In this edition:
- Canada not affected by Trump’s looming deadline for trade deals
- Ontario, Alberta sign MOUs on key infrastructure
- Niagara real estate market softening with slower sales
- Town of Fort Erie and CUPE reach new collective agreement
- Historic hospital archway finding new home at Marotta Family Hospital
- Over two dozen fines issued for illegal Niagara Falls rentals
- Economic momentum ‘fading’ under tariff threat and cooling housing market, report says
- Unionized WSIB workers vote in favour of tentative agreement
- Focus on Retail
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Picture credit: Lazy_Bear / Adobe Stock
Canada not affected by Trump’s looming deadline for trade deals
U.S. President Donald Trump said he will be sending letters to governments around the world as he seeks trade deals — but Canada is not being affected by Wednesday’s tariff deadline.
Trump ramped up pressure ahead of his self-imposed deadline by sending correspondence to countries hit by “Liberation Day” duties warning them he will impose a high tariff rate if there’s no trade deal.
Picture credit: Office of the Premier of Ontario
Ontario, Alberta sign MOUs on key infrastructure
Today, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) to support Canadian workers by building new pipelines, rail lines and other energy and trade infrastructure that will diversify Canada’s trading partners by unlocking new markets for Ontario’s critical minerals and Western Canada’s oil and gas.
Photo credit: Jaruwan photo / Adobe Stock
Niagara real estate market softening with slower sales
Residential home sales activity recorded through the MLS® for the Niagara Association of REALTORS® (NAR) totaled 570 units in June 2025, compared to 602 in May 2025.
“June’s numbers show Niagara’s market adjusting in real time. Fewer new listings and softer sales kept conditions steady overall, with the sales-to-new-listings ratio nudging up to 33% — a minor move toward balance, but the market remains firmly in buyers’ hands”, said Lisa Taylor, Chair, Niagara Association of REALTORS®.
Picture credit: Town of Fort Erie
Town of Fort Erie and CUPE reach new collective agreement
The Town of Fort Erie and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 714 are pleased to announce a new collective bargaining agreement.
The deal was approved (ratified) by both CUPE members and Fort Erie Town Council on July 3, 2025. It shows a shared commitment to fair pay, stable jobs, and continuing to provide high-quality service to the people of Fort Erie.
Picture credit: Niagara Health / supplied
Historic hospital archway finding new home at Marotta Family Hospital
A significant piece of St. Catharines’ heritage is in the process of being relocated to Marotta Family Hospital, thanks to the generosity and commitment of the Rankin family.
The sandstone archway – originally part of the former St. Catharines General Hospital that once marked the entrance to the old nursing school – is being carefully disassembled and moved to a new location near the hospital’s Healing Garden. There, it will be reconstructed as a historical feature and community monument.
Picture credit: LIV communities
$40M Niagara Region brownfield incentive sought for $1.8B Welland Recreational Canal residential project
The developer of a large residential project in Welland will have to wait to learn if its brownfield grant application for $40 million — the largest Niagara Region has ever received — will be approved.
Photo credit: Andrii Yalanskyi / Adobe Stock
Over two dozen fines issued for illegal Niagara Falls rentals
More than two dozen fines were issued to owners operating illegal vacation rentals in Niagara Falls during the past week.
Gerald Spencer, senior manager of municipal enforcement services, said staff conducted a blitz throughout the city during the past week.
Picture credit: Who is Danny / Adobe Stock
Economic momentum ‘fading’ under tariff threat and cooling housing market, report says
The Canadian economy is set to face further headwinds as uncertainty surrounding U.S. trade policies continues to weigh on business and consumer confidence, according to new research from The Conference Board of Canada.
“The economy outperformed expectations in the first quarter of 2025, but the momentum is quickly fading,” said Cory Renner, Associate Director, Economic Forecasting at The Conference Board of Canada. “Trade disputes are casting shadows over multiple sectors of the economy and are expected to dampen growth throughout the remainder of the year.”
Picture credit: FS-Stock / Adobe Stock
Unionized WSIB workers vote in favour of tentative agreement
Unionized WSIB workers who have been on strike since late May are back to work today after voting to accept the tentative collective agreement reached between the board and the Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU).
Focus on Retail
Ask the Expert: Smarter security for safer stores
Nada Ebeid, regional director of Signature Brands, Canada at Genetec
Convenience stores remain the most targeted retail environments for violent crime. According to the 2024 D&D Daily Retail Violent Fatalities Report, 42% of all fatal incidents occurred at convenience stores. Customers accounted for over half of these fatalities, with store associates close behind at 25%.
From theft and assaults to smash-and-grab attacks, rising violence threatens employee safety, erodes customer trust, and jeopardizes store operations. Yet many retailers still rely on outdated, disconnected security systems that make it hard to respond in real time—let alone prevent incidents.
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.
