In this edition:
- St. Paul Street West bridge replacement way ahead of schedule
- 30 rental apartments planned for Hartzel Road, St. Catharines
- Number of international visitors edges up as overseas arrivals replace Americans
- NPCA initiates management plan for Beamer Memorial Conservation Area
- Carney confirms major project announcements coming Thursday
- Ontario invests $5 million in RAISE program for racialized and Indigenous entrepreneurs
- Lord Mayor Zalepa condemns “hate rally” in Niagara-on-the-Lake
- Supreme Court to quickly consider if President Donald Trump has power to impose sweeping tariffs
- Focus on Technology
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Photo credit: Regional Municipality of Niagara
St. Paul Street West bridge replacement way ahead of schedule
Replacement of the St. Paul Street West Canadian National Railway bridge in St. Catharines is now expected by the end of the construction season — a year ahead of schedule.
“As the saying goes, many hands make the load light and, in this case, the load was heavy and needed a number of hands,” transportation services director Frank Tassone told Niagara Region’s public works committee Tuesday.
Picture credit: Ware Malcomb
30 rental apartments planned for Hartzel Road, St. Catharines
A new rental apartment building on Hartzel Road in Merritton can move forward with fewer parking spaces and other zoning modifications after city council supported the concept Monday.
The development will be built on a vacant lot at 97 Hartzel Rd., where Wilson’s Animal Hospital used to be before it moved to a building next door.
Photo credit: belyaaa / Adobe Stock
Number of international visitors edges up as overseas arrivals replace Americans
In August 2025, non-resident arrivals to Canada by air totalled 1.2 million, edging up 0.4% from August 2024. This total comprised 589,700 arrivals by US residents (-3.6%) and 609,700 arrivals by overseas residents (+4.6%).
According to the daily traffic data, August 1 saw the highest numbers of arrivals for both US residents (28,100) and overseas residents (28,000).
Picture credit: Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority
NPCA initiates management plan for Beamer Memorial Conservation Area
The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) is excited to announce that a management plan is being initiated for the Beamer Memorial Conservation Area (Beamer), and the community is invited to take part in shaping the future of this beloved natural space.
The NPCA will host a Public Information Session on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Elizabeth Street Pumphouse.
Picture credit: Office of the Prime Minister of Canada
Carney confirms major project announcements coming Thursday
Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed Wednesday that the first wave of major-project announcements will be made Thursday.
He’s touted the list of so-called nation-building projects as a cornerstone piece of the federal government’s plan to bolster and insulate Canada’s economy amid an ongoing trade war with the United States.
Photo credit: tirachard / Adobe Stock
Ontario invests $5 million in RAISE program for racialized and Indigenous entrepreneurs
The Ontario government is protecting workers and small businesses by investing $5 million to provide free business development training, coaching, networking support and a $10,000 grant to racialized and Indigenous entrepreneurs. The 2025-26 Racialized and Indigenous Supports for Entrepreneurs (RAISE) program will help more than 400 entrepreneurs get the resources they need to transform innovative ideas into successful businesses, creating local jobs and long-term economic growth.
Photo credit: Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake
Lord Mayor Zalepa condemns “hate rally” in Niagara-on-the-Lake
Recently, a rally by a white nationalist group was held at Brock’s Monument in Queenston Heights Park, a Niagara Parks-owned property.
“On behalf of myself, my fellow Council Members, and the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake,” said Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa in a statement, “I want to make it clear that this group’s message is not supported or condoned, and this type of hate has no place in our Town. The Town does not tolerate any form of racism, hate, or discrimination.”
Picture credit: luis / Adobe Stock
Supreme Court to quickly consider if President Donald Trump has power to impose sweeping tariffs
The Supreme Court granted an unusually quick hearing on President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on Tuesday, putting a policy at the center of his economic agenda squarely before the nation’s highest court.
The justices will hear the case in November, a lightning-fast timetable by the Supreme Court’s typical standards, and rule at some point after that. The tariffs will stay in place in the meantime.
Focus on Technology
AI could help manufacturers offset tariff costs, analysts say
The Canadian Press
Manufacturing experts say there are specific ways integrating AI into the sector can help reduce costs and improve margins in the face of trade tensions, but note that it won’t be a silver bullet.
“When the U.S. charges a 25 per cent tariff, if you can drop the supply price by, let’s say 20 per cent then we can neutralize the additional cost due to the tariff,” said Chi-Guhn Lee, a University of Toronto professor and director of the AI in Manufacturing centre.
Currently, he said AI adoption in Canadian manufacturing is “widespread” and interest is high across the board but implementation is at very different stages for different companies. Some firms made investments years ago and are now “quite advanced,” he said.
There are also stark differences between the U.S. and Canadian industries, said Jayson Myers, CEO of Next Generation Manufacturing Canada. He said that on average, Canadian firms have a “huge advantage” over their U.S. counterparts because “we don’t rely on volume of product out the door.”
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.
