Ontario pauses lifting of capacity limits for “higher-risk settings”
Although the Government of Ontario had promised yesterday that it would stay on-course with its plans for reopening, it partially paused those plans today and announced that it will not lift capacity limits any further on “higher-risk settings.” Capacity limits in these settings were originally slated to be lifted on November 15, 2021. The government’s media release indicated that it would monitor the situation for the next 28 days to determine when it would be safe to lift restrictions.
“Higher-risk settings” are considered to include:
- food or drink establishments with dance facilities such as night clubs and wedding receptions in meeting/event spaces where there is dancing;
- strip clubs; and
- sex clubs and bathhouses.
The government did not indicate whether other components of the reopening roadmap were also being reassessed.
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Niagara offers COVID-19 booster shots to eligible individuals
Given that people who are not yet fully vaccinated are at greatest risk of COVID-19, Public Health intends to prioritize walk-ins seeking first and second doses over those seeking booster doses, especially in coming weeks when clinics are likely to become very busy. Those seeking a booster dose are strongly recommended to book an appointment to avoid waiting in line during bad or cold weather.
Those who are eligible can book their booster dose appointment through the COVID-19 vaccination portal, or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900.
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Fort Erie announces dates for budget hearings
Beginning November 17, Fort Erie council will hold a series of budget meetings via a hybrid model. All meetings can be viewed at the
Town’s website, YouTube Channel, and on Cogeco TV.
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Decrease in residential construction leads overall decline in September
Investment in Canada-wide building construction declined 0.7% to $17.5 billion in September, continuing a downward trend that started in May. A decrease in the residential sector was partially offset by a small increase in the non-residential sector.
On a constant dollar basis (2012=100), investment in building construction decreased 1.5% to $12.0 billion.
Residential construction investment decreased 1.6% in September, with Quebec accounting for most of the decline. However, the investment in this component was 21.6% higher than the pre-pandemic value in February 2020. Residential construction decreased 10.5% compared with the second quarter, with declines in both single- and multi-unit investment. All provinces posted declines, with the largest in Ontario and Quebec.
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Canopy Growth shuts down Niagara facility
Canopy Growth Corp. is shutting down one of the biggest cannabis greenhouses in Canada as the pot giant looks to cut costs amid its ongoing pursuit of profitability.
A Canopy spokesperson confirmed that the company is shutting down its Tweed Farms greenhouse located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. on Friday, a one million-square-foot facility. As a result of the closure, 30 staff will be laid off, a company spokesperson added.
News of the closure comes after Canopy reported disappointing second-quarter results that missed analyst sales and earnings expectations. The company also withdrew guidance on when it expects to become profitable, pushing its shares down to a new multi-year low. Canopy also said it sees a further $80 million to $130 million in savings it plans to make over the next several quarters in addition to the $70 million in costs it has already made.
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U.S. inflation rate jumps to highest level since 1990, at 6.2%
CBC News
The U.S. cost of living went up at its fastest annual pace in more than 30 years in October, new figures showed Wednesday, as the price of just about everything is increasing at a much faster pace than usual.
The U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics reported that the all-items consumer price index rose by 6.2 per cent in the 12 months up to October. Prices rose by almost a full per cent just in the month of October alone.
While almost every single subindex was higher, the biggest factors in the record-setting jump were energy, shelter, food and new and used vehicles.
Policy makers tend to like to strip out the impact of food and energy costs from the overall inflation rate because they can be so volatile, but even by that metric, the U.S. inflation rate hasn’t been this high in 30 years. The pared-down rate came in at 4.6 per cent, which is the highest increase for everything else since 1991.
U.S. energy prices have risen by 30 per cent in the past year, the fastest pace of increase since 2005.
Lessons from COVID-19: We need better data on workplace transmission
The Conversation
From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, public health agencies around the world failed to collect the information we needed to truly understand the role of work and workplaces in the spread of the virus. We saw this failure in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom — our respective countries — with consequences for the effectiveness of pandemic responses.
This is surprising given that, from the get-go, public health strategies to reduce the spread of COVID-19 recognized workplaces as potential sites of transmission. Witness the advice and proscriptions that workers work from home if possible and, if not, be protected through masking, shielding, screening, distancing and other protective measures. Yet collecting information about work among those who tested positive for COVID-19 was minimal and inconsistent.
Niagara COVID-19 statistics tracker
Niagara COVID vaccination tracker
Free rapid COVID-19 testing kits are now available to businesses. Visit gncc.ca/workplace-self-screening-kits to learn more and reserve kits for your organization.
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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.
