In this edition:
- Niagara-Hamilton top employers announced
- Non-profits, community groups, and artists invited to apply for Welland grants
- Demolition of Royal George Theatre supported by heritage committee
- Ontario supporting new primary care teaching clinic in Niagara
- Home sales in Canada end 2025 quietly
- Competition Bureau study finds data portability could save Canadians billions
- 16% decline in motor vehicle manufacturing sales leads November sectoral downturn
- Wholesale trade posts second-largest decline in two years
- Canada entering ‘new era’ in relationship with China, PM reports
- HOPA Ports sets sights on north–south trade corridor as Ontario port network continues to expand
- Canada privacy watchdog expands probe into X, cites Grok deepfakes
- Focus on Housing Solutions
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Picture credit: Mediacorp Canada Inc.
Niagara-Hamilton top employers announced
Now in its 19th year, Hamilton-Niagara’s Top Employers is an editorial competition that recognizes the employers in the Hamilton-Niagara area of Ontario that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work.
This year, the list of Niagara firms includes:
- Airbus Helicopters Canada Ltd.
- Algoma Central Corporation
- Bethesda Community Services
- Brock University
- Durward Jones Barkwell & Company LLP
- Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority
- City of Niagara Falls
- Niagara Health
- City of St. Catharines
Photo credit: Harold Stiver / Adobe Stock
Non-profits, community groups, and artists invited to apply for Welland grants
The City of Welland is inviting artists, community groups, and not-for-profit organizations to submit their ideas for the 2026 Community Grants Program. Applications will be accepted from January 15 to February 16.
The program is designed to support initiatives that enhance Welland’s livability.
Picture credit: Unity Design Studio
Demolition of Royal George Theatre supported by heritage committee
The curtain is slowly coming down on the historic Royal George Theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
The town’s heritage committee members on Wednesday supported a demolition permit application by Shaw Festival to remove the theatre at 83-85 Queen St. and Tranter’s House next door at 79 Queen St.
Photo credit: makyzz / Adobe Stock
Ontario supporting new primary care teaching clinic in Niagara
The Ontario government is investing up to $8 million to support planning for sixteen new and expanded primary care teaching clinics – including a clinic in Niagara – to connect 300,000 more people across the province to primary care. This investment is part of the government’s $2.1 billion Primary Care Action Plan to connect everyone in Ontario to primary care by 2029.
Click here to read more.
Picture credit: Elena Berd / Adobe Stock
Home sales in Canada end 2025 quietly
The number of home sales recorded over Canadian MLS® Systems declined 2.7% on a month -over-month basis in December 2025.
On an annual basis, transactions totalled 470,314 units in 2025, a decrease of 1.9% from 2024. The year was characterized by a tariff -induced flight of buyers back to the sidelines in the first quarter, followed by a decent sales rally mid -year, and a bit of a stall to finish off 2025.
Picture credit: SYEDARASHEKA / Adobe Stock
Competition Bureau study finds data portability could save Canadians billions
The Competition Bureau published a report today showing Canadians could save a lot of time and money if they could easily and securely transfer their personal data from one service provider to another.
The report—Your Data, Your Control: How data portability can unlock competition and empower consumers— breaks new ground by estimating the value of data portability for consumers, using the insurance sector as a case study.
Picture credit: dizfoto1973 / Adobe Stock
16% decline in motor vehicle manufacturing sales leads November sectoral downturn
Following a 1.0% decrease in October, total manufacturing sales fell 1.2% to $70.8 billion in November, on lower sales in 15 of the 21 subsectors. The decline was driven by lower sales in the motor vehicle (-15.9%) and motor vehicle parts (-6.3%) industry groups as well as the machinery subsector (-3.2%). These declines were partially offset by a 6.8% increase in sales of petroleum and coal products. On a year-over-year basis, total sales were down 1.1% in November.
Picture credit: YesPhotographers / Adobe Stock
Wholesale trade posts second-largest decline in two years
Wholesale sales (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain) fell 1.8% in November to $84.4 billion. This is the second-largest decline in the past two years. The drop in sales reflected a steep decrease in sales in the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories subsector. Excluding the automotive subsector, wholesale sales rose 0.1%.
Picture credit: bluedesign / Adobe Stock
Canada entering ‘new era’ in relationship with China, PM reports
Canada is entering a “new era of relations” with China and the stage is set for talks on ways the two countries can be “strategic partners,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Jan. 15.
The prime minister made the comments as he was welcomed in Beijing by the second and third most powerful figures in China’s political system: Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, chairman of the standing committee of the National People’s Congress.
Picture credit: HOPA Ports
HOPA Ports sets sights on north–south trade corridor as Ontario port network continues to expand
As a new year begins, HOPA Ports is looking north to unlock new trade opportunities and strengthen domestic supply chains. A proposed north–south trade corridor anchored by a new port in Sault Ste. Marie is positioning the port authority for its next phase of growth, reinforcing Canada’s ability to move goods efficiently and serve as its own strongest trading partner.
Picture credit: Francois Eichinger / Adobe Stock
Canada privacy watchdog expands probe into X, cites Grok deepfakes
Canada’s privacy watchdog said on Thursday it was expanding an existing probe into X following reports that the social media platform’s Grok AI chatbot was making non-consensual sexually explicit deepfakes.
In a statement, Privacy Commissioner of Canada Philippe Dufresne also said he was launching a related investigation into xAI, the artificial intelligence company responsible for Grok.
Focus on Housing Solutions
What’s in store for Canada’s housing market 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.
