In this edition:
- Canada announces 39 homes in Niagara Falls
- St. Catharines ponders amalgamation referendum for 2030 ballot
- Niagara housing market stays subdued in February
- Niagara paramedics and dispatchers to hold strike vote
- Government of Canada extends Work-Sharing temporary flexibilities to help employers and workers avoid mass layoffs
- Ontario launching Classroom Supplies Fund to support elementary school teachers and students
- Focus on Canada-U.S. Business
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Featured content by Upper Edge Consulting Canada
Picture credit: adrian_ilie825/ Adobe Stock
Canada announces 39 homes in Niagara Falls
Yesterday, the federal government announced over $9.8 million in funding to help build 39 secure, rental homes in Niagara Falls. The project is a conversion of an existing motel and will be converted into safe and welcoming bachelor and one‑bedroom homes for women and gender-diverse individuals who need transitional housing for up to four years.
Photo credit: City of St. Catharines
St. Catharines ponders amalgamation referendum for 2030 ballot
Amalgamation or other governance ideas could be put to a referendum in St. Catharines in 2030 as city councillors vowed Monday not to participate or support any changes to elected representation without community consultation.
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Picture credit: Elena Berd / Adobe Stock
Niagara housing market stays subdued in February
Niagara’s housing market remained subdued in February, with both home sales and new listings down compared with the same time last year, continuing a quiet start to 2026.
Niagara Association of Realtors chair Stefani Konidis said even with lower listings, numbers show there is a pool of motivated and qualified buyers waiting for the spring market.
Picture credit: LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS / Adobe Stock
Niagara paramedics and dispatchers to hold strike vote
CUPE Local 911 President David Barnett says a strike vote will be held at the end of the month, at two meetings on March 23rd.
Barnett says improvements are needed to their contract, including mental health benefits for part-time paramedics, who are not currently entitled to coverage.
Photo credit: May Chanikran / Adobe Stock
Government of Canada extends Work-Sharing temporary flexibilities to help employers and workers avoid mass layoffs
Yesterday, temporary special measures were introduced under the Employment Insurance (EI) Work-Sharing program to help employers facing unexpected slowdowns avoid layoffs and maintain stability for workers. As of February 28, more than 1,500 Work-Sharing Agreements have been approved for businesses affected by tariffs, covering over 50,000 workers and helping prevent nearly 20,000 layoffs.
Under these temporary special measures, Work-sharing supports now include:
- Extending the maximum duration of Work-Sharing agreements from 38 weeks to up to 76 weeks.
- Waiving the requirement to serve a cooling-off period (equal to the length of the first agreement) between successive agreements established while temporary special measures are in place.
- Expanding employer eligibility.
Picture credit: smolaw11 / Adobe Stock
Ontario launching Classroom Supplies Fund to support elementary school teachers and students
The Ontario government is launching the Classroom Supplies Fund to provide elementary school homeroom teachers with direct access to $750 in funding each school year for classroom supplies. The new fund, which will be launched as part of the province’s 2026 budget, will ensure teachers have the materials they need in their classrooms without paying up front and is part of the government’s ongoing work to ensure the provincial education system is supporting student success and helping them reach their full potential.
Focus on Canada-U.S. Business
3 ways Canada can navigate an increasingly erratic and belligerent United States
Charles Conteh, The Conversation
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.
