In this edition:
- Owner-occupied vacation rentals approved for Niagara Falls neighbourhoods
- Welland Civic Square revitalization project shelved
- Developer scales back Thorold condo project after council pushback
- Niagara Region unites with Québec companies to advance economic opportunity
- Summer Company Showcase set for July 14
- Ontario wetland research among Brock projects given NSERC boost
- Competition Bureau monitoring Interac’s commitment on e-transfer pricing
- Ontario opens nominations for 2025 Excellence in Agriculture Awards
- Committee on Internal Trade highlights progress on interprovincial trade at seventh meeting of 2025
- Focus on Technology
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Photo credit: Toyakisfoto.photos / Adobe Stock
Owner-occupied vacation rentals approved for Niagara Falls neighbourhoods
Niagara Falls will allow a limited number of owner-occupied short-term rentals in residential neighbourhoods as part of a 14-month pilot program.
During Tuesday’s meeting, council approved a cap of 100 licences per year and a minimum separation distance of 150 meters (approximately every nine to 12 houses) between licences to mitigate “undue concentration.”
Picture credit: City of Welland
Welland Civic Square revitalization project shelved
A plan to transform Welland Civic Square into a vibrant public space has been nixed, with city councillors opting to shelve the $1.6-million revitalization project.
A 5-5 vote on Tuesday resulted in rejection of a staff recommendation to award a nearly $172,000 contract to Toronto-based MBTW Group Inc. for detailed design, consulting, tendering and contract administration.
Picture credit: Q9 Planning + Design / supplied
Developer scales back Thorold condo project after council pushback
The developer of a proposed condominium building in downtown Thorold is one step closer to building their project.
As ThoroldToday reported, Evertrust wants to build a condominium building at 75 Ormond Street South. Their proposal was initially rejected because Thorold City Council felt that it was too big and dense for the neighbourhood.
Picture credit: Regional Municipality of Niagara
Niagara Region unites with Québec companies to advance economic opportunity
Niagara Economic Development (NED), Investissement Québec, and the Government of Québec recently came together for a local collaborative conference focused on strengthening interprovincial economic ties. The event featured sector-specific panels, market insights and networking opportunities that encouraged meaningful dialogue between Niagara businesses and Québec-based companies. Attendees had the chance to interact with industry leaders, gain valuable insights into Niagara’s economic priorities and procurement process, and participate in a marine-focused panel featuring experts from CSL Group, Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority, QSL, Invest Ontario and Invesstissment Québec International.
Photo credit: City of St. Catharines
Summer Company Showcase set for July 14
The St. Catharines Enterprise Centre’s Summer Company Showcase will be returning to St. Catharines City Hall on Monday, July 14.
The showcase will be held in the Burgoyne Woods Room, 50 Church St. (third floor), from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. It will feature 10 new businesses, launched by entrepreneurs between the ages of 15 and 29 as part of the City’s Summer Company Program. The public is welcome to attend.
Picture credit: Brock University / supplied
Ontario wetland research among Brock projects given NSERC boost
Wetlands save the economy billions of dollars by controlling floods, improving water quality and storing carbon that would otherwise go into the atmosphere, says Brock University hydrologist Kelly Biagi.
Biagi is one of 16 Brock University faculty researchers awarded NSERC funding, totalling $1.9 million, that was announced Wednesday, July 9 by Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister Responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions.
Photo credit: Yuliia / Adobe Stock
Competition Bureau monitoring Interac’s commitment on e-transfer pricing
The Competition Bureau is monitoring Interac’s commitment to change its wholesale e-transfer pricing structure from volume-based to a flat-fee, which is set to take place on November 1, 2025. Interac charges banks, credit unions and other financial institutions a wholesale fee for each e-transfer that their customers make.
Photo credit: Serhii / Adobe Stock
Ontario opens nominations for 2025 Excellence in Agriculture Awards
The Ontario government is opening nominations for the 2025 Excellence in Agriculture Awards, which recognize individuals and organizations in the province’s world-class agri-food industry. These awards honour the farmers, food processors, businesses and industry organizations that are driving excellence, sustainability and long-term competitiveness in Ontario’s $51 billion agri-food industry.
Picture credit: Government of Canada
Committee on Internal Trade highlights progress on interprovincial trade at seventh meeting of 2025
Today’s Committee on Internal Trade (CIT) meeting in Québec City marked the seventh gathering of 2025, demonstrating an unprecedented level of collaboration and urgency.
Chaired by Minister Caitlin Cleveland of the Northwest Territories, today’s meeting provided Ministers with an opportunity to review and advance progress on the recommendations endorsed by First Ministers in February 2025.
Focus on Technology
GO Transit X account will no longer respond to riders with AI
Jack Hauen, The Trillium
Metrolinx says the GO Transit X account’s use of artificial intelligence won’t happen again.
Before July 5, the account’s responses were short and sweet, and ended with the initials of the person replying. Recent responses lack those initials, and often contain hallmarks of AI writing, including the use of em dashes (—), emojis, a peppy tone and a tendency to repeat information back to the question-asker.
Liberal MPP Rob Cerjanec called out the agency for seemingly using AI in its response to a rider complaining that they had to run to make the last train after the Coldplay concert in Toronto on Monday.
“Sounds like Ange had a dramatic dash to catch that last northbound GO train at 11:13 p.m. That’s cutting it close!” GO Transit said in a since-deleted tweet, adding, “You go visit our website” to see train schedules.
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.
