In this edition:
- Ontario regulatory changes taking effect July 1
- Welland halves development charges to spur housing starts
- Niagara Parks unveils new Indigenous art exhibit at Old Fort Erie
- Canada’s economy reverses months of slow growth with 0.5% boost in April
- New Ontario rules for auto insurance are set to kick in. Here’s what you need to know
- U.S. declaration to exit USMCA to start a decade-long countdown for the pact
- Focus on Climate
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Picture credit: S… / Adobe Stock
Ontario regulatory changes taking effect July 1
A wide range of Ontario legislative and regulatory changes will take effect on July 1, including new rules for auto insurance, pensions, credit unions, workplace respirators, consumer reporting, commercial vehicle operators, planning approvals, child care, pharmacies and landlord-tenant matters. Several changes will have direct business impacts, including more distribution flexibility for liquor retailers, CSA-recognized respirators under workplace safety rules, streamlined service-standard reporting for licences and permits, and new administrative penalties for some commercial vehicle and towing-sector violations.
Photo credit: reme80 / Adobe Stock
Welland halves development charges to spur housing starts
Residential development charges in Welland are being slashed by 50 per cent over the next three years as city council turns to a provincial program to help cover the lost revenue.
Development charges assist municipalities with recovering capital costs tied to new growth — parks and trails, water and sewer infrastructure, stormwater management, roads, firefighting facilities and transit. Without them, existing taxpayers absorb the bill.
Picture credit: Niagara Parks
Niagara Parks unveils new Indigenous art exhibit at Old Fort Erie
In celebration of National Indigenous History Month, Niagara Parks has unveiled a new Indigenous art exhibit, Hope and Healing Canada, by Tracey-Mae Chambers at Old Fort Erie.
Picture credit: KPs Photography / Adobe Stock
Canada’s economy reverses months of slow growth with 0.5% boost in April
Canada’s economy showed signs of rebounding by growing 0.5 per cent in April, reversing months of slow and negative economic growth.
Real gross domestic product is up half a percentage point largely because of growth in the mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction sectors, Statistics Canada said in its latest report, released Tuesday.
Photo credit: disq / Adobe Stock
New Ontario rules for auto insurance are set to kick in. Here’s what you need to know
New changes affecting auto insurance in Ontario are set to kick in Wednesday offering drivers more flexibility when it comes to their plans, but insurers say it’s important to consider the risks of refusing certain coverages.
As of July 1, nine types of insurance accident benefits that had previously been automatic in every Ontario policy will be optional.
Picture credit: prasannapix / Adobe Stock
U.S. declaration to exit USMCA to start a decade-long countdown for the pact
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is expected to formally declare on Wednesday that it will not extend the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement on trade, starting a decade-long clock to wind down the 32-year-old North American free trade zone as the three countries haggle over proposed changes.
Prime Minister Mark Carney says he doesn’t expect any resolution Wednesday to the ongoing talks about whether to renew or review the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement.
Focus on Climate
The credibility imperative: building “Made-in-Canada” climate transition plans
Sara M. Bechtold and Ollie Kaiser, Smart Prosperity Institute
Climate-related transition planning has emerged as a critical way for Canadian businesses to manage risk and navigate change. But what counts as a “credible” plan remains contested. This leaves organizations to navigate fragmented expectations from regulators, lenders, investors and value-chain partners. This is especially true in the Canadian context. International frameworks need to be tailored to remain credible given Canada’s emissions-intensive and nature-reliant economy, regional diversity, decentralized regulatory structure and evolving legal obligations—particularly those related to Reconciliation.
This brief clarifies what credibility entails in practice by synthesizing its common features across leading international frameworks. It identifies unresolved questions that continue to hinder clarity, comparability and decision-usefulness in the Canadian context.
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.