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Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce

Daily Update: January 5, 2025

In this edition:

  • New provincial workforce legislation takes effect
  • Sales and customer service roles top most in-demand jobs list for 2026
  • Donald Triggs, Mary Ann Edwards appointed to the Order of Canada
  • Canada Grocery Code now fully operational
  • Tesla loses title as world’s biggest electric vehicle maker
  • Canadian energy stocks tumble after U.S. incursion in Venezuela
  • Focus on Markets

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The Ontario Legislative Assembly Building at Queen's Park

Picture credit: Maurizio De Mattei / Adobe Stock

New provincial workforce legislation takes effect

Starting January 1, 2026, new “As of Right” labour mobility regulations will allow in-demand certified professionals such as architects, engineers, geoscientists, land surveyors and electricians to begin working in Ontario within 10 business days, once credentials and requirements are confirmed by the applicable Ontario regulator.

Other changes include regulations concerning job postings and job interviews, Special Economic Zones, credential streamlining for medical professionals, and more.

Click here to read more.


Picture credit: Chanelle Malambo/peopleimages.com / Adobe Stock

Sales and customer service roles top most in-demand jobs list for 2026

As artificial intelligence, new technologies, and labour market shifts accelerate faster than ever, Randstad Canada releases its annual ranking of the Top 15 Most In-Demand Jobs for 2026. This benchmark report is meant to help job seekers understand market trends and support organizations in planning their workforce needs.

Click here to read more.


Picture credit: Dowew / CC BY-SA 3.0

Donald Triggs, Mary Ann Edwards appointed to the Order of Canada

Canadian wine visionary Donald Triggs was appointed Wednesday as an Officer of the Order of Canada, recognizing outstanding achievement and merit of the highest degree. Triggs is known for starting one of Canada’s most successful wine brands, Jackson-Triggs.

Mary Ann Edwards of St. Catharines was appointed for her work as founder and long-time volunteer director of the Rankin Cancer Run—Niagara’s signature and most impactful annual fundraising event.

Click here to read more.


A shopping cart filled with groceries stands in the aisle of a grocery store

Photo credit: monticellllo / Adobe Stock

Canada Grocery Code now fully operational

The Canada Grocery Code and the Dispute Resolution Management Process (DRMP) have been fully implemented, the Office of the Grocery Sector Code of Conduct (OGSCC) announced.

Major national grocery retailers like Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd., Empire Company Limited, Loblaw Inc., Metro Inc. and Walmart Canada have formally registered with the OGSCC, along with more than 150 other retailers and suppliers.

Click here to read more.


THINK b / Adobe Stock

Tesla loses title as world’s biggest electric vehicle maker

Tesla has lost its title as the world’s top EV maker to Chinese rival BYD, which sold 2.26 million battery electric vehicles in 2025 compared to Tesla’s 1.64 million.

Annual deliveries fell 9% in 2025, marking the company’s second consecutive year of decline as sales were hit by expiring federal tax credits and intensified global competition.

Click here to read more.


Aerial view of Petrochemical oil refinery along the Athabasca River near the Oilsands mining area Fort McMurray travel Alberta Canada

Picture credit: Spotmatik / Adobe Stock

Canadian energy stocks tumble after U.S. incursion in Venezuela

North American oil prices climbed by more than one per cent on Monday following the upheaval in Venezuela over the weekend, while stock prices of some large Canadian oil and gas companies have fallen.
Click here to read more.


Focus on Markets

Canada stands at a critical crossroads as we turn the page on 2025 since it faces a collision of fiscal stress, legal uncertainty, trade frictions and a rapidly cooling housing market.

We worry that way too much confidence is being placed in the current leadership, which may lack the bench strength to steer clear of these risks. Challenges in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario are already influencing capital flows and regional economies, with spillover effects that could threaten national stability.

For now, foreign investors remain calm — Canadian government bonds and the loonie have held steady — but that confidence could evaporate quickly if the ship isn’t righted soon.

Here are three risks investors should be aware of and what they mean when positioning their portfolios.

Click here to read more.


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.

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