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Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce

Daily Update: October 26th, 2021

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced the members of Cabinet following this fall’s election.

Prime Minister Trudeau welcomes new cabinet

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced the members of Cabinet following this fall’s election, and took the opportunity to reiterate promises to create new jobs and grow the middle class, put home ownership back in reach for Canadians, accelerate our fight against climate change, deliver on $10-a-day child care, and walk the shared path of reconciliation.

Click here to see the full list of new and returning ministers.


Deputy Prime Minister: Government will “focus relentlessly” on jobs and growth

In remarks delivered today, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, observed that Canada has now recovered 100 per cent of the jobs lost in the depths of the COVID recession, compared to the United States, which has only recovered 78 per cent. Children are back in school. We have accomplished all of this together, while sticking to health restrictions that have saved lives.

The existing income and business support programs will end on October 23rd, Minister Freeland confirmed. The government will move from the very broad-based support that was appropriate at the height of the lockdowns to more targeted measures that would provide help where it is needed while prudently managing government finances.

Click here to review the full remarks.


Niagara Health to require mandatory vaccination for all staff and physicians

Effective January 27, 2022, all Niagara Health staff and physicians will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to work at Niagara Health, with very few exceptions.

“Mandating full vaccination is in the best interest of our hospital and community,” says Lynn Guerriero, President and CEO at Niagara Health. “It is the natural next step to protect our people, patients and operations against the threat of COVID-19.”

The CEOs of our Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Burlington hospitals, Ontario Hospital Association and the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table are united in the need for mandatory vaccination to enhance safety in hospitals for patients and healthcare workers and reduce the risk of disruptions due to COVID-19. Similar policies have been adopted at hospitals in our region and across the province.

92.8% of staff and physicians at Niagara Health are already fully vaccinated.

Niagara Health will also be implementing a mandatory vaccination policy for visitors unless under exceptional circumstances. This policy will be implemented at a later date, with details communicated to the public in the coming weeks.

Click here for more information.

Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to help protect ourselves, and our families and communities against COVID-19. Learn more here.


Grimsby Green Advisory Committee calls for volunteers

The Town of Grimsby is seeking individuals interested in serving on the Grimsby Green Advisory Committee for the remainder of the current term (term ends December 31, 2022).

There are 2 volunteer positions to be filled.

Click here for more information.


New Port Colborne portal allows residents to pay fees by credit card

The City of Port Colborne has added credit card to the list of payment options for residents to pay their property taxes, water/wastewater bills, parking tickets, and/or invoices received by accounts receivable through a one-time payment portal on their website.

Click here for more information.


Reading Recommendations

Ontario could see 50,000 education workers fired if vaccines mandated, education minister says

CTV News

Up to 50,000 education workers in Ontario could be fired if COVID-19 vaccines were mandated for that sector, the province’s education minister said Tuesday.

Responding to the NDP in question period, Stephen Lecce said such a policy would mean pink slips for tens of thousands of educators when Ontario already faces staffing challenges.

“I think we have to be coupled by realism and ensure that any staff member who enters our school has a double test, a negative antigen test, to ensure they are safe, to ensure our schools could be staffed, and these kids can continue to go to school every day,” he said.


Bank of Canada on cusp of capping stimulus

BNN Bloomberg

The Bank of Canada will continue pulling back its support for the economy at a policy decision this week, paving the way for the start of interest rate increases next year amid inflation worries.

Governor Tiff Macklem is expected to reduce weekly government bond purchases by one half on Wednesday to $1 billion (US$809 million). That will mark the fourth time over the past 12 months the central bank has rolled back a program that has poured hundreds of billions into the financial system since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Policy makers may even go as far as to formally announce they’ll stop growing bond holdings altogether, ending their quantitative easing program and effectively capping stimulus at current levels.


Niagara COVID-19 statistics tracker

Niagara COVID vaccination tracker


Free rapid COVID-19 testing kits are now available to businesses. Visit gncc.ca/workplace-self-screening-kits to learn more and reserve kits for your organization.

Information on government grants, resources, and programs, policies, forms, and posters for download and use, are available here. The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.

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.

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