In this edition:
- Norris Walker’s $3-million legacy gift supports NC’s Health Education Building
- United Way Niagara becomes part of new Golden Horseshoe group
- Ontario and Canada sign historic partnership
- Federal government deficit increases amid slower revenue growth
- Canada Truck Operators Association raises concerns over rising diesel prices, freight slowdown
- Competition Bureau loses bid for Amazon data in fake reviews case
- Air Canada CEO to step down later this year
- Focus on Human Resources: Extended work breaks are on the rise
Did you know you can get the GNCC’s Daily Update emailed to you? Click here to sign up.
Photo credit: Niagara College
Norris Walker’s $3-million legacy gift supports NC’s Health Education Building
Niagara College announced a transformational legacy gift in support of its new Health Education building at its sold-out 34th Annual Gala on March 28.
A $3 million gift from the estate of Norris Walker will support Niagara College’s new Health Education building, which is being constructed at the Welland Campus. The project is key to NC’s efforts to address a critical shortage of frontline healthcare workers in Niagara, and will allow the College to graduate 800 additional students from its health programs each year.
Photo credit: JHVEPhoto / Adobe Stock
United Way Niagara becomes part of new Golden Horseshoe group
The United Way of Niagara is merging into the new United Way Golden Horseshoe. Niagara joins the Brant, Haldimond Norfolk, and Halton Hamilton branches as part of this new organization.
Interim President Brad Park says the move is effective as of April 01, 2026. The changes are the result of more than a year and a half of study and review.
Niagara CEO Frances Hallworth is excited to join with United Ways in Brant, Haldimand-Norfolk, Halton and Hamilton, and says funds raised in Niagara will stay in the region.
Photo credit: Harold Stiver / Adobe Stock
Ontario and Canada sign historic partnership to build homes, transit and communities
Today, Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Mark Carney signed the Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build in support of shared goals, including building more homes faster to make housing more affordable, getting shovels in the ground on key transit projects and supporting economic development that will protect jobs and help communities grow, despite the impact of tariffs and economic uncertainty.
The agreement includes $8.8 billion in federal and provincial funding over 10 years to support housing-enabling infrastructure investments for Ontario municipalities that reduce and maintain low development charges (DCs), as well as a Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) rebate to incentivize new home construction, and co-operation and financial support for a number of major transit projects.
Photo credit: manassanant / Adobe Stock
Federal government deficit increases amid slower revenue growth
The federal government’s deficit (+$1.3 billion) rose slightly in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with the same quarter one year earlier, as growth in expenses (+$2.3 billion; +1.7%) outpaced modest gains in revenue (+$1.0 billion; +0.8%).
Tax revenue (-$0.2 billion; -0.2%) edged down in the fourth quarter of 2025, amid slow nominal GDP growth and lower taxation rates slowing income growth.
Photo credit: Dennis MacDonald / Adobe Stock
Canada Truck Operators Association raises concerns over rising diesel prices, freight slowdown
The Canadian Truck Operators Association (CTOA) is raising concerns over rising diesel prices, warning that increasing fuel costs are placing renewed pressure on an industry that is still reportedly in the early stages of recovery following a prolonged slowdown from 2022 through 2025.
Recent increases in global oil prices, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East affecting key energy supply routes, are beginning to translate into higher diesel costs across Canada.
Photo credit: Sundry Photography / Adobe Stock
Competition Bureau loses bid for Amazon data in fake reviews case
The Federal Court of Appeal has upheld a decision keeping the competition commissioner from getting access to Amazon data it hoped would help prove the company hosts fake reviews on its website.
A decision issued by the court recently dismisses an appeal the competition watchdog argued last year in hopes of advancing an investigation into Amazon’s marketing practices.
Photo credit: Henry Saint John / Adobe Stock
Air Canada CEO to step down later this year in wake of criticism over lack of French
Air Canada chief executive Michael Rousseau will leave the company later this year after coming under fire last week for his inability to deliver a video condolence message in French following a plane crash that killed two Air Canada Express pilots.
The airline said Monday that Rousseau has told the board he will retire by the end of third quarter of this year. He is expected to continue to lead the company and serve on its board of directors until he steps down.
Focus on Human Resources
Mini-sabbaticals. Adult gap years. Micro retirement. Extended work breaks are on the rise.
Colleen Newvine, The Associated Press
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.
