In this edition:
- Government of Ontario to reverse OEB decision on payment for gas connections
- Car and parts retailers see growth as retail trade picks up
- NPCA purchases 18 hectares of land in Pelham
- Toronto receives $114M funding bonus after exceeding 2023 housing targets
- Number of EI claimants up almost 15% year-over-year
- Niagara-on-the-Lake study of Rand Estate area won’t impact OLT decision: planner
- Dollarama reaches $2.5M settlement in class-action suit over pricing
- Canadians’ grocery shopping habits increasingly driven by discounts and deals: report
- Residential builder assn calls on federal government to help first-time new home buyers
- Focus on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Government of Ontario to reverse Electricity Board decision requiring up-front payment for natural gas connections
Today, the Ontario government introduced legislation that, if passed, would reverse a December 2023 decision by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) to require residential customers and small businesses to pay 100 per cent of the cost of new natural gas connections upfront. These costs would have previously been paid over forty years.
The Province states that reversing this decision will prevent an average of $4,400 being added to the price of new homes, or tens of thousands of dollars being added to the price of a home in rural Ontario.
Car and parts retailers see growth as retail trade picks up
Retail sales increased 0.9% to $67.3 billion in December, Statistics Canada reported today. Sales were up in five of nine subsectors and were led by increases at motor vehicle and parts dealers (+1.9%).
Core retail sales—which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers—were up 0.5% in December.
In volume terms, retail sales increased 0.8% in December.
NPCA purchases 18 hectares of land in Pelham
Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority has finalized the purchase of 18 hectares of land in Pelham from the same individuals that sold property for the Lathrop Nature Preserve to the authority in 2011.
“It is a very successful acquisition,” Eric Baldin, manager of land planning, said during the Feb. 16 NPCA board meeting.
He said NPCA had been negotiating with the owner for about a year. The landowner, said staff, reached out in late June 2022 and “expressed interest in selling a portion of their escarpment property.”
Toronto receives $114M funding bonus after exceeding 2023 housing targets
Today, Premier Doug Ford announced Ontario is providing Toronto with $114 million in funding through the Building Faster Fund after the city exceeded its 2023 housing target. Toronto broke ground on a total of 31,656 new housing units last year, unlocking an additional $38 million by exceeding their 2023 target by 51 per cent.
“Toronto has shown it can get it done on housing and we are proud to reward them for their success,” said Premier Doug Ford.
Number of EI claimants up almost 15% year-over-year
There were 464,000 Canadians receiving regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits in December, up 6,600 (+1.4%) from November, new data released today shows. On a year-over-year basis, the total number of regular EI beneficiaries increased by 60,000 (+14.8%).
Data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) show that the unemployment rate held steady at 5.8% in December, following increases in six of the previous seven months. From April to November, the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points.
Niagara-on-the-Lake study of Rand Estate area won’t impact OLT decision, planner says
Recommendations contained in a final character study report for the Rand Estate and John Street East will not impact a residential development application that owner Solomar Inc. appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal.
The study, which includes 200 John St. E.; 588 and 580 Charlotte St.; 144, 176 and 210 John St.; 9 Weatherstone Ct., and the Weatherstone Street and Christopher Street development, was approved by town council in December 2021, to define the area’s character and identify policies and criteria to “guide change” over time.
Dollarama reaches $2.5M settlement in class-action suit over pricing
Dollarama has reached a $2.5 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit over the advertising of prices on its products. Customers who purchased products subject to an eco fee — such as batteries, electronics, light bulbs or toys with batteries — may be eligible to claim a gift card.
The plaintiff in the lawsuit alleged that the discount retailer did not properly display the price of products subject to an Environmental Handling Fee (EHF) and charged a total price or EHF higher than displayed or allowed by law.
Canadians’ grocery shopping habits increasingly driven by discounts and deals: report
Almost two-thirds of Canadians say they have switched their primary grocery store in the past year to score better deals.
A new survey by Dalhousie University’s Agri-Food Analytics Lab and marketing insights firm Caddle found that almost 30% of respondents exclusively choose their grocery stores based on in-store discounts and promotions.
While in-store, the report found that almost 60% of Canadians consistently seek discounted food products, with preferences for discounts on expiring or clearance items.
Residential builder association calls on federal government to help first-time new home buyers
The Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) is recommending that the federal government rebate the HST to first-time buyers who purchase a new home and bring back initiatives from years ago to encourage re-investment by builders.
“Immediate action is needed as we are in a crisis that is likely to get worse. First-time buyers are leaving our cities in droves because they’ve been priced out of the market,” says RESCON president Richard Lyall. “The measures we are suggesting would boost supply and help homebuilders construct housing that is financially viable and affordable. We cannot simply sit on our hands and hope for the best as the challenge facing our industry is formidable.”
Did you know?
The average Canadian generates over 25kg of e-waste – discarded electronics – every year.
Focus on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Language has the ability to build relationships and forge connections, but it’s equally liable for creating barriers and impacting someone’s sense of belonging.
Using inclusive language, and having workplace conversations devoid of exclusive language, means employees are more likely to feel like they belong and can be their authentic selves at work.
Here we’ll explore what inclusive language is and provide examples to ensure you create an inclusive workplace and inclusive marketing material.
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.
