In this edition:
- Ford pitches Trump on grand energy plan in effort to avoid tariffs
- GM is Canadian Sales Leader for second year in a row, driven by historic EV sales
- Strike averted at Ontario colleges as unions enter binding arbitration
- Niagara Falls proposed budget book available for public viewing
- No business disruptions will result from Portage Road closures
- Government of Canada announces new Canada Pension Plan benefit for students
- Experts weigh in on Trump’s ‘economic force’ comments
- Focus on Markets
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Picture credit: Joey Coleman / CC BY 2.0
Ford pitches Trump on grand energy plan in effort to avoid tariffs
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is pitching U.S. president-elect Donald Trump on a vision to supply the two nations with energy, as he positions himself as the country’s protector amid a “lack of leadership” in Ottawa in the face of American tariff threats.
“As the third-largest trading partner with the United States and a near-perfect balance in two-way trade, Ontario is well positioned to support our American neighbours with clean and affordable energy,” said Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West.
The United States and Canada are each country’s most significant trading partners, representing trillions of dollars in annual economic activity and millions of jobs on both sides of the border.
Chevrolet’s 2024 Blazer EV | Picture credit: GM Canada
GM is Canadian Sales Leader for second year in a row, driven by historic EV sales
GM Canada is the industry market share leader for 2024 for the second year in a row, capturing 15.4% of the market with 294,315 vehicles sold and an 11.9% sales increase.
GM Canada had its best EV sales year in history after releasing four new EV models in 2024: the Chevrolet Equinox EV, Cadillac Escalade IQ EV, Chevrolet Silverado EV and the GMC Sierra EV.
Picture credit: Nejron Photo / Adobe Stock
Strike averted at Ontario colleges as unions enter binding arbitration
A potential strike at Ontario’s post-secondary colleges has been averted as College Employer Council (CEC) and OPSEU have agreed to enter into binding arbitration with full-time and partial-load professors, instructors, counsellors, and librarians.
“We are pleased to have averted an unnecessary strike at Ontario’s 24 public Colleges,” said Graham Lloyd, CEO, of CEC. “Our goal throughout negotiations has been to recognize the hard work of academic employees and to keep students in class.”
Classes will continue to run as scheduled this week and no strike action will occur.
Picture credit: Niagara Falls Tourism
Niagara Falls proposed budget book available for public viewing
Niagara Falls staff have released the 2025 Staff Proposed Tax Levy Supported Budget Book as well as a report summarizing key changes in the 2025 budget in comparison to the 2024 budget. Copies can be found here.
Picture credit: manassanant / Adobe Stock
Government of Canada announces new Canada Pension Plan benefit for students
Today, the Minister of Seniors, Joanne Thompson, announced new benefits for part-time students whose parents are disabled or deceased and contributed to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). As of January 1, 2025, eligible part-time students aged 18–24 will receive 50 percent of the amount paid by the CPP to full-time students. For 2025, this is a monthly flat rate of $150.89 for part-time students who qualify for the benefit.
Did you know?
Focus on Markets
BMO CEO says Canadian businesses facing more uncertainty than U.S. counterparts
The Bank of Montreal’s high reliance on business in the United States allowed chief executive Darryl White to get a good whiff of the uncertain economic environment south of the border about a year ago prior to the election and cuts in interest rates.
A year on, that sense of uncertainty seems to be on the decline in the U.S. and has moved over to Canada after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation this week and Donald Trump renewed his tariff threat.
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.
