In this edition:
- MPP Oosterhoff celebrates opening of long-term care home in Niagara-on-the-Lake
- Innovative repair at water treatment plant earns Provincial award for Niagara Region
- Niagara Falls changes accommodation tax remittance process
- Tim Hortons to build or renovate 480 restaurants across the country
- Retail sales rise in March
- Niagara EI recipients decline in March
- Producer prices rise on energy and raw material costs
- Banks poised for ‘growth’ in Q2 despite uncertain economic conditions
- Focus on Retail
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File photo | Picture credit: Brad Demers / Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce
MPP Oosterhoff celebrates opening of long-term care home in Niagara-on-the-Lake
The Ontario government is celebrating the opening of the redeveloped Radiant Care Pleasant Manor long-term care home that adds 160 modern long-term care beds to Niagara-on-the-Lake. This project is a recipient of the construction funding subsidy top-up and is part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario by creating good jobs and building for the future, while ensuring long-term care residents get the quality of care and quality of life they need and deserve.
Picture credit: tuastockphoto / Adobe Stock
Innovative repair at water treatment plant earns Provincial award for Niagara Region
A groundbreaking new technique used to repair aging water infrastructure has earned Niagara Region praise from the Ontario Public Works Association (OPWA).
The Niagara Falls Water Treatment Plant Reservoir Inlet and Outlet Pipe Emergency Repair was selected as the winner for the OPWA’s annual award for Disaster or Emergency Construction/Repair.
Photo credit: Niagara Parks Commission
Niagara Falls changes accommodation tax remittance process
The City of Niagara Falls has moved its Municipal Accommodation Tax to a flat rate of 4% of the total room rate, replacing the previous star-based assessment model as of April 1. Beginning June 1, accommodation providers must submit MAT remittances through a new online portal administered by the Ontario Restaurant Hotel Motel Association, with in-person payments at City Hall no longer accepted. The City and ORHMA will host two hybrid information sessions for accommodation operators on June 3 and June 9 at the Gale Centre, covering the new process, timelines, and online remittance requirements.
Photo Credit: JHVEPhoto / Adobe Stock
Tim Hortons to build or renovate 480 restaurants across the country
Tim Hortons announced Friday that Canadian restaurant owners are investing $270 million, in addition to Tim Hortons corporate investing an additional $130 million, in a plan to build or renovate 480 restaurants across the country.
Photo credit: Andrey Popov / Adobe Stock
Retail sales rise in March
Canadian retail sales rose 0.9% to $72.7 billion in March, led by a 12.4% increase at gasoline stations and fuel vendors, although sales volumes fell 0.7%. Ontario posted the largest dollar increase among provinces, with retail sales up 1.4%, also driven by higher gasoline sales, while core retail sales excluding gasoline and vehicles edged down 0.1%. E-commerce sales increased 1.5% to $5.1 billion, representing 7.1% of total retail trade, and Statistics Canada’s advance estimate suggests retail sales rose another 0.6% in April.
Picture credit: Khaohom Mali / Adobe Stock
Niagara EI recipients decline in March
The number of Canadians receiving regular Employment Insurance benefits rose 0.4% to 548,000 in March, while Ontario recipients increased 0.9% to 186,560. In St. Catharines–Niagara, however, the number of beneficiaries fell 1.3% from February to 6,320, and was down 1.1% from March 2025, one of the few Ontario CMAs to record a year-over-year decline. The local decrease suggests Niagara’s labour market showed comparatively better momentum than much of the province, where EI beneficiaries across Ontario CMAs were up 14.0% year-over-year.
Picture credit: BigBlues / Adobe Stock
Producer prices rise on energy and raw material costs
Canadian industrial product prices rose 2.0% in April, the fourth consecutive monthly increase, while raw material prices gained 2.6%. Statistics Canada said the increase was largely driven by higher energy and petroleum product prices, including finished motor gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, as shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz continued to put upward pressure on commodity prices. For Niagara businesses, the data points to ongoing cost pressure for manufacturers, transportation operators, and firms exposed to fuel, chemicals, plastics, metals, and other input-intensive supply chains.
Photo credit: manassanant / Adobe Stock
Banks poised for ‘growth’ in Q2 despite uncertain economic conditions
As Canadian banks get set to report second-quarter results next week, analysts expect year-over-year gains despite a “challenging” operating environment and slowing loan growth.
Even with “serious potential headwinds,” Canadian banks are still seeing near historically high valuations, a trend that should continue this quarter, said Jefferies analyst John Aiken in a note on May 19.
Focus on Retail
Why Canada’s retail growth isn’t good news, explains economist
Anam Khan, BNN Bloomberg
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.
