In this edition:
- Ontario minimum wage rises to $17.95 an hour
- Niagara South MP to chair border caucus as manufacturers face tariff pressure
- Ontario opens new grants worth up to $300,000 a year for non-profits
- Niagara agriculture outreach connects more than 1,200 youth with sector careers
- International student enrolment falls sharply at Ontario colleges and universities
- Pacific Link oil pipeline listed as project of national interest
- St. Catharines approves $17,110 to pump out former YMCA basement
- PBO puts potential Alto high-speed rail cost at up to $113 billion
- St. Catharines asks Ontario to rename Garden City Skyway for Jim Bradley
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Photo credit: Andrey Popov / Adobe Stock
Ontario minimum wage rises to $17.95 an hour
Ontario’s general minimum wage rises from $17.60 to $17.95 an hour today, an increase tied to the provincial CPI. The province says more than 700,000 workers are affected; retail and accommodation and food services account for most minimum-wage employment.
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Picture credit: Rick Beauregard / Adobe Stock
Niagara South MP to chair border caucus as manufacturers face tariff pressure
Niagara South MP Fred Davies will chair the House of Commons All-Party Border Caucus when it meets Oct. 20, with trade, tariffs, transportation, energy and security among its expected priorities. Davies also says Niagara manufacturers are struggling with volatile steel prices and short pricing commitments.
Photo credit: Africa Studio / Adobe Stock
Ontario opens new grants worth up to $300,000 a year for non-profits
Ontario has launched a new Ontario Trillium Foundation Sector grant stream for projects that strengthen the non-profit sector. Eligible organizations can apply for $50,000 to $300,000 per year for one, two or three years, with applications open until Oct. 14.
Picture credit: Seventyfour / Adobe Stock
Niagara agriculture outreach connects more than 1,200 youth with sector careers
A Niagara College and Niagara Region Economic Development initiative has connected more than 1,200 young people across seven municipalities with agriculture career programming since January. Outreach will continue this fall through workshops, educator events, presentations, specialized campus tours and other activities.
Picture credit: Nejron Photo / Adobe Stock
International student enrolment falls sharply at Ontario colleges and universities
International student enrolment fell 13.6% at Ontario colleges and 6.7% at universities in 2024/25, the largest numerical provincial declines in Canada. Nationally, domestic enrolment rose 2.1% while international enrolment fell 6.9% following federal study-permit changes.
Picture credit: zabanski / Adobe Stock
Pacific Link oil pipeline listed as project of national interest
Ottawa has formally listed Pacific Link, a proposed West Coast oil pipeline, under the Building Canada Act. Canada and Alberta would share equal ownership, Indigenous communities would be offered at least a 10% stake, and the federal review is targeted for completion by Sept. 1, 2027.
Photo credit: Alphabet / Google streetview screenshot
St. Catharines approves $17,110 to pump out former YMCA basement
St. Catharines council voted 9-4 to spend up to $17,110 plus HST to remove water from the former YMCA basement near Fairview Mall. Clearing the basement will allow a fuller assessment as council considers whether the privately owned property could be acquired for a municipal recreation facility.
Picture credit: ALTO
PBO puts potential Alto high-speed rail cost at up to $113 billion
The Parliamentary Budget Officer estimates the proposed Toronto–Québec City Alto high-speed rail corridor could cost between $75 billion and $113 billion, above Ottawa’s $60-billion-to-$90-billion estimate. The PBO says tunnelling, terrain, approvals, litigation and project management are among major cost risks.
Photo credit: Joanne Dale / Adobe Stock
St. Catharines asks Ontario to rename Garden City Skyway for Jim Bradley
St. Catharines councillors unanimously voted to ask the province to rename the QEW bridge the James J. Bradley Garden City Skyway once twinning construction is complete. The request will be sent to the Premier, transportation minister, local MPPs, Niagara Region and Niagara-on-the-Lake.
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.
