In this edition:
- Grocers to offer discounts, price freezes on food, but Champagne offers little detail
- Government of Canada issues guidance on contracted professional services
- St. Catharines receives national marketing award for filmstc.ca
- Niagara Health recognized by Indigenous partner for reconciliation efforts
- With sales down and listings up, Niagara real estate now a buyer’s market
- Worries of over-tourism greet plan for new hotel in Old Town
- Innovative pilot program aims to help charities tackling food insecurity by making monthly giving easier
- Focus on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Grocers to offer discounts, price freezes on food, but Champagne offers little detail
Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says grocers will offer discounts, price freezes and price matching as an initial step to stabilize grocery prices, but the minister did not provide any other details, including what products will be subject to promotions.
The Liberal government called on Canada’s major grocers last month to present a plan to stabilize prices by Thanksgiving, or face consequences. Rising grocery prices have been a major pain point for Canadians and tend to disproportionately affect lower-income families who spend more of their income on food.
Grocery prices in August rose 6.9% from a year ago, while the overall inflation rate was 4%.
Champagne announced other steps the government is taking, including tasking the Office of Consumer Affairs to establish a “grocery task force” that would monitor the implementation of the grocers’ plans.
Government of Canada issues guidance on the use of contracted professional services
Today, the Honourable Anita Anand, President of the Treasury Board of Canada, published guidance about the use of contracted professional services, including management consulting.
The Manager’s Guide: Key Considerations when procuring professional services will help managers determine when to contract for professional services versus when to use internal resources. While the government has long had robust rules in place for the management of contracts, this guidance will further improve and strengthen procurement practices.
The Guide also lays out practical considerations for managers when structuring contracts so that they deliver best possible value, can be effectively managed, and fully align with requirements of the Directive on the Management of Procurement.
St. Catharines receives national marketing award for filmstc.ca
The City of St. Catharines is receiving praise from peers from across the country for its exceptional work promoting St. Catharines as a destination for film, TV, and streaming production to capitalize on the recent unprecedented growth of the industry in Ontario.
FilmSTC.ca earned top honours for excellence in the Digital Marketing – Website category at the Economic Developers Association of Canada’s (EDAC) 2023 Marketing Canada Awards. An esteemed panel made up of a diverse group of economic development professionals with marketing and promotion expertise recognized the City’s leadership.
Niagara Health recognized by Indigenous partner for reconciliation efforts
Niagara Health is being heralded as a Reconciliation Champion by an Indigenous partner for the hospital’s ongoing efforts to support self-determination, economic independence and improved health outcomes for Indigenous Peoples.
Medical, Surgical and Safety Supplies (MSS) Ltd. presented Angela Zangari, Executive Vice-President, Finance, Redevelopment and Facilities, and Chief Financial Officer, and Niagara Health Board Chair Marylee O’Neill with a plaque at a recent Board meeting in recognition of several actions Niagara Health has taken toward reconciliation.
Niagara Health is the first organization in Canada to earn the designation, part of MSS’s Reconciliation Champions program.
With sales down and listings up, Niagara real estate now a buyer’s market
New listings were up but sales were down, as Niagara’s real estate market statistics continue to indicate a buyer’s market to begin the fall season.
Niagara Association of Realtors released its September data on Wednesday, showing minimal changes month-over-month in the benchmark price of home and larger gaps when it came to sales, new listings and days on market.
Compared with a month ago, the price of a home fell 1.4 per cent to $660,900 from $651,700. It also saw sales decrease to 372 from 523 in August, a difference of 28.9 per cent.
New listings increased last month by 12 per cent to 1,336 from 1,220. Days on market saw a jump of 12.1 per cent, rising to 37 from 33.
Worries of over-tourism greet plan for new hotel in Old Town
Niagara-on-the-Lake residents voiced a slew of arguments against a hotel proposed in the middle of Old Town at a council meeting Tuesday night.
The proposal is by the Van Riesen Hotel Group, owned by developer Rainer Hummel, and a few residents in the crowd of 23 registered speakers shared bigger-picture concerns about the swelling of the tourism industry and its impacts on residents.
“The capacity of this town for tourists is becoming maxed out,” said resident Marilyn Bartlett.
The new hotel would add 81 rooms to the town’s accommodations sector but current zoning on the property only allows 24.
Innovative pilot program aims to help charities tackling food insecurity by making monthly giving easier
As Canadians across the country gather around their dinner tables for Thanksgiving this weekend, the Mobile Giving Foundation Canada (MGFC) is taking strides to confront Canada’s persistent food insecurity crisis by launching an innovative pilot program that endeavours to make monthly giving both easier and more effective for Canadian registered charities.
According to government data, nearly 6 million Canadians face food insecurity challenges across the country, a staggering statistic that underscores the severity of the problem. Canadian food banks estimate that they had 35% more visitors in 2022 than they did in 2019, shedding light on the urgent need to bridge the financial gap as more Canadians rely on their services.
Did you know?
A 400-metre-long container ship can carry the same amount of cargo as 20,000 trucks.
Focus on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Indigenous entrepreneurs: Checklist to exporting
Expanding your business outside Canada can be daunting. There are always risks to entering a new market, especially when it’s halfway across the world and you don’t speak the language or understand the trade regulations, tax laws or business culture.
If you’re an Indigenous entrepreneur living on a reserve or in a remote community, it can be even more challenging.
The majority of Indigenous-owned companies in Canada are small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMES) in sectors ranging from fashion and beauty products to mining, seafood and technology services.
Connecting with new customers, shipping logistics, setting up an online presence and accessing working capital to grow their business are just some of the unique challenges they face.
TD Bank unveils free accessibility tool for online inclusivity
TD Bank Group has announced the public release of TD Accessibility Adapter, a Chrome browser plug-in, during the opening night of the 2023 Elevate Festival. This tool, previously confined to TD employees, is now available for public use in Canada and the United States. The initiative marks a step toward making online spaces more inclusive and personalized.
The adapter offers a suite of features catering to diverse accessibility needs, including reading guides, adjustable font sizes, dark mode, a dyslexia-friendly font, and monochrome mode. The tool was developed without overlays, allowing it to integrate with other assistive technologies.
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.
