In this edition:
- Unemployment rate in Niagara increases again, now close to 8%
- Badawey announces funding for tender fruit growers to develop climate resilient fruit
- Niagara’s water treatment plants earn A+ from Province
- Cybersecurity, geopolitical concerns top list of market risks: Bank of Canada
- Thorold developer suggests land leasing as way to cut housing costs
- Focus on Human Resources
Unemployment rate in Niagara increases again, now close to 8%
The latest Labour Force Survey data released by Statistics Canada today indicates that Niagara’s unemployment rate is continuing to increase, and hit 7.9% in April. This is the third consecutive increase since January, 2024, when the rate was 7.2%. Both the employment and participation rates were down, indicating that people may have left jobs or quit the workforce entirely.
National employment increased by 90,000 (+0.4%) in April, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.1%. The employment rate held steady at 61.4%, following six consecutive monthly declines.
Click here to access Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey interactive app.
Badawey announces funding for Ontario Tender Fruit Growers to develop climate resilient fruit varieties
To keep the tender fruit sector strong, competitive, and resilient in the face of more extreme weather events, today, Vance Badawey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport and Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced up to $1,099,624 to the Ontario Tender Fruit Growers through the AgriScience Program – Projects Component, an initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Ontario Apple Growers is a project partner.
Niagara’s water treatment plants earn A+ from Province
Niagara Region’s six water treatment facilities have obtained a 100 per cent rating from the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (the Ministry) during their inspections for the period of 2022-2023.
A 100 per cent rating demonstrates Niagara Region’s commitment to going above and beyond the multi-barrier, health-based drinking water quality standards mandated by the province.
Cybersecurity, geopolitical concerns top list of market risks: Bank of Canada
The Bank of Canada has released the latest results of the Financial System Survey (FSS), and found that respondents believe the risk of a shock that could impair the Canadian financial system has decreased since the 2023 survey. Cyber incidents remained the top risk that organizations face. Geopolitical risks and risks associated with a slowdown in the global economy were the second most important risks, while market liquidity risks ranked third.
Thorold developer suggests land leasing as way to cut housing costs
The proponent behind a 39.84-hectare residential development in Thorold’s Rolling Meadows area, with a potential for over 600 mixed-use residential homes, suggested land leasing may be the key to making those homes more affordable.
In a presentation during Tuesday’s Thorold city council meeting, representatives from Bousfields Inc., the development planner, and Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities, the property owner, showed their plan for the development to be built along the future extension of Upper’s Lane.
Did you know?
Focus on Human Resources
Ongoing feedback key to employee experience: workplace psychologist
Pivotal events like the COVID-19 pandemic have catalysed both continuity and transformation in employee expectations, creating new priorities such as flexibility and trust in leadership, which have reshaped the employee experience landscape.
That’s according to Benjamin Granger, chief workplace psychologist at Qualtrics.
The pandemic spurred changes in certain priorities, but Granger notes that certain “universal truths about what humans expect from the construct of work,” including the need for affiliation and self-efficacy and career progression, have remained consistently important.
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.
