Free rapid COVID-19 testing kits are now available to businesses
Visit gncc.ca/workplace-self-screening-kits to learn more and reserve kits for your organization.
GNCC COVID-19 vaccination passport survey results
For two days, the GNCC ran a two-question survey which asked whether the respondent favoured a vaccine passport, and what industry they represented. The survey gathered a total of 571 results, which are shown here.
Click here for more information.
Ontario helping 100,000 workers train for in-demand jobs
The Ontario government is investing $5.8 million in free online training to help 100,000 workers gain the skills they need to find good jobs and restart their careers. Courses will focus on building skills most in-demand by employers in fields such as information technology, finance and business administration.
Click here for more information.
Facility at Canada Games Park named the Walker Sports and Abilities Centre
The Walker family and Walker Industries, in partnership with the cities of St. Catharines and Thorold, Brock University and Niagara Region, are pleased to announce a substantial contribution that will see the sport and recreation complex at Canada Games Park named the Walker Sports and Abilities Centre.
The agreement, which also names the Walker Founders Plaza located on the site, was announced by Geordie Walker on behalf of his family at a naming event on July 19 near the facility.
Click here for more information.
Welland impacted by 50-year storm
Environment Canada issued several alerts over the past weekend warning Niagara Region residents of thunderstorms and severe rainfall that was anticipated. The amount of rain that fell throughout the city varies; with Ward 6 being hit the hardest, a total of 108.7mm of rain was recorded.
Those affected by the flooding resulting in damage are encouraged to visit www.welland.ca/clerks/InsuranceClaim.asp and/or the Niagara Region www.niagararegion.ca/government/departments/corp-services/procedure.aspx
Click here for more information (PDF link).
Clarification on Bill C-208 provides much needed certainty for small businesses
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s President and CEO, Perrin Beatty, issued the following statement on today’s clarification from the government on the taxation of intergenerational transfers of small business shares:
“Today’s clarification from Finance Minister Freeland regarding Bill C-208 provides much needed certainty for small businesses by making clear the Bill is now part of the Income Tax Act. The unfair taxation of intergenerational transfers meant that until Bill C-208, it was more difficult and made less financial sense for small business owners to sell their company to their children and grandchildren versus a complete stranger.”
Click here for more information.
Canada Child Benefit to be increased to match inflation
Today, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, announced that the maximum annual Canada Child Benefit will once again be increased to keep up with the rising cost of living. For the 2021–2022 benefit year, the maximum annual benefit will be $6,833 per child under age 6 and $5,765 per child aged 6 through 17. That’s over $350 more per child than when the CCB was first introduced.
Reading Recommendations
Politics the reason Canada has surpassed U.S. on COVID vaccines, Fauci says
CBC News
News that Canada has surged past the U.S. in vaccinations for COVID-19 prompted a number of headlines in American and international news outlets, given how remote this scenario seemed months ago.
It’s also prompted some finger-pointing within the U.S. One person making apparent his increasing frustration with developments in the U.S. is Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
He was asked in a CNN interview what happened and why Canada had surpassed the U.S. in the rate of first and second doses despite the U.S.’s months-long head start.
Fauci blamed politics in the U.S.
Home prices up 16% in June for largest 12-month gain on record
BNN Bloomberg/Canadian Press
Canadian home prices increased in June to mark the largest 12-month gain on record as prices climbed in all 11 markets, says the Teranet National Bank composite price index.
The index was up 16 per cent from June 2020, beating the 14.2 per cent rise of June 2017 that preceded the introduction of macroprudential measures designed to restrain home prices.
Prices were up 10 per cent or more in an unprecedented 90 per cent of 32 urban markets and up 30 per cent or more in 42 per cent of these markets.
Niagara COVID Stat Tracker
| December 18 | December 25 | January 1 | January 8 | January 15 | January 22 | January 29 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reproductive number | 1.4 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.9 |
| New cases per 100,000 | 101.2 | 267.3 | 469.8 | 575.8 | 507.1 | 295.5 | 250.6 |
| New cases per day (not including outbreaks) | 60.7 | 178.7 | 311.7 | 376.9 | 325.4 | 182.7 | 145.7 |
| Percent of hospital beds occupied | 97% | 95.2% | 98.2% | 103.2% | 104.5% | 103.6% | 106% |
| Percent of intensive care beds occupied | 78.8% | 77.3% | 87.9% | 87.9% | 90.9% | 89.4% | 93.9% |
| Percentage of positive tests | 6.1% | 15.6% | 28.1% | 28.6% | 26.6% | 21.2% | 16.2% |
Last updated: July 10, 2021
These data show the status of the COVID-19 pandemic in Niagara. The Province of Ontario is now using a provincewide approach to reopening, and these data no longer have any influence on Niagara’s restrictions.
Data are drawn from Niagara Region Public Health.
Click here for a guide to this table.
Niagara COVID vaccination tracker
Last updated: July 20, 2021
Niagara’s most up-to-date vaccination numbers are presented below, along with comparison data from Ontario, Canada, and G7 countries.
Total doses administered in Niagara: 586,011
Total doses administered in Niagara since yesterday: 4,653
Ontario is currently in Step Three of the Roadmap to Reopen.
| Percentage of population with one dose | Percentage of population fully vaccinated | |
|---|---|---|
| Niagara | 82.7% | 78.2% |
| Ontario | 84.6% | 79.1% |
| Canada | 84.7% | 78.6% |
| United States | 75% | 64% |
| United Kingdom | 78% | 72% |
| Germany | 76% | 74% |
| France | 80% | 77% |
| Italy | 83% | 76% |
| Japan | 80% | 79% |
| World | 63% | 53% |
Data are drawn from Niagara Region, the Government of Ontario, and Oxford University’s Our World in Data project.
