In this edition:
- Niagara unemployment rate edges up slower than national figures
- Moyer’s Apple Products invests $12M in new Beamsville facility
- CAA Niagara’s Community Boost Applications Open Until April 2
- Local vendors invited to apply for 2026 Niagara Falls Farmers’ Market
- Port Colborne Council supports reducing the number of councillors and updating ward boundaries
- Government of Canada to relax temporary foreign worker rules for rural employers
- National housing supply made strides in 2025 amid weak demand, condo struggles
- GST relief for first-time home buyers now in effect
- Focus on Markets
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Picture credit: skrotov / Adobe Stock
Niagara unemployment rate edges up slower than national figures
Niagara’s unemployment rate crept up from 7.6% to 7.7% in February, Statistics Canada’s latest data show, while participation rates and employment rates both fell, indicating a net shrinking of the workforce even as unemployment increased.
Canada-wide employment declined by 84,000 (-0.4%) in February and the employment rate fell 0.2 percentage points to 60.6%. The unemployment rate increased 0.2 percentage points to 6.7%.
Paul Moyer speaks at a GNCC event in 2025 | Picture credit: Brad Demers / Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce
Moyer’s Apple Products invests $12M in new Beamsville facility
Moyer’s Apple Products, an Ontario-based agri-food processor and family-run business operating since 1799, is constructing a new facility and increasing production capacity. Through this investment, Moyer’s Apple Products will build a 69,000 square-foot facility in Beamsville.
Picture credit: CAA Niagara
CAA Niagara’s Community Boost Applications Open Until April 2
CAA Niagara invites local charities to apply for its Community Boost program, which provides $10,000 in funding, volunteer support, and long-term partnership opportunities to organizations strengthening the Niagara community. Applications can be submitted at caaniagara.ca/communityboost until April 2, 2026.
Picture credit: City of Niagara Falls
Local vendors invited to apply for 2026 Niagara Falls Farmers’ Market
The City of Niagara Falls is inviting local vendors to apply to participate in the 2026 Niagara Falls Farmers’ Market, taking place every Saturday from May 23 to October 10, 2026. Applications must be completed online, and details about vendor opportunities can be found at niagarafalls.ca/market.
Picture credit: City of Port Colborne
Port Colborne Council supports reducing the number of councillors and updating ward boundaries
Port Colborne City Council has expressed its support for reducing the size of City Council and updating the City’s ward boundaries ahead of the 2026 municipal election.
If authorized by the Province, Port Colborne voters would elect six City Councillors and a Mayor, instead of the current eight councillors and a mayor. Under the proposed structure, the City would be divided into three wards, each represented by two councillors.
Picture credit: Joe McUbed / Adobe Stock
Government of Canada to relax temporary foreign worker rules for rural employers
At the request of provinces or territories, the Government of Canada will permit rural employers to retain their current number of low-wage temporary foreign workers and temporarily increase the allowable share of low-wage temporary foreign workers from 10% to 15% of their workforce in eligible rural regions.
These measures can be implemented within two weeks of a positive request from a province or territory and could begin as early as April 1, 2026. The measures will remain in place until March 31, 2027.
Picture credit: V. J. Matthew / Adobe Stock
National housing supply made strides in 2025 amid weak demand, condo struggles
Canada’s housing agency says the country made “meaningful” supply gains last year thanks to record rental construction and more “missing middle” type housing, however short-term imbalances remain for several markets.
Housing construction rose six per cent year-over-year in 2025 to 259,000 units, with activity exceeding the 10-year average across most major markets, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.’s spring housing supply report.
Picture credit: BillionPhotos.com / Adobe Stock
GST relief for first-time home buyers now in effect
After almost a year since the Prime Minister announced the government’s intention to remove the GST on new homes under $1 million and lower it on homes between $1 million and $1.5 million for first-time buyers, Bill C-4 (the bill containing the legislation) has finally received Royal Assent.
Focus on Markets
Amid an energy crisis, the world is drawing on its oil reserves. Why doesn’t Canada have any?
Abby Hughes, CBC News
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.
