In this edition:
- Province finalizing appointment of Niagara Region chair following death of Jim Bradley
- Opportunity brewing at the South Niagara Hospital for local vendors
- East side industrial land servicing an ‘investment for jobs,’ says Port Colborne CAO
- Start Me Up Niagara welcomes new Executive Director Kelly-Ann Salerno
- Province introduces new legislation to cut red tape and address LTB backlogs
- Core retail sales picked up in August after slower July
- FAO releases interactive expenditure estimates webpage and four reports on ministry spending plans
- Carney sets goal to double Canada’s non-U.S. exports over next decade
- Focus on Human Resources
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Picture credit: Brad Demers / Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce
Province finalizing appointment of Niagara Region chair following death of Jim Bradley
Ontario’s municipal affairs and housing minister has informed Niagara Region that the provincial government will be appointing Jim Bradley’s replacement as chair.
A letter from Minister Robert Flack to regional clerk Ann-Marie Norio dated Oct. 17, and obtained by The Standard, expressed condolences on the Sept. 26 death of Bradley and acknowledged his contributions and commitment to the region, its residents and the Province of Ontario.
Picture credit: Niagara Health
Opportunity brewing at the South Niagara Hospital for local vendors
Niagara Health will soon be seeking vendors to operate the retail spaces within the South Niagara Hospital. There will be four retail spaces available for a variety of different retailers, such as a pharmacy or café. In an effort to support community businesses, NH is looking for a local vendor to operate the café space.
Picture credit: City of Port Colborne
East side industrial land servicing an ‘investment for jobs,’ says Port Colborne CAO
Port Colborne council is moving ahead with what chief administrative officer Bryan Boles describes as “the largest single investment for jobs this city has had in its history.”
A special council meeting was called on Tuesday night to approve a more than $136-million project to provide water and wastewater infrastructure needed to service the city’s east side and unlock 400 hectares of industrial land.
Picture credit: Start Me Up Niagara
Start Me Up Niagara welcomes new Executive Director Kelly-Ann Salerno
Start Me Up Niagara has announced the appointment of a new Executive Director, Kelly-Ann Salerno. After nearly 5 years of dedicated leadership, Executive director, Laura Dumas, has stepped down. Now taking the helm is Kelly-Ann Salerno, who brings over 30 years of experience in housing, homelessness, and poverty reduction across Ontario.
Photo credit: boule1301 / Adobe Stock
Province introduces new legislation to cut construction red tape and address LTB backlogs
Today, the Ontario government introduced the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025. The legislation would reduce barriers to building homes and infrastructure by streamlining approvals and site plan control, undertake a section-by-section review of the Ontario Building Code, cut red tape on road construction, and support backlog reduction efforts at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB).
Picture credit: Krakenimages.com / Adobe Stock
Core retail sales picked up in August after slower July
Following a decrease of 1.2% in July, core retail sales increased 1.1% in August on higher receipts at general merchandise retailers (+2.4%). Higher sales were also recorded at clothing, clothing accessories, shoes, jewelry, luggage and leather goods retailers, up 3.2% in August.
Picture credit: Africa Studio / Adobe Stock
FAO releases interactive expenditure estimates webpage and four reports on ministry spending plans
Today, the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) released an interactive webpage that examines Ontario’s 2025-26 Expenditure Estimates and four reports that review ministry spending plans in the 2025 Ontario Budget. The webpage and reports review the following ministries: Children, Community and Social Services; Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security; Education; Health; and Long-Term Care.
Picture credit: nespix / Adobe Stock
Carney sets goal to double Canada’s non-U.S. exports over next decade
Carney says he has set a goal of doubling Canada’s non-U.S. exports over the next decade to unlock some $300 billion in new trade.
On Oct. 22, Carney delivered a speech in Ottawa that framed his government’s coming budget as one that will spur unprecedented levels of private sector investment and unleash a building spree.
But Carney did not explain what he means when he says Canada will have to do less in order to build more, adding that Canadians will have to wait for the budget.
Focus on Human Resources
Canada’s labour market in flux
Kristin Laird / Canadian Grocer
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.
