In this edition:
- Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses to deliver $2.5B by end of year
- Ontario minimum wage increase takes effect
- Local contractor Rankin Construction receives $34M GO precinct contract
- Are more operators of gambling facilities coming to Niagara Falls?
- St. Catharines Downtown Association, city sign ‘groundbreaking’ partnership agreement
- Grimsby looking for business ambassadors
- Niagara College to offer scholarships to eligible First Nations and Former Youth in Care students
- Welland condo project secures new financier, construction ramps up
- Niagara Parks publishes new Indigenous anthology
- Homelessness issues ‘conservatively’ cost Niagara Falls $529,000 in 2023
- Government of Canada announces final list of Chinese steel and aluminum tariffs
- To bid or not to bid? New CCA tool has the answer
- Focus on Retail
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Photo credit: Andrii Yalanskyi / Adobe Stock
Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses to deliver $2.5B by end of year
The federal government announced the payment amounts for the new Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses, which will deliver over $2.5 billion to about 600,000 Canadian businesses before the end of this year. This refundable tax credit will return a portion of the fuel charge proceeds from 2019-20 through 2023-24 to small businesses, in jurisdictions where the federal fuel charge applies.
The government also announced a revised Code of Conduct for the Payment Card Industry in Canada and reduced credit card transaction fees for small businesses as part of a suite of measures to help small- and medium-sized businesses.
Photo credit: journey2008 / Adobe Stock
Ontario minimum wage increase takes effect
Today, the general minimum wage in Ontario increases from $16.55 per hour to $17.20. This 3.9 per cent increase is tied to the Consumer Price Index, meaning that a worker making the general minimum wage over a 40-hour work week will make up to $1,355 this year.
This wage increase applies to all non-federally-regulated businesses.
Photo credit: Regional Municipality of Niagara
Local contractor Rankin Construction receives $34M GO precinct contract
Niagara Region recently awarded the St. Catharines GO Precinct Development Project to local contractor Rankin Construction.
Following approval by the region’s public works committee, Rankin gained the multiple-component project for which the region has cost sharing agreements in place with the City of St. Catharines and Canadian National Railway (CNR).
Photo credit: Woraphon / Adobe Stock
It appears Niagara Falls’ call to open the city’s casino market up to competition has caught the attention of Queen’s Park.
“We’ve been talking about this through multiple governments, multiple ministers,” said Mayor Jim Diodati. “The good news is, finally, someone’s listening.
Photo credit: City of St. Catharines
St. Catharines Downtown Association, city sign ‘groundbreaking’ partnership agreement
A new era of co-operation between St. Catharines Downtown Association and the city has been set after the pair signed an agreement — the first of its kind in the Niagara region.
The memorandum of understanding is being called a “milestone” by the association — the city’s business improvement area group, or BIA — in strengthening its partnership with the municipality.
“We’re excited. It’s a huge accomplishment,” said Rachel Braithwaite, the association’s executive director.
Photo credit: Town of Grimsby
Grimsby looking for business ambassadors
The Town of Grimsby is looking for help to attract new businesses through a new ambassador program.
“Sometimes businesses don’t always want to come down and deal with town hall,” said Coun. Jacob Baradziej, chair of Grimsby’s new ambassador program.
“Sometimes it’s better to put them with other businesses so they can hear directly from the business community as well.”
Photo credit: Niagara College / supplied
Niagara College to offer scholarships to eligible First Nations and Former Youth in Care students
Beginning Fall 2025, Niagara College will provide renewable scholarships to cover the cost of tuition and ancillary fees for eligible First Nations and Former Youth in Care (FYIC) students.
The Strong Students, Stronger Futures Scholarship is a first in the Niagara region and seeks to empower marginalized and underrepresented students to achieve their potential.
Photo credit: Evertrust Development Group Canada
Welland condo project secures new financier, construction ramps up
Since two partial collapses in early 2023, the Upper Vista Welland development has faced numerous obstacles, says Evertrust Developments founder and president Ted Jiancheng Zhou.
In a letter to Welland city council, he said they include extensive safety and regulatory investigations, financing challenges and intense public scrutiny of the $55-million, two-tower, 226-unit luxury condo project on the west bank of the Welland Recreational Canal.
Photo credit: Niagara Parks Commission
Niagara Parks publishes new Indigenous anthology
The Niagara Parks Commission, in association with Plenty Canada, recently announced the publication of Landscape of Nations: Beyond the Mist, a 256-page coffee table book featuring works from 17 authors, numerous photographers, mapmakers and artists, that chronicles the history of Indigenous peoples who have lived within the Niagara region for some 13,000 years.
Photo credit: srdjan / Adobe Stock
Homelessness issues ‘conservatively’ cost Niagara Falls $529,000 in 2023
Dealing with homelessness issues cost Niagara Falls taxpayers $529,000 in 2023 and $304,500 during the first six months of this year.
The “conservative” figures were included in a staff report for city councillors Tuesday.
The report said it’s difficult to fully assess costs as it requires “assumptions and evaluating many variables.”
Photo credit: romaset / Adobe Stock
Government of Canada announces final list of Chinese steel and aluminum tariffs
Today, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, announced the final list of steel and aluminum products from China that will be subject to the 25 per cent surtax, effective October 22, 2024. The policy is intended to protect workers and businesses in Canada’s steel and aluminum sectors against China’s unfair trade policies and prevent trade diversion resulting from recent actions taken by Canadian trading partners.
Photo credit: smolaw11 / Adobe Stock
To bid or not to bid? New CCA tool has the answer
A new Canadian Construction Association (CCA) bulletin aims to help contractors bid on the right projects instead of wasting time on the wrong ones.
The Bid Go or No Go bulletin is a resource that provides guidance to help navigate the bidding process. It is “designed to help contractors make informed choices that balance potential rewards against inherent risks.”
Did you know?
Focus on Retail
Celebrity brands: Why fame alone isn’t enough to keep them afloat anymore
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.
