In this edition:
- Modern station for Canadian Coast Guard officially opened in Port Weller
- Mass timber addition to expand Niagara College’s health programs amid rising enrolment
- Building permit values fall in April
- German brand Wellensteyn targets 2nd Canadian store after strong Niagara debut
- Fort Erie Hills subdivision gets an uneasy extension from council
- FedDev Ontario accepting applications under Build Communities Strong Fund
- International arrivals to Canada rise in May
- New vehicle registrations decline in first quarter
- Canada’s net foreign asset position declines
- U.S. ambassador says Trump is open to renewing CUSMA if a new offer is made
- Builder confidence remains near record lows
- Focus on Canada-U.S. Business
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Picture credit: Canadian Coast Guard/Garde côtière canadienne
Modern search and rescue station for the Canadian Coast Guard officially opened in Port Weller
Today, the Canadian Coast Guard officially opened its new search and rescue station in Port Weller, Ontario. Strategically located on the south shore of Lake Ontario, this modern facility will enhance search and rescue operations in the region.
The new search and rescue station represents a $7.6 million investment. The project included the restoration and preservation of the 1931 former lighthouse keeper’s dwelling, a recognized federal heritage building.
Picture credit: Montgomery Sisam Architects
Mass timber addition to expand Niagara College’s applied health programs amid rising enrolment
Currently under construction in Welland, the Niagara College Applied Health Institute (AHI) Expansion aims to create a community hub that responds to rising enrolment in health care programs such as nursing, paramedicine, personal support work, dental hygiene and pharmacy.
The 75,000-square-foot purpose-built mass timber addition was designed by Montgomery Sisam Architects and will feature a new entrance, pedestrian plaza, courtyard and atrium.
Photo credit: Francesco Scatena / Adobe Stock
Building permit values fall in April
The total value of building permits issued in Canada fell $1.0 billion, or 7.6%, to $12.5 billion in April, with both residential permits (-5.5%) and non-residential permits (-10.5%) declining. Ontario posted a smaller monthly decline of 1.9% to $4.82 billion, as a 4.8% drop in residential intentions was partly offset by a 1.6% gain in non-residential permits. National permit values were still 6.1% higher than in April 2025, while Ontario was up 2.8% year over year.
Picture credit: Think Retail
German outerwear brand Wellensteyn targets 2nd Canadian store after strong Niagara debut
With a history that spans more than 80 years, Wellensteyn, the German-founded outdoor coat and accessory company that has built an international reputation for combining technical functionality with fashion-forward design, is building momentum in Canada with plans to open a second location, says commercial real estate broker Think Retail.
The success of the 2,350-square-foot store at Outlet Collection at Niagara demonstrates that Canada is a promising market for the international company and the goal is to open another in 2027.
Picture credit: Town of Fort Erie
Fort Erie Hills subdivision gets an uneasy extension from council
A proposed development in the Bridgeburg area has been given another extension, though it appears patience is wearing thin for Fort Erie’s mayor.
Concerns over the project being dragged out along with plans to put forward a redline revision was enough to have Wayne Redekop express some reluctance about a staff recommendation to approve a two-year extension for the Fort Erie Hills subdivision.
Picture credit: amazing studio / Adobe Stock
FedDev Ontario now accepting applications under Build Communities Strong Fund Local Impact Stream
Canada’s regional development agencies are delivering $1 billion over four years through the BCSF Local Impact Stream, a part of the BCSF Direct Delivery stream, to support community infrastructure projects that strengthen communities and advance regional economic development.
Eligible not-for-profit organizations, municipalities, Indigenous organizations, and public-sector bodies across southern Ontario can now apply for funding to support community infrastructure projects that deliver economic, social, or environmental benefits for communities and the broader region.
Photo credit: belyaaa / Adobe Stock
International arrivals to Canada rise in May
Preliminary international arrivals to Canada by air and automobile reached 5.2 million in May, up 7.6% from the same month in 2025 and marking the second year-over-year increase since January 2025. US-resident trips rose 10.1% to 1.6 million, including 1.2 million trips by automobile and 456,600 by air, while overseas-resident trips increased 3.7% to 513,500. Canadian-resident return trips from abroad also rose 7.0% to 3.1 million, with the busiest return period falling over the Victoria Day long weekend.
Picture credit: Serhii / Adobe Stock
New vehicle registrations decline in first quarter
Statistics Canada reported that new motor vehicle registrations fell in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting a softer start to the year for Canada’s auto market. Zero-emission vehicle registrations rose from a year earlier after a weak first quarter in 2025, helped by renewed incentive activity, while gasoline and diesel vehicles continued to account for most new registrations. Multipurpose vehicles, including SUVs and crossovers, remained the dominant vehicle type, underscoring continued consumer demand for larger vehicles.
Picture credit: ronniechua / Adobe Stock
Canada’s net foreign asset position declines
Canada’s net foreign asset position fell by $310.8 billion in the first quarter to $1.36 trillion, its lowest level since the third quarter of 2023 and the second consecutive quarter of significant decline. Statistics Canada said the drop was driven mainly by market price changes, as US and European stock markets fell while Canadian markets rose, affecting a balance sheet heavily exposed to equities. Canada’s international assets edged down to $11.29 trillion, while liabilities rose 2.8% to $9.93 trillion, and gross external debt increased to $4.84 trillion.
Picture credit: U.S. State Department
U.S. ambassador says Trump is open to renewing CUSMA if a new offer is made
United States President Donald Trump has said many times that the U.S. doesn’t need anything from Canada, but Pete Hoekstra, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, said what his boss is really saying is that “we’re open to offers; make your case.”
Picture credit: visoot / Adobe Stock
Builder confidence remains near record lows
The Canadian Home Builders’ Association’s Housing Market Index showed builder confidence remained deeply negative in the first quarter of 2026, with the single-family index at 20.9 out of 100 and the multi-family index falling to a record low of 13.4. CHBA said policy action will be key to improving market conditions, noting that Ontario’s planned HST relief on new homes under $1 million and partial relief up to $1.85 million had not yet been reflected in builder sentiment. The association also reported worsening labour conditions, with 47% of builders nationally and 65% in Ontario saying they or their subcontractors had laid off workers because of market conditions.
Focus on Canada-U.S. Business
How Canadian tariffs on U.S. goods may affect your business in 2026
Emiliano Introcaso, EDC
While Canada has matched the United States (U.S.) and removed tariffs on CUSMA-compliant goods, some key sectors such as steel, aluminium and motor vehicles, still face duties. With the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)—known as USMCA in the U.S.—scheduled for renegotiation in July 2026, tariffs continue to squeeze North American economies, contributing to an increasingly volatile trade environment.
Tariffs and counter-tariffs played a dominant role in Canada-U.S. trade in 2025, creating real challenges for exporters. Here’s what you need to know about which Canadian tariffs on U.S. goods are still in place and practical steps you can take to reduce their effects and plan for future changes.
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.
