In this edition:
- Ontario will require employers to disclose salary ranges and AI use in hiring
- HOPA Ports welcomes expansion of Niagara Port Lands
- Vineland Research director wins provincial agri-food education award
- Market participants expect slowing of economic growth, but no recession
- Niagara Region councillors slam Gale’s budget motion as ‘ridiculous, pandering and not very smart’
- NOTL entrepreneurs among finalists for Women in Business Awards
- Focus on Small Business
Ontario will require employers to disclose salary ranges and AI use in hiring
The Ontario government will soon introduce legislation that, if passed, would require employers to include expected salary ranges in job postings, giving workers more information to make informed decisions in their career search. In addition, the legislation would make Ontario the first jurisdiction in Canada to require businesses to disclose if artificial intelligence (AI) is used during their hiring process.
HOPA Ports welcomes expansion of Niagara Port Lands
Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA Ports) is thrilled to announce the expansion of its Niagara lands portfolio with the addition of three new parcels, two in Thorold (12 and 16 acres) and one in Port Colborne (40 acres). These lands are owned by Transport Canada and were previously declared surplus to the operation of the Welland Canal.
All three parcels are active or legacy industrial sites and are positioned for revitalization to modern industrial uses. These new lands will integrate new industrial capacity into HOPA’s network of Great Lakes multimodal hubs.
Vineland Research director wins provincial agri-food education award
Dr. Rose Buitenhuis of the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre has won the Government of Ontario’s Excellence in Agri-Food Education award, one of the 2023 Excellence in Agriculture Awards presented at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.
The Excellence in Agriculture program celebrates the outstanding work of individuals, businesses, and organizations across the province and shines a light on all the amazing things happening in the agriculture and food industry. This initiative supports a number of goals within the Grow Ontario Strategy, including strengthening Ontario’s agri-food supply chain, attracting and growing Ontario’s agri-food workforce, and increasing access to high-quality, local food.
Market participants expect slowing of economic growth, but no recession
The Bank of Canada’s Market Participants Survey results for the current quarter, based on questionnaire responses from about 30 financial market participants, has shown that respondents typically expect around 1% GDP growth by the end of 2023 and 1.2% by the end of 2024. More than 80% believe that the economy will grow in 2023 and 2024, even if slightly.
Participants felt that a stronger housing market, higher prices, and households dipping into savings were the top upside risks, while downside risks focused on monetary policy and financial conditions, including a possible weakening of the housing market.
Niagara Region councillors slam Gale’s budget motion as ‘ridiculous, pandering and not very smart’
Every budget decision at Niagara Region this year is a balancing act between affordability and the sustainability of the infrastructure that supports the economy and the vital services residents depend on.
However, about halfway through the 2024 budget process, one thing is clear. This council has no appetite to jettison the sustainability part of the equation despite last year’s public backlash over a 7.58 per cent increase.
Niagara Falls Coun. Bob Gale’s motion Thursday to retroactively direct staff from every department to limit their budgets to four per cent increases was so firmly rejected by the majority of councillors that Gale withdrew a request for a recorded vote.
NOTL entrepreneurs among finalists for Women in Business Awards
Several Niagara-on-the-Lake entrepreneurs and leaders in the world of entertainment, culture and tourism are among the more than 200 finalists in this year’s regional Women in Business Awards.
The Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce, along with the chamber’s Women in Niagara Council, have announced 2023’s list of finalists, who are all eligible to potentially receive one of 13 awards at a ceremony on Nov. 16.
Tickets for the Awards are still available – click here to reserve a seat.
Did you know?
The amount of Canadian farmland devoted to wheat is about the size of South Korea.
Focus on Small Business
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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.
