In this edition:
- U.S. appeals court reinstates Trump tariffs for now
- Revised Accessible Employment Standard released
- Fare changes coming this summer for Niagara Transit
- New Commissioner of Corporate Services for Niagara Region
- NPCA surpassed 10-year land acquisition goal in just two years
- Port Colborne accepting applications for the position of Regional Councillor
- The Grist sold as St. Davids restaurant owners retire
- Niagara-on-the-Lake Council approved online ballot-casting
- St. Catharines seeking public input on parking services
- Ontario MPPs to get salary bump and new pension plan
- Analysis of 2025 Ontario budget
- 71 per cent of Canadians buying fewer U.S. grocery products
- Focus on Internal Trade
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Photo credit: Executive Office of the President of the United States / Public Domain
U.S. appeals court reinstates Trump tariffs for now
A U.S. federal appeals court on Thursday allowed President Donald Trump to continue collecting tariffs under an emergency powers law for now, as his administration fights an order striking down the bulk of his signature set of economic policies.
The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit granted the emergency motion from the Trump administration that argued the pause is “critical for the country’s national security.”
The appeals court temporarily halted the order from a federal trade court issued a day before.
Photo credit: qunica.com – stock.adobe.com
Revised Accessible Employment Standard released
Accessibility Standards Canada has published the revised standard on accessible employment, introducing new requirements for removing and preventing employment-related accessibility barriers. This includes how organizations can improve accessibility in the workplace. It also clarifies existing requirements to help organizations better support workers with disabilities.
The standard helps organizations identify, remove, and prevent barriers at every stage of employment. It gives them the tools to create equitable and inclusive workplaces that include the skills and talents of employees with disabilities.
Illustration Credit: Niagara Transit
Fare changes coming this summer for Niagara Transit
Niagara Transit is preparing to launch their “One Fare, Anywhere” initiative on July 1st. The program means that it will cost riders one fare no matter where they get on and off transit in the region.
Currently, it costs $3 a ride but it increases to $6 if you transfer between services in different cities. The new program means a single ride, even between municipalities, is going to cost $3.50.
Photo credit:Brad Demers / Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce
New Commissioner of Corporate Services for Niagara Region
Following an extensive and competitive recruitment process, Tim Ellis will assume the leadership role of Niagara Region’s Corporate Services Department that includes Legal and Court Services, Procurement Services, Asset Management Office, Information Technology Solutions, Construction, Energy and Facilities Management, and Financial Management and Planning.
Ellis brings to the Region over 20 years of experience in financial management and organizational leadership, having served in several senior roles across Ontario’s education and public sectors.
Photo credit: Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority
NPCA surpassed 10-year land acquisition goal in just two years
The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) has acquired five new parcels in Niagara, Haldimand, and Hamilton. These additional 125.8 hectares of conservation land represents 70 per cent of NPCA’s 10-year land acquisition goal, helping to increase biodiversity, habitat connectivity, and natural cover. These acquisitions result in NPCA exceeding the 180-hectare 10-year target in just two years.
Each of the properties holds significant environmental value and contributes to NPCA’s conservation efforts and the natural heritage of the Niagara Peninsula watershed.
Photo credit: Takawira – stock.adobe.com
Port Colborne accepting applications for the position of Regional Councillor
The City of Port Colborne is now accepting applications for the position of Regional Councillor. Qualified candidates will have to:
- Reside in the local municipality or be the owner or tenant of land there, or the spouse of such owner or tenant;
- Be a Canadian citizen;
- Be at least 18 years old; and
- Not be disqualified by this or any other Act from holding the office.
Photo credit: Google Maps
The Grist sold as St. Davids restaurant owners retire
Owners of the St. Davids restaurant The Grist – Craft Kitchen & Brewery are hanging up their aprons. Robert Begin, co-owner of the popular restaurant with his wife Danielle sold the business they opened in 2021 and will be retiring.
“It’s not easy to let go of something that became more than a business,” said Begin. “This was never just a restaurant. It was our heartbeat. Our offering. Our second home.”
Photo credit: Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake
Niagara-on-the-Lake Council approved online ballot-casting
Niagara-on-the-Lake will continue to make in-person voting the primary method for residents to elect town councillors and school board trustees — but despite security concerns, councillors also voted in favour of offering internet voting as an alternative for the 2026 municipal election.
Council approved internet voting in a 6–3 vote on Tuesday, adding it as an alternative method of voting.
Photo credit: City of St. Catharines
St. Catharines seeking public input on parking services
The City of St. Catharines is reviewing how parking is managed across the community and is inviting residents to help shape the future of parking in the city.
The City has retained a consultant to conduct a comprehensive review of parking services, with a focus on improving operations, enforcement, and the user experience in key areas including the downtown core, Lakeside Park, Sunset Beach and Jones Beach. A public meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 2, 2025 at City Hall.
Photo credit: Maurizio De Mattei – stock.adobe.com
Ontario MPPs to get salary bump and new pension plan
Ontario political parties agree on two things – ending an MPP salary freeze that’s been in place for 16 years and giving themselves a pension. The government introduced new legislation Thursday that would raise the base salary for Members of Provincial Parliament to $157,450 per year – an increase of $40,800 from their current pay – and implement a pension plan.
It passed through the legislature with rare unanimous support on the same day.
Photo credit: Jazz – stock.adobe.com
Analysis of 2025 Ontario budget
Today, the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) released a report that provides an overview of the 2025 Ontario Budget, including the outlook for the economy, budget balance, debt burden, revenues and spending.
The government’s economic outlook in the 2025 budget has deteriorated since the 2024 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review (FES), largely due to the impact of US tariffs and elevated geopolitical uncertainty.
The 2025 budget projects that the Province’s net debt will increase by $93.8 billion over the outlook, reaching $501.7 billion in 2027-28. This increase is due to $28.2 billion (30 per cent) in accumulated budget deficits over the period and a $65.6 billion (70 per cent) increase in non-financial assets, largely capital assets owned by the Province and the broader public sector.
Photo credit: Nadezhda – stock.adobe.com
71 per cent of Canadians buying fewer U.S. grocery products
Seventy-one per cent of Canadian and 43 per cent of Mexican consumers say they will buy fewer U.S. grocery products in 2025, according to the 10th wave of the Dunnhumby Consumer Trends Tracker.
The quarterly study found that 84 per cent of Canadians and 77 per cent of Mexicans cited tariffs imposed by the U.S. as the most important factor of why they intend to buy fewer grocery products from the United States.
Nearly 25 per cent of Canadians and Latin Americans who are buying less from the U.S. this year, also said this would become permanent behaviour in the future. For Canada, this equates to $15 billion to $20 billion of annual grocery purchasing power.
Focus on Internal Trade
Reducing internal trade barriers tops priorities for businesses
BNN Bloomberg
A new report says nearly two-thirds Canadian businesses want the government to work to reduce the barriers to internal trade in an effort to improve productivity.
The poll by KPMG in Canada of 250 business leaders found 64 per cent of those surveyed says government removing interprovincial trade barriers and harmonizing regulations and credentials is a top priority.
The online survey done between May 9 and May 20 also found that 82 per cent of business leaders believe the elimination of interprovincial trade barriers will improve their company’s efficiency and productivity.
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.
