In this edition:
- Royal George demolition pushed back again
- Stock markets shudder worldwide after oil prices briefly spike to nearly $120 per barrel
- 40 Under Forty Business Achievement Awards nominations close tomorrow
- Restaurants and bars record moderate growth, while caterers see boom from return-to-office trend
- Not just oil: Fertilizer prices spike amid Iran war, worrying Canadian farmers
- Watch out for AI-generated government impersonators, Competition Bureau warns
- Canada’s new trade team meets Trump’s trade czar in Washington to talk CUSMA review
- Focus on Retail
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Is Your Workplace Legally Covered?
A 2026 Risk Update for Ontario Employers
Most Ontario employers believe they are legally compliant — until a situation tests that assumption.
- A resignation turns into a claim.
- A complaint requires a formal investigation.
- A termination exposes outdated contract language.
- A medical disclosure triggers accommodation obligations leadership wasn’t prepared to navigate.
In 2026, being “legally covered” requires more than having policies in place. Employment standards enforcement has tightened, workplace investigation expectations have evolved, accommodation responsibilities demand structured documentation, and health and safety oversight now extends beyond physical hazards.
Compliance is no longer static. It is operational.
The question is not whether you value your employees. It is whether your systems would withstand scrutiny if reviewed tomorrow.
This risk update outlines where exposure is most commonly emerging for Ontario employers and what being truly covered looks like today.
Featured content by HR with Intent
Picture credit: Unity Design Studio
Royal George demolition pushed back again
With the rescheduling of the Feb. 26 judicial review of legal action related to the construction of the new Royal George Theatre on Queen St. in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Shaw Festival finds itself unable to start demolition of the current theatre until at least March 17.
Image credit: Fxquadro / Adobe Stock
Stock markets shudder worldwide after oil prices briefly spike to nearly $120 per barrel
Stock markets shuddered worldwide on Mar. 9 on worries about whether the global economy can withstand spiking prices for oil, which briefly got to nearly $120 per barrel, their highest level since four summers ago.
The S&P 500 fell 1.3 per cent, coming off its worst week since October. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 721 points, or 1.5 per cent, as of 9:35 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 1.2 per cent lower. That followed even worse losses in European and Asian stock markets.
Picture credit: Business Link Media Group
40 Under Forty Business Achievement Awards nominations close tomorrow
Since its launch in 2004, 40 Under Forty has honored 880 outstanding professionals across diverse sectors, including business, technology, healthcare, education, and the arts. This is your opportunity to nominate inspiring candidates who demonstrate professional excellence and a commitment to making a difference in the Niagara region.
Photo credit: weyo / Adobe Stock
Restaurants and bars record moderate growth, while caterers see boom from return-to-office trend
Operating revenue for the food services and drinking places subsector rose 4.8% to $99.6 billion in 2024, Statistics Canada reported today. This increase was consistent with higher food prices.
Operating revenue for the special food services industry group—which includes food service contractors, caterers and mobile food services—was up 10.9% year over year to $7.8 billion in 2024. This subsector-leading growth was partly supported by increased return-to-office requirements across both the public and private sectors.
Picture credit: Dusan Kostic / Adobe Stock
Not just oil: Fertilizer prices spike amid Iran war, worrying Canadian farmers
Christine McKee is alarmed by the skyrocketing cost of fertilizer that’s crucial to operating her southern Alberta farm.
The average cost of urea — a widely-used type of fertilizer — has increased rapidly since the U.S.- and Israel-led offensive against Iran brought war to a region critical to its global supply.
Picture credit: Andrey Popov / Adobe Stock
Watch out for AI-generated government impersonators, Competition Bureau warns
Artificial intelligence (AI) is giving fraudsters powerful new tools to deceive. Scammers are using AI to impersonate government officials, politicians, and other high-profile leaders with a level of realism that’s harder than ever to spot.
These impersonation tactics are used to steal money, collect personal information, install malware, and spread false information.
Picture credit: Pixel-Shot / Adobe Stock
Canada’s new trade team meets Trump’s trade czar in Washington to talk CUSMA review
Canada’s new chief trade negotiator to the United States met her American counterpart in Washington on Friday as Ottawa sought to steady the bilateral relationship ahead of a review of the critical continental trade pact.
Focus on Retail
Hudson’s Bay collapse: one year after the CCAA filing
Craig Patterson, Retail Insider
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.
