In this edition:
- Niagara Region council moving ahead with service delivery and governance review
- Ontario opens HART Hub in St. Catharines
- Niagara-on-the-Lake now accepting 2026 applications for StopGap Ramp Program
- Ontario business leaders head to Washington ahead of CUSMA review
- Tourism bucks economic trends in Q4 2025, posting sectoral growth
- Niagara-on-the-Lake Secondary Plan now in force
- Focus on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
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Picture credit: Regional Municipality of Niagara
Niagara Region council moving ahead with service delivery and governance review
A governance review ordered by regional councilors in late February has been idle for about a month, but it will now be undertaken following Thursday’s council meeting.
At a Feb. 26 committee-of-the-whole meeting, councillors put a freeze on a push to work with the provincial government on amalgamation, which at the time was being led by Niagara Region Chair Bob Gale.
Photo credit: Looker_Studio / Adobe Stock
Ontario opens HART Hub in St. Catharines
The Ontario government is expanding access to high-quality mental health and addictions care with the launch of a new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub in St. Catharines. This is part of the province’s almost $550 million investment to open 28 HART Hubs across Ontario. The Hub brings together a collaborative network of clinical, social service and care providers working to deliver services tailored to local needs.
Picture credit: Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake
Niagara-on-the-Lake now accepting 2026 applications for StopGap Ramp Program
Today, the Town held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and photo-opportunity to celebrate the StopGap ramps installed at participating businesses. As part of the event, the Town also announced that it is once again accepting applications for the StopGap Ramp Program.
Eligible Niagara-on-the-Lake businesses are encouraged to apply for a StopGap ramp by completing the online form. A select number of ramps will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and will be provided free of charge to businesses that meet specific criteria.
Picture credit: Mark / Adobe Stock
Ontario business leaders head to Washington ahead of CUSMA review
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) will lead a business delegation to Washington, D.C. next week, ahead of the review of the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). The mission will reinforce the importance of stable, predictable, rules-based trade to North America’s deeply integrated economy.
Photo credit: Niagara Parks Commission
Tourism bucks economic trends in Q4 2025, posting sectoral growth
Real tourism gross domestic product (GDP) grew 1.2% in the fourth quarter of 2025, following a 0.9% increase in the third quarter. By comparison, economy-wide real GDP by industry contracted 0.1% in the fourth quarter, following a 0.6% increase in the third quarter. Tourism GDP accounted for 1.74% of nominal GDP in the fourth quarter.
Picture credit: Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake
Niagara-on-the-Lake Secondary Plan now in force
On March 6, 2026, Town Planning Staff and the Town’s legal counsel attended an Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) settlement hearing regarding the Glendale Secondary Plan. Three separate appeals had been filed following Council’s adoption of the Plan.
At the hearing, the Tribunal reviewed the settlement agreements reached with all three appellants. After considering the settlements, the OLT issued an oral decision approving the Glendale Secondary Plan, as amended through those settlements and as previously directed by Council.
Focus on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Construction Trades Women renew push for mandatory anti-harassment training
Don Wall, Daily Commercial 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.
