watermain, storm sewer, sanitary sewer, curbs, sidewalks, bicycle paths, parking bays, decorative street lighting, and streetscaping features.
Did you know?
67% of Canada’s softwood lumber production is exported. 84% of that goes to the United States.
Focus on Finance & Economy
Stock market today: Wall Street drifts after an inflation report and before the Fed’s next decision
Wall Street is drifting higher Tuesday after a report showed inflation in the United States is behaving pretty much as expected.
The S&P 500 rose 0.2% in afternoon trading, a day after hitting a 20-month high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 111 points, or 0.3%, as of 2:12 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.4% higher.
Tech giant Oracle’s stock tumbled 12% after its revenue for the latest quarter fell short of analysts’ forecasts. Icosavax jumped 48.1% after AstraZeneca said it would buy the biopharmaceutical company for at least $838 million in cash, with the price tag rising if certain milestones are met.
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.
