In this edition:
- Fuel costs drove inflationary rate to 2.8% in April
- Garden City Skyway twinning project design phase over halfway complete
- Building permits rise as non-residential projects lead growth
- Niagara Region issues tender for final phase of Niagara Stone Road project
- Ontario extends last call for the FIFA World Cup
- Transit ridership falls for eleventh straight month
- Focus on Canada-U.S. Business
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Photo credit: Monster Ztudio / Adobe Stock
Fuel costs drove inflationary rate to 2.8% in April
Canada’s annual inflation rate rose to 2.8% in April, up from 2.4% in March, as higher energy prices — especially gasoline — pushed the headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) higher. Gasoline prices were up 28.6% year over year, partly due to the April 2025 removal of the consumer carbon levy, while the price of food purchased from stores rose 3.8% and transportation costs increased 7.6%. Excluding gasoline, inflation slowed to 2.0%, suggesting the pressure on businesses and households was concentrated heavily in fuel and energy-related costs.
Image credit: Infrastructure Ontario
Garden City Skyway twinning project design phase over halfway complete
The design of a four-lane bridge over the Welland Canal is now 60 per cent complete and a timeline was recently unveiled at a virtual public information presentation.
“The QEW Garden City Skyway – Bridge Twinning project includes the design and construction of an approximately 2.2-kilometre-long ‘twin’ Garden City Skyway bridge across the Welland Canal between St. Catharines and Niagara-on-the-Lake,” said Ian McConachie on behalf of Infrastructure Ontario.
Photo credit: Francesco Scatena / Adobe Stock
Building permits rise as non-residential projects lead growth
The total value of building permits issued in Canada rose 10.3% to $13.5 billion in March, driven by a $1.5-billion increase in non-residential permits, while residential intentions fell 3.3% to $8.0 billion. Institutional construction led the non-residential gain, with industrial permits also up sharply, including a $510.8-million increase in Ontario. The Ontario industrial gain points to continued construction momentum in production, logistics, and related sectors, even as multi-family residential permits declined nationally and in Ontario.
Picture credit: Alphabet / Google Maps screenshot
Niagara Region issues tender for final phase of Niagara Stone Road project
Work on the final phase of the Niagara Stone Road rehabilitation project is set to get underway next month.
Niagara Region has issued a tender for the project, which centres on the road also known as Highway 55 from Line 1 to East West Line.
Picture credit: Drazen / Adobe Stock
Ontario extends last call for the FIFA World Cup
Ontario will allow licensed restaurants and bars across the province to sell and serve alcohol until 4 a.m. during the FIFA World Cup, temporarily extending the usual 2 a.m. last call from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The province says the measure is intended to support tourism, hospitality workers, and local businesses as Toronto hosts six World Cup matches, with Vancouver and 14 U.S. and Mexican cities also hosting games. For Niagara restaurants, bars, hotels, and tourism operators, the provincewide extension may create opportunities to capture late-night visitor spending tied to match viewings and World Cup-related travel.
Picture credit: Frédéric Prochasson / Adobe Stock
Transit ridership falls for eleventh straight month
Urban transit agencies recorded 132.9 million passenger trips in March, down 3.1% from the same month last year and marking the eleventh consecutive month of year-over-year decline. Operating revenue excluding subsidies nevertheless rose 2.3% to $348.7 million, suggesting higher revenue despite softer ridership.
Focus on Canada-U.S. Business
How much damage have Canada’s booze bans done to the U.S. wine industry?
Graeme Bruce, CBC 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.
