In this edition:
- Niagara Region passes 2026 budget with 6.3% tax increase
- Legislation passes to deliver new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit
- Ontario reaches agreement with Crown Royal manufacturer Diageo
- Outdoor sportswear brand Eddie Bauer files for bankruptcy protection
- Zero-emission vehicle sales down over 35% year-over-year in December
- Canada not on track to hit net-zero by 2050, study shows
- Canadian restaurants struggling to turn a profit, new report says
- Focus on Finance & Economy
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As temperatures begin to rise and snow starts to melt, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) is reminding residents that spring thaw can increase the risk of localized flooding—particularly in low-lying areas and along rivers, streams, and shorelines.
Following significant snowfall across the watershed, NPCA is proactively monitoring conditions and advising on flood risk as weather patterns fluctuate. Rapid snowmelt, combined with rainfall and frozen ground, can increase runoff into waterways, pooling water, and the potential for ice jams.
NPCA’s flood forecasting and monitoring efforts rely on snow surveys, field work, and real-time data from hydrometric stations that track water levels, stream flow, rainfall, and weather conditions. This work supports timely flood advisories and clear public communication.
NPCA values the role staff and partners play as trusted ambassadors in staying informed as conditions change.
- Check current flood conditions at npca.ca/flood-status,
- Follow NPCA on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn,
- Download the Alertable App to receive NPCA flood advisories and emergency notifications in real time
Featured content by Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority
Picture credit: Regional Municipality of Niagara
Niagara Region passes 2026 budget with 6.3% tax increase
The Niagara Region 2026 Budget has now been approved. Overall, the total Niagara Region 2026 Budget will have a 6.30 per cent increase year-over-year.
Council approved the General Tax Levy budget with an increase of $42.3 million in 2026 equalling an estimated 6.30 per cent property tax increase on the Regional portion of the tax bill. For the average home in Niagara that has a market value of $620,600, this will equate to an approximate $137 increase on the Regional portion of the property tax bill.
Picture credit: puhimec / Adobe Stock
Legislation passes to deliver new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit
Picture credit: SockaGPhoto / Adobe Stock
Ontario reaches agreement with Crown Royal manufacturer Diageo
As part of the agreement, Diageo has committed to nearly $23 million in new investments in Ontario, which will support local producers, boost the economy and create new opportunities for Ontario farmers, manufacturers and communities across Ontario.
Picture credit: JHVEPhoto / Adobe Stock
Outdoor sportswear brand Eddie Bauer files for bankruptcy protection
The operator of roughly 180 Eddie Bauer stores has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. and will soon make a similar filing in Canada, blaming declining sales and a litany of other industry headwinds.
Picture credit: Yeongsik Im / Adobe Stock
Zero-emission vehicle sales down over 35% year-over-year in December
In December 2025, 15,949 new zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) were sold, a decrease of 35.7% from one year earlier. New ZEVs comprised 12.5% of total new motor vehicles sold, compared with 18.3% in December 2024. The decline comes in a general downturn in motor vehicle sales, with a 6.1% drop from December 2024.
Picture credit: firewings / Adobe Stock
Canada not on track to hit net-zero by 2050, study shows
A new study published on Feb. 13 by the Canadian Climate Institute says Canada is not on track to meet any of its climate targets — not the 2026 interim emissions reduction target, the 2030 Paris Agreement commitment, or even the long-term goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.
Photo credit: weyo / Adobe Stock
Canadian restaurants struggling to turn a profit, new report says
A report from Restaurants Canada out today surveyed 220 of its members in late 2025 about their restaurant businesses. The results found that 26 per cent of restaurants surveyed were operating at a loss as of November 2025, while another 18 per cent were just breaking even.
Focus on Finance & Economy
Canadians are risking their own retirement to support their kids. Here’s why
Mike Pearson, Inside Halton/Niagara This Week
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.
