In this edition:
- Niagara Region advances key projects through Niagara Week at Queen’s Park
- Housing Market Index drops to record lows in Q3
- Niagara Falls to review long-standing single-use plastic bottle ban
- Businesses invited to free info session on Regional Tariff Response Initiative
- Summer tourism numbers hit all-time high
- Ontario launches feasibility study to build East-West pipeline and energy corridor
- LCBO overhaul: Starting Jan. 1 pricing changes, alternative delivery partners may be on the way
- Focus on Retail
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Picture credit: Regional Municipality of Niagara
Niagara Region advances key projects through Niagara Week at Queen’s Park
Niagara Region continued to advocate for better transit, more infrastructure funding and solutions to the housing and homelessness crisis throughout three days of positive conversations with Ontario’s Provincial Government.
As part of the three-day advocacy event, the Region partnered with the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce to host a networking reception with Members of Provincial Parliament, highlighting why Niagara is the best place for provincial investment.
Photo credit: Looker_Studio / Adobe Stock
Housing Market Index drops to record lows in Q3
The Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) Housing Market Index (HMI), published quarterly, has dropped to record lows in Q3, reflecting growing concern among builders over sales, trade uncertainty, and a lack of supportive government policy for homeownership. CHBA’s single-family HMI reached a low of 23.3 out of 100, while the multi-family HMI was 16.8. This points directly to fewer housing starts ahead for Canadians hoping to own a home, and big challenges for the government’s pursuit of doubling housing starts.
Picture credit: abimagestudio / Adobe Stock
Niagara Falls to review long-standing single-use plastic bottle ban
A thirst for further information on Niagara Falls’ ban on the sale of plastic water bottles at municipal facilities has led to a city council deferral of a staff recommendation to continue with the status quo.
In a report presented to council Tuesday, staff requested that councillors reconfirm its commitment to keep the bylaw in place.
Picture credit: Government of Canada
Businesses invited to free info session on Regional Tariff Response Initiative
Niagara Region Economic Development and the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce invite local businesses to join FedDev Ontario for a virtual information session on the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) at 10:00am on November 5.
Is your business facing tariff-related challenges? RTRI provides targeted support to help businesses manage trade disruptions, strengthen supply chains, and improve competitiveness.
Picture credit: Maksym Yemelyanov / Adobe Stock
Summer tourism numbers hit all-time high
Tourism operators across the country will remember the summer of 2025 fondly, as the amount of money spent by tourists reached an all-time high.
Canada’s tourism sector generated a record-breaking amount of revenue of between May and August, reaching $59 billion, a six per cent increase compared to the same period last year.
Photo credit: serikbaib / Adobe Stock
Ontario launches feasibility study to build East-West pipeline and energy corridor
As part of its plan to protect Ontario and Canada by building a more competitive, resilient and self-reliant economy, the Ontario government has awarded a contract to complete a feasibility study to establish a new Canadian East-West pipeline and energy corridor.
Photo credit: fw_gadget / CC BY-SA 2.0
LCBO overhaul: Starting Jan. 1 pricing changes, alternative delivery partners may be on the way
As the Liquor Control Board of Ontario prepares to become the province’s exclusive wholesaler of wine, beer and RTDs, a new pricing model will change how beverage alcohol costs are calculated for c-stores.
Effective Jan. 1, 2026, the LCBO will take over wholesale operations using a formula based on landed cost + wholesale mark-up + COSD (if applicable) + container deposit + HST.
Focus on Retail
Ghosts, goblins and chocolate prices: Here’s what’s scary this Halloween
Tyler Cheese / CBC
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.
