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.

Ontario accelerates second COVID-19 vaccine dose for youth and children

Ontario is accelerating second dose eligibility to all children and youth aged 12 to 17. Starting on Monday, July 5, 2021 at 8:00 a.m., youth aged 12 to 17 across the province will be eligible to book an accelerated second dose appointment to receive the Pfizer vaccine through the provincial booking system, directly through public health units that use their own booking system, and through participating pharmacies.

Ontario cuts red tape for transportation businesses

Effective July 1, carriers do not need a license to operate a new route and multiple carriers may offer service along the same or complimentary routes, helping to improve travel options for Ontarians. Previously, one carrier was given a licence to operate a certain route for a particular destination or city.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, almost two million people did not have access to an intercommunity passenger transportation route, and half of all municipalities did not have an intercommunity passenger transportation stop within their boundaries.

Fort Erie Temporary Outdoor Patio Program offered without fees to local businesses

The Town of Fort Erie Temporary Outdoor Patio Program (PDF link) is intended to support local eating establishments by providing flexibility while at the same time ensuring health and safety standards remain in place. Applicants wishing to establish a new temporary outdoor patio or temporarily expand an existing outdoor patio must complete and submit an application prior to approval. No fees shall apply to the application. To learn more about the program, or apply online, visit forterie.ca/pages/TemporaryOutdoorPatio.

1 in 5 Canadian businesses reported a cybersecurity incident in 2020

6.6% more Canadian businesses reported a cybersecurity incident in 2020 than in 2019, Statistics Canada has revealed. Large businesses appear to have been particularly targeted, with firms employing more than 100 people reporting a 16.1% increase. The wholesale trade, finance and insurance, and professional, scientific, and technical services industries all report close to a double-digit increase in incidents.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has warned of Canada’s vulnerability in this field as the country has fallen behind on R&D. The OECD has raised a red flag regarding Canada’s lagging science and technology progress. While the majority of the OECD is increasing R&D investment – being led by the United States, Japan, Germany and Korea – Canada is one of only a few countries where R&D investment in science and technology is “stagnant”. With orders of magnitude more investments being made by Canada’s competitors, we are now at risk of being left behind.

To help address these challenges, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce is today launching the Cyber. Right. Now. campaign, a concerted effort, led by the Canadian Chamber and supported by a broad range of 28 leading tech organizations of all sizes from across Canada. Together they are set to raise awareness and propose solutions to government to empower Canada to lead the global cybersecurity future.

The GNCC’s last webinar on cybersecurity is available to view online.

Building permits drop by record value in May 2021

Total value of building permits, seasonally adjusted

Following four consecutive months of reaching new highs, the total value of building permits dropped a record $1.6 billion (-14.8%) to $9.5 billion in May. Every component was down, with multi-family dwellings in Ontario accounting for nearly three fifths of the overall national decline.

Residential permits in Niagara declined by 27.5% month-over-month, even as the number of housing starts increased by 15.9%.

The value of permits for multi-family dwellings dropped 20.6% to $3.3 billion in May, the lowest value since August 2020. Ontario was responsible for the majority of the decline.

Construction intentions for the non-residential sector were down 12.2% to $3.0 billion in May, with Ontario and Quebec falling 21.5% and 22.9% respectively.

Commercial permits tumbled 15.8% to $1.6 billion overall. Ontario dropped 33.9% as no permit in excess of $25 million was issued for the province in May, compared with six in the previous month, worth a total of $295 million.

Reading Recommendations

Canadian dollar seen stronger but break of 1.20 to remain elusive

Reuters

Canada’s dollar will strengthen over the coming year, bolstered by higher oil prices and reduced stimulus from the Bank of Canada, but gains could stop short of the currency’s recent six-year high, a Reuters poll showed.

The loonie has pulled back 3.2% since last month touching its strongest level since May 2015 near 1.20 per U.S. dollar, or 83.33 U.S. cents, pressured by the Federal Reserve’s surprise shift to more hawkish guidance and worries the spreading Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus could slow a global economic recovery.

Analysts say 1.20 is a key technical level for the currency.

U.S. economy added 850,000 jobs last month, far more than expected

CBC News/Associated Press

In an encouraging burst of hiring, America’s employers added 850,000 jobs in June, well above the average of the previous three months and a sign that companies may be having an easier time finding enough workers to fill open jobs.

Friday’s report from the U.S. Labour Department was the latest sign that the reopening of the economy is propelling a powerful rebound from the pandemic recession. Restaurant traffic across the country is nearly back to pre-pandemic levels, and more people are shopping, travelling and attending sports and entertainment events.

The number of people flying each day is also about 80 per cent of pre-COVID-19 levels. And Americans’ confidence in the economic outlook has nearly fully recovered.