In this edition:
- Niagara’s economy outpacing national and provincial numbers despite trade challenges
- Ontario introduces legislation prioritizing provincial goods and services in procurement
- St. Catharines keeps 2026 tax increase at 1.74%
- Niagara-on-the-Lake launches new advertising and sponsorship policy
- ‘Major upgrade’: Increase in heights, units coming to Portage Road apartments
- Niagara EI claim increases far less than national average
- New trade deal reduces red tape, knocks down barriers across Canada
- September marks end of three-month streak where more Americans travelled to Canada than vice versa
- Focus on Climate
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Picture credit: Giant Shoe Creative Agency
Niagara’s economy outpacing national and provincial numbers despite trade challenges
Niagara’s economy remains resilient amid global and trade-related pressures, which have led to soft local GDP (gross domestic product) and wage growth, along with sector-specific job losses.
Blake Landry, Niagara Region’s manager of research and analysis, told regional councillors population and labour force growth, as well as industrial and commercial investment, will help to offset some of the pressures on the local economy.
Picture credit: SeanPavonePhoto / Adobe Stock
Ontario introduces legislation prioritizing provincial goods and services in procurement
In cases where Ontario or Canadian goods and services cannot be procured at a reasonable cost or timeframe that would maintain value for taxpayers, the policy would continue to allow procurement outside of Canada.
Photo credit: City of St. Catharines
St. Catharines keeps 2026 tax increase at 1.74%
St. Catharines residents will see a 1.74 per cent city increase on their property tax bills in 2026 after council wrapped up budget deliberations Wednesday night and the mayor said he won’t make further changes.
Picture credit: Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake
Niagara-on-the-Lake launches new advertising and sponsorship policy
The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake has introduced a new Advertising and Sponsorship Policy, approved by Council at the September 23, 2025, meeting, to guide all advertising and sponsorship activities. Standardizing advertising efforts marks another indicator of success completed under the Council’s Strategic Plan pillar of Optimize Organizational Excellence.
To support this initiative, the Town has launched a new “Advertise With Us” webpage that outlines available advertising and sponsorship opportunities.
Picture credit: City of Niagara Falls
‘Major upgrade’: Increase in heights, units coming to Portage Road apartments
Described as a “perfect development in a perfect location,” two apartment buildings on a busy stretch of Portage Road will get significant improvements after Niagara Falls city council approved a developer’s proposal to increase heights and the number of units.
Picture credit: skrotov / Adobe Stock
Niagara EI claim increases far less than national average
An additional 130 people in the St. Catharines-Niagara CMA claimed Employment Insurance (EI) benefits in September 2025 when compared with the same month in 2024, representing a 2.2% increase – dramatically lower than the national figure of 11.7%.
Picture credit: Negro Elkha / Adobe Stock
New trade deal reduces red tape, knocks down barriers across Canada
Trade of tens of thousands of goods across Canada’s 14 jurisdictions will soon be free after an agreement has been signed between all provinces, territories and the federal government to allow businesses to sell their products across Canada.
Picture credit: Oleksii / Adobe Stock
September marks end of three-month streak where more Americans travelled to Canada than vice versa
In September, the number of Canadian-resident return trips from the United States was down 30.9% year over year, while the number of trips to Canada by US residents decreased 2.6%. September marked the end of a three-month summer streak (June to August 2025), where more US residents travelled to Canada than Canadian residents travelled to the United States.
Focus on Climate
‘Greenhushing’: Are businesses staying silent about climate pledges?
Mike Wendling / BBC
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.
