In this edition:
- Early Childhood Educators to receive pay bump of almost 20% in 2024
- Niagara Region water/wastewater budget increases 8% for 2024
- Raw material prices down 0.8% year-over year
- Ontario to invest $15m in training for racialized and Indigenous entrepreneurs
- St. Paul Street West CNR Bridge Closing on November 20
- An ‘untapped’ area of Niagara tourism potential
- State of the Shaw: Audience slow to return to pre-COVID levels
- Focus on Human Resources
Early Childhood Educators to receive pay bump of almost 20% in 2024
As of January 2024, starting wages for Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECEs) within the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system will be raised to $23.86/hour from the planned $20/hour, the Government of Ontario announced today. This 19.3 per cent increase will apply to all new hires and current employees getting paid less than $23.86/hour.
These wage enhancements will provide RECEs working in Ontario with a competitive salary and will benefit 75 per cent of current program staff, while also attracting more individuals to become early childhood educators.
ADVERTISEMENT
Niagara Region water/wastewater budget increases 8% for 2024
At its meeting held Thursday, Nov. 16, Niagara Region Budget Review Committee of the Whole approved operating budget increases for water and wastewater services for 2024.
A budget increase of 7.95 per cent for water and wastewater services aims to address inflationary pressures, the impact of higher costs for the equipment and materials that keep drinking water safe, and capital renewal needs.
At $2 per household per day, the Region’s share of water and wastewater total costs remain relatively at par or lower compared to similar-sized municipalities in Ontario, the Region said in a statement.
Raw material prices down 0.8% year-over year
Prices of products manufactured in Canada, as measured by the Industrial Product Price Index (IPPI), fell 1.0% month over month in October and were 2.7% lower than in October 2022. Prices of raw materials purchased by manufacturers operating in Canada, as measured by the Raw Materials Price Index (RMPI), declined 2.5% on a monthly basis in October 2023 and fell 0.8% year over year.
Prices for energy and petroleum products fell 5.7% month over month in October, after posting four months of consecutive increases. Excluding energy and petroleum products, the IPPI decreased 0.3%. The price of softwood lumber fell 6.4% in October, the largest monthly decrease since March 2023 (-6.7%).
Ontario to invest $15m in training for racialized and Indigenous entrepreneurs
Ontario is investing an additional $15 million over three years in the Racialized and Indigenous Supports for Entrepreneurs (RAISE) program to provide free access to business coaching, training and grants. The program will prepare more than 1,200 Indigenous, Black and other racialized entrepreneurs, including 450 entrepreneurs in 2023-24, launch and grow successful businesses, creating great jobs for Ontarians, providing goods and services people need and fostering vibrant and inclusive communities.
St. Paul Street West CNR Bridge Closing on November 20
On Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, the CNR Bridge on St. Paul Street West in St. Catharines will be closed to all vehicular traffic. The bridge is no longer able to safely handle combined traffic and snow load, as such the bridge is closing before the start of winter weather. The removal of the bridge is expected to begin in the spring of 2024.
All businesses on St. Paul Street West will remain open and accessible during the closure. The bridge will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists until it is removed.
An ‘untapped’ area of Niagara tourism potential
With world-class wineries, a booming waterfall and a beautiful nature site or important historic location seemingly around every turn, one could be mistaken for thinking Niagara has fully embraced tourism.
However, in recent years it’s become evident to many, there’s yet another tourism leaf in Niagara that can be turned over to reveal increased economic, social and community benefits.
And that’s sports tourism.
State of the Shaw: Audience slow to return to pre-COVID levels
Tim Jennings remains an optimist.
It’s a must when you’re overseeing operations of the Shaw Festival, a major regional economic driver and the country’s second-largest live theatre operation.
There is no room for pessimism when playbills are planned a year or more in advance, you’re at the mercy of the whims of patrons and often buffeted by the winds of economic uncertainty.
Not to mention a pandemic that almost no one saw coming.
Did you know?
Canada’s music market grew almost twice as fast as the United States’ music market in 2022.
Focus on Human Resources
Workplace tensions: How and when bystanders can make a difference
What is your organization doing to protect workers from death by suicide?
Why is this a worthy question for CEOs, boards and senior leadership? Because suicide ideation is happening much more than the average leader, OHS or HR professional may know.
For example, research from 54 studies reported the prevalence of suicide ideation during the pandemic was 10.8% of the workforce. Though dropped, today it is higher than pre-pandemic, estimated at 4.2%. Putting that into perspective, how much suffering goes unnoticed daily in the workforce?
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.
