In this edition:
- St. Catharines downtown safety plan includes push for police storefront
- Niagara Region embarks on $1.5M transportation master plan update
- Clayfield Commons taking shape in Niagara-on-the-Lake
- Pelham to host public sessions on residential zoning changes
- Bonnie Crombie resigns as Ontario Liberal Leader
- Government announces 2026 automobile deduction limits and expense benefit rates for businesses
- Saks Global bankruptcy reopens Canadian retail wounds
- Temu launches Shopify app to expand marketplace access for small businesses
- Focus on Retail
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Picture credit: St. Catharines downtown association
St. Catharines downtown safety plan includes push for police storefront
Niagara Regional Police are being asked by St. Catharines council to consider opening a community storefront downtown as part of a plan to improve safety, support workers and residents, and “restore public confidence” in the area.
Photo credit: Adam Moss / C BY-SA 2.0
Niagara Region embarks on $1.5M transportation master plan update
Niagara Region is paying consultants almost $1 million to assist municipal staff in updating a transportation master plan that will address the infrastructure and movement of goods and people, as well as public transit access.
Picture credit: Traditional Neighbourhood Developments Inc.
Clayfield Commons taking shape in Niagara-on-the-Lake
Picture credit: rawmn / Adobe Stock
Pelham to host public sessions on residential zoning changes
The Town of Pelham is inviting the public to weigh in on a proposed zoning bylaw amendment with respect to Additional Residential Units on private property.
The provincial government is actively working toward creating 1.5 million homes by 2031, part of a broader strategy to address the housing supply crisis in Ontario and improve the quality of life for residents.
Picture credit: Bonnie Crombie M.P.P.
Bonnie Crombie resigns as Ontario Liberal Leader
Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie has resigned, just months after she said she intended to stay on until a new leader of the provincial party was chosen.
Ms. Crombie said in a statement on Wednesday that after “careful reflection” she has decided to step aside as leader, effective immediately.
Picture credit: Prostock-studio / Adobe Stock
Government announces 2026 automobile deduction limits and expense benefit rates for businesses
The ceiling for capital cost allowances (CCA) for Class 10.1 passenger vehicles will increase from $38,000 to $39,000, before tax, in respect of vehicles (new and used) acquired on or after January 1, 2026. The limit on the deduction of tax-exempt allowances paid by employers to employees who use their personal vehicle for business purposes in the provinces will also increase.
Other limits and rates will remain the same.
Picture credit: DW labs Incorporated / Adobe Stock
Saks Global bankruptcy reopens Canadian retail wounds
The Chapter 11 filing by Saks Global marks one of the most consequential moments for luxury department store retail in more than a decade. While the filing is a U.S. restructuring, its implications extend beyond American borders, particularly for Canadian brands, landlords, and suppliers that remain intertwined with the Saks ecosystem.
Picture credit: Azulblue / Adobe Stock
Temu launches Shopify app to expand marketplace access for small businesses
Temu has introduced a new app that allows Shopify merchants to list and manage products directly on its global marketplace, giving small businesses the ability to reach customers in more than 30 markets, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, and Australia.
Focus on Retail
Intentionality to define consumer choices in 2026
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.
