In this edition:
- White Oaks proposal in Niagara-on-the-Lake turned down
- Public information session on the future of Grimsby
- Canadian households were wealthier in the first quarter of 2024, but not all Canadians became richer
- Canada has the resources and human talent to thrive but red tape and delays are holding back productivity
- Ontario lands major nuclear agreements abroad
- Business Expectations Index signals budding optimism as interest rates fall
- Focus on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
White Oaks proposal in Niagara-on-the-Lake turned down
Featured content by Niagara Community Foundation
A residential and commercial project proposed at Taylor Road and Glendale Avenue is too tall for the majority of Niagara-on-the-Lake Council to stand behind.
White Oaks Conference Resort and Spa plans for four buildings with 810 units and more than 1,500 square metres of commercial space were turned down at Tuesday night’s committee-of-the-whole planning meeting by a 5-4 vote.
The tallest building was pitched as 25 storeys, while the other three were planned to be 17, 18, and 21 storeys.
Public information session on the future of Grimsby
The Town of Grimsby is currently undertaking three major planning projects that will help shape the future of the Town: the Official Plan Review, the Parks Master Plan, and the Transportation Master Plan. These three studies are interrelated and will inform each other with respect to policy and future direction.
The Town will be holding a public information session which will give attendees the opportunity to provide input into the progress and direction of these significant studies.
- Date: Tuesday, June 18 at 6 p.m.
- Location: Grimsby Town Hall (160 Livingston Avenue)
Canadian households were wealthier in the first quarter of 2024, but not all Canadians became richer
Today, Statistics Canada released the national balance sheet accounts for the first quarter 2024. Net worth, or the value of all assets minus debt, climbed about 3 per cent to $16.9 trillion driven by strong equity markets and a rebound in home values.
The gains are not evenly spread across Canadians, the agency noted, meaning they reflect the financial success of few households as the wealth gap in Canada continues to widen.
Canada has the resources and human talent to thrive but red tape and delays are holding back productivity
Canada has the natural resources and human talent to thrive in the global economy, but output is being held back by red tape and productivity problems.
That was the major takeaway from a panel discussion with three prominent Canadians and BNN Bloomberg’s John Erlichman this week, where the conversation tackled everything from housing affordability and the regulatory regime to the ongoing debate about domestic pension investment.
Former Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz said the length of the decision-making process for major proposals is holding the economy back.
Ontario lands major nuclear agreements abroad
The Ontario Government announced the completion of the first phase of site preparation for Ontario’s first Small Modular Reactor (SMR), the first in the G7, being built at Darlington.
In addition, the government announced the successful completion of trade missions to Romania and France, securing significant deals totalling $360 million that will support Ontario’s economy and workforce. These agreements will leverage the province’s nuclear expertise to create jobs for Ontario workers and grow the province’s nuclear-supply chain.
Business Expectations Index signals budding optimism as interest rates fall
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce Business Data Lab (BDL) has just released its Q2 Canadian Survey on Business Conditions Report, which shows budding green shoots of business optimism, after the Bank of Canada’s first interest rate cut last week.
The BDL’s Business Expectations Index moved into positive territory for the first time in the past year, hitting 101.8 in the second quarter of 2024, driven by a brighter outlook for sales. Businesses are also looking to hire in the coming quarter, as the labour market comes into better balance between supply and demand.
Did you know?
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour shows trigger earthquake readings in Edinburgh, Scotland. Her shows brought an estimated $98 million to the city’s economy. The financial boost with her Eras Tour to both the city and entire country is expected to add an estimated £1 billion ($1.27 billion) to the U.K. economy.
Focus on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Neurodiversity inclusion starts with the job interview
Fast Company; Sarah Wittman, Niloofar Kalantari and Vivian Motti
Over the past few years, many companies have poured money and resources into diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Some have made a lot of progress, others have not.
Any diversity and inclusion program needs to emphasize hiring to have a chance of success. Without scrutinizing this critical organizational entry point, it’s difficult for diversity and inclusion advocates to do more than play catch-up.
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.
