In this edition:
Ontario to lift most COVID-19 mask mandates on March 21
Province launches Building Ontario Businesses Initiative
Minister MacLeod to make an announcement in Niagara Falls
Pelham Highway 20 businesses recognized by Beautification Committee
Merchandise imports fall across the board
Brock to continue with health measures until at least the end of the Winter Term
All doses available aboard GO-VAXX bus at Niagara College campuses March 17 and 30
Federal support program available for dairy and poultry processors
Canadian Heritage invites proposals for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2022, funding available
Ontario to lift most COVID-19 mask mandates on March 21
COVID-19 mask requirements in Ontario will lift in most indoor settings later this month, the province’s top doctor has confirmed.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore made the announcement at Queen’s Park on Wednesday.
“We are now learning to live with and manage COVID-19 for the long term,” Moore said in his last regularly scheduled COVID-19 update. “This necessitates a shift to a more balanced response to the pandemic.”
Starting March 21, masks will no longer be required in schools, restaurants and bars, gyms and movie theatres across the province.
The government said individuals can continue to wear a mask after that date if they choose to do so.
On March 14, mandatory vaccination policies for employees at schools, child-care settings, hospitals and long-term care homes will also come to an end.
Province launches Building Ontario Businesses Initiative
The Building Ontario Businesses Initiative (BOBI) aims to address the province’s supply chain security and economic growth. BOBI will reduce barriers and provide companies in Ontario with greater access to public procurement opportunities.
As part of BOBI, the government passed the Building Ontario Businesses Initiative Act, which mandates public sector entities to give Ontario businesses preference when conducting procurements for goods and services under a specified threshold amount. This legislative change will see the government targeting to spend at least $3 billion in contracts awarded to Ontario businesses annually by 2026.
These changes will apply to the province’s overall procurements, which amount to $29 billion in goods and services annually across all public sector organizations.
Supply Ontario, a new provincial agency established to address challenges in the public sector’s supply chain system, is integral to this plan. Supply Ontario will transform and move public procurement forward in line with the BOBI, further advancing modernization to benefit our economy, businesses, and Ontarians.
Minister MacLeod to make an announcement in Niagara Falls
Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, will be joined by Jim Diodati, Mayor of Niagara Falls, to make an announcement at 2 p.m. tomorrow, March 10th.
Minister MacLeod will also join the GNCC to offer remarks and take questions on March 14th. The event is sold out, but those interested can get more information and join a waitlist here.
Pelham Highway 20 businesses recognized by Beautification Committee
Highway 20 at Pelham Street is getting a facelift thanks to a number of businesses who saw the potential for a growing and thriving community. The Pelham Community Beautification Committee is recognizing six businesses that have, and continue to work on renovations and new builds over the past year. Highway 20 is an important corridor connecting west and east Niagara and as such gives a valuable first impression to visitors, suggesting that Pelham is a wonderful place to live, work and play. These businesses are to be commended for their efforts in beautifying an important gateway in Pelham.
Merchandise imports fall across the board
In January, Canada’s merchandise imports fell 7.4%, with decreases observed in nearly all product sections. This follows three months of strong growth for total imports. Meanwhile, exports edged down 0.2%, mainly on lower exports of passenger cars and light trucks. As a result, after posting its first deficit in seven months in December 2021, Canada’s merchandise trade balance swung back into a surplus position in January 2022.
At the end of January and in February 2022, some border crossings between Canada and the United States were blocked by protesters, preventing the normal flow of goods between the two countries at these passages. The Ambassador Bridge in Windsor (Ontario) is the most important crossing point for Canada’s merchandise trade. Statistics Canada data show that in 2021 the Ambassador Bridge was associated with almost 24% of Canada’s merchandise trade activity by road. Taken together, the Coutts (Alberta), Emerson (Manitoba) and Pacific Highway (British Columbia) crossings account for another 12% of Canada’s trade activity by road. Although imports and exports via these border points will likely be affected in the February reference month, the impact at the aggregate level could be mitigated by the use of alternate crossing points, or other modes of transportation.
Canada has responded to the situation in Ukraine by imposing further restrictions on trade with Russia. Some sanctions have already been in place since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea. As per The International Trade Explorer, in 2021, exports to the Russian Federation on a customs basis amounted to $657 million, representing 0.1% of Canada’s total merchandise exports to the world. Imports from Russia totalled $2.1 billion in 2021, making up 0.3% of all Canadian imports.
In terms of Canadian trade with Ukraine, both exports and imports posted values around the $220 million mark in 2021.
Brock to continue with health measures until at least the end of the Winter Term
Brock University will continue with the following health and safety measures until at least the end of the Winter Term:
- A mandatory masking requirement (medical grade masks are highly recommended for students and required for faculty and staff).
- A COVID-19 vaccine mandate for anyone coming to campus.
- A COVID-19 booster vaccine requirement for those living in on-campus residences.
- Mandatory self-screening for anyone coming to a Brock campus.
Those who have not yet received the third booster dose are encouraged to do so as soon as possible.
All doses available aboard GO-VAXX bus at Niagara College campuses March 17 and 30
The GO-VAXX mobile vaccine clinic will be at Niagara College campuses this March to administer COVID-19 vaccines to students, employees and the general public.
The fully accessible buses will be providing first, second, third, and booster doses for adults and youth ages 12 and up, as well as the pediatric Pfizer COVID‑19 vaccine for children aged five to 11.
The converted Metrolinx bus will be at Niagara College on the following dates:
- March 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake in parking lot
- March 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Welland Campus in parking lot
Book an appointment via the COVID-19 vaccination portal or provincial hotline at 1-833-943-3900. Walk-ins are also accepted. Maps of campus lots can be found on the NC website. Parking is free for those visiting the GO-VAXX bus.
To learn more about the GO-VAXX bus, visit ontario.ca/page/go-vaxx-bus-schedule.
Federal support program available for dairy and poultry processors
The new, $292.5-million Supply Management Processing Investment Fund supports investments in processing facilities that improve productivity and efficiency through the acquisition of new automated equipment and technology. Eligible applicants are processors of supply-managed commodities, including:
- Dairy processors
- Poultry Primary processors (chicken and turkey)
- Poultry Further processors (chicken and turkey)
- Hatcheries (broiler, egg-type and turkey)
- Egg graders
- Egg processors
Click here for more information.
Canadian Heritage invites proposals for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2022, funding available
Today, the Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage, launched a call for proposals for community-based commemoration activities for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR) on September 30, 2022.
These initiatives will honour the children who never returned home, as well as Survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities. They will also offer opportunities for all Canadians to observe and commemorate this important day.
Eligible organizations, from coast to coast to coast, are encouraged to submit proposals for community-based projects to commemorate NDTR in their own communities. Canadian Heritage will help support initiatives with funding up to a maximum of $10,000 per project.
The application period is underway and will close on April 11, 2022. Additional information and application guidelines are available on the website.
Reading Recommendations
Update on Ukraine
Canada will send Ukraine another shipment of military equipment, Trudeau says
Reuters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday said he told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a call that Canada will send Ukraine another shipment of highly-specialized military equipment.
Trudeau said in a tweet that he also invited Zelenskiy to address Canada’s parliament.
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.
