In this edition:
Health Canada authorizes Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 6 to 11
Government of Canada confirms pre-entry test requirement removal for fully vaccinated travellers
RT and RT France barred from Canadian television
Ontario invests $5 million to support racialized and indigenous entrepreneurs
New long-term care beds added in Hamilton and Niagara
New virtual urgent care service available to Niagara residents
GNCC celebrates two years of daily updates
Health Canada authorizes Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 6 to 11
Today, Health Canada authorized the use of the Moderna Spikevax (50 mcg) COVID-19 vaccine in children 6 to 11 years of age. This is the second COVID-19 vaccine authorized in Canada for use in this younger age group.
Health Canada received an application from Moderna to expand the indication of its Spikevax vaccine on November 16, 2021. The vaccine was initially authorized for use in people 18 years of age and older on December 23, 2020, and subsequently authorized for children 12 to 17 years of age on August 27, 2021.
Click here to find a vaccination clinic near you.
Government of Canada confirms pre-entry test requirement removal for fully vaccinated travellers
Today, the Government of Canada announced that effective April 1, 2022 at 12:01 AM EDT, fully vaccinated travellers will no longer need to provide a pre-entry COVID-19 test result to enter Canada by air, land or water. Fully vaccinated travellers seeking to arrive in Canada before April 1, 2022, must still have a valid pre-entry test.
As a reminder, travellers arriving to Canada from any country, who qualify as fully vaccinated, may need to take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival if selected for mandatory random testing. Travellers selected for mandatory random testing are not required to quarantine while awaiting their test result.
RT and RT France barred from Canadian television
Today, the CRTC formally removed RT (previously known as Russia Today) and RT France from the List of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution.
Further to a public consultation, the CRTC determined that the continued authorization to distribute RT and RT France is not in the public interest. RT’s programming is not consistent with the standards against which Canadian services are measured nor the policy objectives set out in the Broadcasting Act. The CRTC is also concerned with programming from a foreign country that seeks to undermine the sovereignty of another country, demean Canadians of a particular ethnic background and undermine democratic institutions within Canada.
Ontario invests $5 million to support racialized and indigenous entrepreneurs
The Ontario government is investing $5 million over two years in a targeted program to help Indigenous, Black and other racialized entrepreneurs start or grow their business. The Racialized and Indigenous Supports for Entrepreneurs (RAISE) Grant Program helps to remove economic barriers by providing funding, training, and culturally-relevant services to entrepreneurs.
The RAISE Grant will help grow local businesses across Ontario and will be delivered through Digital Main Street, the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA), and the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA) in collaboration with the Parkdale Centre for Innovation. Successful applicants will receive a $10,000 grant to faciliate innovation and growth, as well as training and coaching for sustainable economic development.
New long-term care beds added in Hamilton and Niagara
The Ontario government is adding 387 new and 645 upgraded long-term care beds to modernize and expand six long-term care homes in the Hamilton-Niagara region. This is part of the government’s $6.4 billion commitment to build more than 30,000 net new beds by 2028 and 28,000 upgraded long-term care beds across the province.
New virtual urgent care service available to Niagara residents
Niagara residents who need urgent care but don’t have access to a primary care provider can now book an appointment online to see a Niagara Health provider from the comfort of their home.
This new local service is for adults who have an urgent medical issue or health concern that is not life-threatening and who do not have a primary care provider or cannot make an appointment with their primary care provider.
This service provides a new health care option in the region that is seamlessly integrated with in-person urgent care at Niagara Health. During the virtual visit, health care providers will assess the patient’s condition and recommend treatment. If patients feel a physical examination is necessary, they should contact their primary care provider. If no such relationship exists, on an urgent basis, patients may be directed to the closest Emergency Department, where they will continue their visit without the need to repeat their situation.
To make an appointment, visit UrgentCareOntario.ca.
GNCC celebrates two years of daily updates
Today marks two years since we began our Daily Update as a free service to the business community of Niagara. It has been among our most popular offerings as a Chamber of Commerce, and is now received by over 3,600 unique individuals every business day.
We started as the pandemic first hit us, and with government directives changing on a daily basis – and sometimes even more frequently – we tried to help clarify the rules and regulations by summarizing the day’s changes.
As time went on, you asked for additional business information and timely news, relevant to your success. We added municipal news, business headlines, reading recommendations and data reports. Our goal with the Daily Update is to bring you the information you need to stay informed, to save you time, and to keep you connected.
If there is anything you would like to see in future updates, please let us know at info@gncc.ca.
Thank you for your continued support.
Reading Recommendations
Update on Ukraine
New temporary residence pathway opened to Ukrainian refugees
In response to Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, today announced the launch of the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel (CUAET). The CUAET is a special, accelerated temporary residence pathway for Ukrainians seeking safe haven in Canada while the war in their home country continues.
With the CUAET, Ukrainians and their immediate family members of any nationality may stay in Canada as temporary residents for up to 3 years. Applicants who are overseas need to apply online for a Canadian visitor visa and provide their biometrics (fingerprints and a photo). Applicants are encouraged to apply for a 3-year open work permit at the same time as their visa application. This permit will allow them to work in Canada. Under this special program, many of the regular requirements associated with a normal visitor visa or work permit have been waived.
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.
