In this edition:
- QSL signs cargo agreement with Seaway Corporation and HOPA Ports
- Niagara Region Transit signs first labour contract
- Niagara College Teaching Brewery crafts success at Ontario Brewing Awards
- Ontario government will reverse Energy Board decision
- Odds of another rate hike have fallen, BoC governing council agreed as they held rate
- More than 6,000 Niagara Falls housing units approved by city council in 2023
- Peace Bridge improvements to cut wait times for commercial truckers
- Focus on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
QSL signs cargo agreement with Seaway Corporation and HOPA Ports
QSL, a world-class company specializing in port terminal operations, stevedoring, marine services, logistics, and transportation throughout North America, has announced its recent partnership with the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) and Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA Ports). QSL will operate SLSMC’s Wharves 5 and 6, with access to the Welland Canal. The 55 acres of combined SLSMC and HOPA land will be used for handling and storage of cargo in Thorold, Ontario.
“We welcome the expertise of stevedoring provider QSL,” said Ian Hamilton, President & CEO of HOPA Ports. “Niagara’s maritime sector is thriving and will benefit from the addition of QSL’s technical expertise and diverse international customer base.”
Niagara Region Transit signs first labour contract
After months of negotiations, Niagara Region Transit workers have approved their first contract since municipal transit systems were merged almost a year ago.
Transit service deputy general manager Tim Luey said the contract was ratified by transit commission members Tuesday, after 26 days of bargaining from July to the start of December with representatives of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 846.
Niagara College Teaching Brewery crafts success at Ontario Brewing Awards
Gold and silver bells are ringing for the Niagara College Teaching Brewery after winning two new medals at the recent Ontario Brewing Awards: a gold for Beer 101 Bock (Amber Malty European Lager category) and a silver for Beer 101 Strong Ale (Strong British Ale category).
“Our trailblazing Teaching Brewery continues to raise the bar for the industry,” said Steve Gill, General Manager of NC’s Learning Enterprises. “The biggest winners are our students, thanks to the quality of applied education at NC, and, in turn, they bring their skills and knowledge into the industry.”
Ontario government will reverse Energy Board decision
“I am extremely disappointed in yesterday’s split decision by the Ontario Energy Board to reduce the amortization period for the cost of installing new natural gas connections for homes,” said Todd Smith, Ontario’s Minister of Energy, in a statement today. “This decision, which would mean costs that are normally paid over 40 years would be owed in full up front, could lead to tens of thousands of dollars added to the cost of building new homes.
“In response, I will use all of my authorities as Minister to pause the Ontario Energy Board’s decision. At the earliest opportunity, our government will introduce legislation that, if passed, would reverse it, so that we protect future homebuyers and keep shovels in the ground.”
Odds of another rate hike have fallen, BoC governing council agreed as they held rate
The odds of another rate hike have decreased, the Bank of Canada’s governing council agreed during its discussions ahead of its most recent interest rate decision.
The Bank of Canada released its summary of deliberations for the Dec. 6 interest rate decision Wednesday, revealing the governing council felt more optimistic about the country’s inflation outlook and found “recent data pointed in the right direction.”
More than 6,000 Niagara Falls housing units approved by city council in 2023
Nearly 800 new housing units have been approved for Niagara Falls — part of more than 6,000 units city politicians backed throughout the year.
“Seven hundred and ninety-six units went through tonight, 124 of those were affordable, which is 15.58 per cent,” said Coun. Lori Lococo during last Tuesday’s council meeting when numerous projects got the go-ahead.
Mayor Jim Diodati called it a “great move in the right direction.”
Peace Bridge improvements to cut wait times for commercial truckers
The Canadian government has announced $5 million will be invested at the Peace Bridge to install “non-intrusive” inspection technologies for commercial vehicles to facilitate more efficient processing and reduce wait times for trucks entering the United States.
The investment was hailed by local government and bridge officials Wednesday as vital to improving a critical supply chain link at the international border crossing, which facilitates about $40 billion in annual trade between Canada and the United States.
Happy Holidays from the GNCC!
On behalf of our entire team, we would like to wish you a happy holiday season, and prosperity in 2024. The Daily Update will be paused between December 25th and January 1st inclusive. It has been our pleasure to serve you in 2023, and we look forward to reconnecting in the New Year!
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Focus on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Diversity Hiring: 6 Steps To Hiring More Diverse Candidates
Diversity hiring is hiring based on merit with special care taken to ensure procedures have reduced biases related to a candidate’s age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and other personal characteristics that are unrelated to their job performance. The goal of diversity hiring is to identify and reduce potential biases in sourcing, screening, and shortlisting candidates that may be ignoring, turning off, or accidentally discriminating against qualified, diverse candidates.
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.
