Daily Update: September 20, 2023

September 20, 2023 | Daily Update

Planning and Partnerships for Affordable Housing, and more.

In this edition:

  • Bank of Canada Governing Council concern over lack of progress in tackling inflation preceded last hold in interest rate
  • Thorold council votes unanimously to deny gas plant expansion in city’s south end
  • Niagara Falls issues call for Santa Claus parade participants
  • Gillian’s Place launches Responsible Media Reporting Training Program
  • Grimsby councillors approve tourism working group for GEDAC
  • One-third of young Canadians cannot buy a home or move to a new rental for financial reasons: StatCan
  • Amazon to hire 6,000 workers in Canada for full-time, part-time and seasonal jobs
  • Mastercard research shows small businesses need additional support to combat cyber attacks
  • Reading Recommendations: Climate

Experience the Best Breakfast in Niagara

Drum roll, please! Tipsy Theory asked their readers to choose the best breakfast in Niagara for 2023 and the votes are finally in! If you’re looking to visit some mouthwatering spots this summer, you’ll want to add these top six choices to your bucket list.

Queen’s Coach Family Restaurant has come out on top, with many favourites following close behind.

This vote is part of their Reader’s Choice Award series, where readers are asked to choose the best local spots in Niagara including winery, brewery, breakfast, fine dining and more.

Sponsored content from Tipsy Theory

Click here to read more.

Bank of Canada Governing Council concern over lack of progress in tackling inflation preceded last hold in interest rate

The Bank of Canada has released the summary of its August 31st deliberations, which preceded and informed its September 6 decision to hold the overnight rate.

Members agreed that data since their last decision had shown more clearly that demand was slowing, and excess demand was diminishing as monetary policy gained traction. In particular, demand had levelled out in several industries in the services sector, suggesting that the impact of higher interest rates had broadened. At the same time, Governing Council agreed that the lack of progress in underlying inflation remained a significant concern. Members weighed the possibility that high core inflation could persist even as evidence accumulated that restrictive monetary policy was slowing demand.

Click here to read more.

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Thorold council votes unanimously to deny gas plant expansion in city’s south end

Thorold city council unanimously voted against the Northland Power’s proposed gas plant expansion during a special meeting held Tuesday night.

Concerned residents packed council chambers to voice worries about what their community would become if plans for the new plant moved forward.

Councillors heard submissions from Northland Power and anxious residents, as many residents were upset about potential fallout from the plant expansion.

Click here to read more.

Niagara Falls issues call for Santa Claus parade participants

he 2023 Niagara Falls Santa Claus Parade is officially set for Saturday, November 18, 2023, beginning at 2:30 p.m. The parade will commence on Victoria Avenue at Armoury Street, heading northbound on Victoria to Valley Way. The route will then veer from Valley Way onto Queen Street, ending at Centennial Square in front of City Hall.

Any group interested in participating in the parade is required to fill out the application form. Entries are due by Saturday, October 21 at 5 p.m.

Click here to read more.

Gillian’s Place launches Responsible Media Reporting Training Program

No matter the issue being discussed, media plays an important role – arguably the most important role – in forming public opinion. How events and stories are covered by the media has the potential to shape and reinforce not only opinion among the general public but also political and public policy and how governments address – or do not address – the events and issues that are being covered.

After nearly two years of work that began with a comprehensive literature review and interviewing experts, advocates, subject matter experts, and journalists, Gillian’s Place has launched their guide to Responsible Media Reporting on Gender-Based Violence and Gendered Issues. Responsible Media Reporting on Gender-Based Violence and Gendered Issues is currently a free training program, which includes a complementary Guide for Journalists and a complete docu-series.

Click here to read more.

If you weren’t from Niagara, would you visit Grimsby?

That’s the discussion councillors had as they looked into the town’s Economic Development Advisory Committee (GEDAC) focus on tourism, when it hasn’t been set out as a strategic priority. While they ultimately approved the creation of a tourism working group for GEDAC, it wasn’t before plenty of discussion on both sides.

At the Sept. 18 meeting, Coun. Veronica Charrois lifted the item from the GEDAC meeting pertaining to the creation of a tourism strategy for the town, establishing a Workforce Development and Alignment Group, and looking into hiring a tourism consultant, dependent on 2024 budget approval.

Click here to read more.

One-third of youth who want to buy a home or move to a new rental are unable for financial reasons: StatCan

At over 7.3 million people in 2022, nearly one-fifth (19%) of Canada’s population is made up of youth and young adults aged 15-29. Between disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as high inflation and interest rates, this group has faced disproportionate challenges to their quality of life compared with other age groups. Recent surveys of Canadian youth indicate that they are less satisfied and less hopeful about the future. The rising cost of living is forcing some to make major sacrifices; for example, in 2022, 32% of youth said that they wanted to buy a home or move to a new rental but decided not to because of price concerns.

While economic, social, and environmental challenges are influencing major life decisions and the morale of young adults, these issues are also complex and nuanced.

Click here to read more.

Amazon to hire 6,000 workers in Canada for full-time, part-time and seasonal jobs

Amazon.com Inc. says it is ramping up to hire more than 6,000 people across Canada. The Seattle-based e-commerce giant says the new hires will cover full-time, seasonal and part-time roles. They will work across Amazon’s operations network in jobs that involve picking, packing, sorting and shipping customer orders.

The hiring comes as Amazon is investing more than $70 million in pay increases for fulfillment and transportation employees, who will see their average hourly wage rise to $21 from $17 in 2018.

Click here to read more.

New Mastercard research shows Canadian small business owners need additional support to effectively prevent, recover from cyber attacks

Cybercrime in Canada has increased over 600 per cent since the start of the pandemic and small businesses are particularly vulnerable. Ahead of Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2023, Mastercard surveyed small business owners across Canada who said they struggle to invest in cybersecurity tools that would best protect them due to limited resources and lack the know-how to effectively recover once a cyber attack occurs.1

In our connected world, the value of any business is increasingly tied to data. A cyber breach can cost small businesses money and a loss of trust.

Yet, just 16 per cent of Canadian small business owners surveyed feel certain they know the best steps to take following a cyber attack and only 18 per cent are totally confident that their business would recover fully from an attack in the next six months. The reality facing small businesses in today’s digital landscape is that cyber attacks are not a matter of if, but when—and what next?

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

KLM has operated under its original name since October 7th, 1919, making it the oldest airline to do so.

Focus on Climate

Canada’s ongoing and record-breaking wildfire season and the recent heat waves around the world have galvanized Western public attention to the climate crisis like never before.

The message is stark.

If we fail to rein in global warming below the 1.5 C threshold, impacts on humans and the natural environment are poised to worsen as extreme weather events overlap with increased frequency. What is needed, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, is an urgent, integrated effort to reduce carbon emissions while adapting to the impacts of climate change.

Unfortunately, Canada has consistently failed to make a significant contribution to this broader effort. And this failure is due, in no small part to political polarization and a corresponding inability of governments to follow through on high-level commitments. We argue that climate assemblies can be a powerful tool in moving past these limitations and driving meaningful action on climate policy, if designed and executed thoughtfully.

Click here to read more.

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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Daily Update: September 15, 2023

September 15, 2023 | Daily Update

YMCA of Niagara interim CEO accepts permanent position, Canada challenges U.S. softwood lumber duties, and more.

In this edition:

  • Government of Canada extends CEBA repayment deadline
  • Metroland to cease print publication of dozens of community newspapers across Ontario
  • Employment Insurance Commission confirms 2024 Employment Insurance premium rate
  • Canadian home sales fall back in August
  • Enhanced GST Rental Rebate to build more apartments for renters
  • Reading Recommendations: Sustainability

Government of Canada extends CEBA repayment deadline

The repayment deadline for CEBA loans to qualify for partial loan forgiveness of up to 33 per cent is being extended from December 31, 2023, to January 18, 2024, recognizing that the end of December is a busy time for many Canadian businesses. This builds on the government’s previous one-year extension announced in January 2022.

The CEBA program was available from April 9, 2020, to June 30, 2021, and provided $49 billion in interest-free, partially forgivable loans of up to $60,000 to nearly 900,000 small businesses and not-for-profit organizations to help cover their operating costs during the pandemic.

Click here to read more.

Metroland to cease print publication of dozens of community newspapers across Ontario

Metroland Media Group, the Toronto Star’s sister company, has sought bankruptcy protection and will cease the print publication of its weekly community newspapers across Ontario, moving to an online-only model.

The move involves 605 layoffs, nearly two-thirds of the workforce, the company said in an announcement Friday morning.

The bankruptcy will spare the company’s daily newspapers — including the Hamilton Spectator, Peterborough Examiner, St. Catharines Standard, Niagara Falls Review, Welland Tribune and the Waterloo Region Record — which will continue both in print and online.

Click here to read more.

Employment Insurance Commission confirms 2024 Employment Insurance premium rate

The Canada Employment Insurance Commission today made available the Actuarial Report and its summary for the 2024 Employment Insurance (EI) premium rate. The rate is set at $1.66 per $100 of insurable earnings for employees and $2.32 for employers who pay 1.4 times the employee rate. This represents a three-cent increase from the 2023 EI premium rate of $1.63 for employees and $2.28 for employers.

Each year, the Commission is responsible for setting the annual premium rate based on a seven-year break-even rate forecast by the EI Senior Actuary. The rate is set in order to generate just enough premium revenue to cover EI expenses over the next seven years and eliminate any cumulative surplus or deficit in the EI Operating Account.

Click here to read more.

Canadian home sales fall back in August

Statistics released today by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) show national home sales were down on a month-over-month basis in August 2023.

Home sales recorded over Canadian MLS® Systems posted a 4.1% decline between July and August 2023. (Chart A)

The national sales figure was pulled lower in August by declines in Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, Montreal, Ottawa, Hamilton-Burlington as well as London and St. Thomas.

The actual (not seasonally adjusted) number of transactions came in 5.3% above August 2022.

Click here to read more.

Enhanced GST Rental Rebate to build more apartments for renters

On September 14, 2023, the Prime Minister announced that the government will introduce legislation to enhance the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Rental Rebate on new purpose-built rental housing, to incentivize construction of much-needed rental homes for Canadians.

To build more rental housing, the removal of GST will apply to new purpose-built rental housing, such as apartment buildings, student housing, and senior residences built specifically for long-term rental accommodation.

This enhancement increases the GST Rental Rebate from 36 per cent to 100 per cent and removes the existing GST Rental Rebate phase-out thresholds for purpose-built rental housing projects. The enhanced GST Rental Rebate will apply to projects that begin construction on or after September 14, 2023, and on or before December 31, 2030, and complete construction by December 31, 2035.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

The Handmaid’s Tale, It: Chapter Two, The Boys, The Time Traveler’s Wife, The Christmas Calendar, and The Shape of Water were all filmed in Niagara.

Focus on Sustainability

Setting a net-zero goal is just the start of a climate strategy. The pressure is now on to deliver substantive progress. For many companies, the vast bulk of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions lie outside the walls of their businesses in their supply chain – called “Scope 3” emissions. Having visibility to, quantifying, and ultimately managing these emissions is difficult. While these impacts lie outside of a company’s direct control, stakeholder expectations, reporting frameworks and business demands require large corporations to activate their partners and deliver progress.

Click here to read more.

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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Daily Update: September 12, 2023

September 12, 2023 | Daily Update

YMCA of Niagara interim CEO accepts permanent position, Canada challenges U.S. softwood lumber duties, and more.

In this edition:

  • Your Niagara: Dedicated Businesses Make it Easy to Fall in Love with Fort Erie
  • Niagara needs 17,000 new housing units every five years until 2051 to meet demand, councillors told
  • FedDev Ontario launches new, easy-to-use application process
  • NOTL grape grower Erwin Wiens named 2023 Grape King
  • ‘Anxious and exciting’: Grape harvest season starting in Niagara
  • St. Catharines Mayor wants to get on with governance review decision
  • Investments bring high-speed internet to Wainfleet communities
  • Reading Recommendations: Finance & Economy

Niagara needs 17,000 new housing units every five years until 2051 to meet demand, councillors told

Niagara needs to diversify its housing stock and accelerate the construction of affordable and attainable units to provide a healthy mix of housing for all incomes.

That was the message Alex Morrison, a Niagara Region development industry and housing consultant, delivered to councillors during a committee of the whole meeting last week on the housing crisis and the municipality’s affordable housing plan.

Morrison said the province is forecasting the need for about 298,600 new housing units in Niagara by 2051, an increase of 96,400 units over the current supply of 201,600.

“This means that about 17,000 new housing units will need to be constructed every five years to meet this demand,” Morrison said.

Click here to read more.

FedDev Ontario launches new, easy-to-use application process

Today, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario, announced the launch of a new, easy-to-use application process. It makes applying for funding easier, and more predictable for clients and will help ensure investments are available to those who need them to continue growing. Applications for funding will now be accepted three times per year (fall, winter and spring). The fall intake is open until November 7.

As one of seven regional economic development agencies across Canada, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) works with industry and community leaders, business owners, entrepreneurs, and organizations to help them reach their potential and create new possibilities across the region. FedDev Ontario’s strategic investments have made a significant difference for the competitiveness, innovation, and diversity of southern Ontario’s economy.

Click here to read more.

Amid housing crunch, Ford government rethinking assessments of regional governments

The Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) is hosting a free online housing summit Oct. 12, 2023, to spark innovative discussions and discuss what needs to be done to boost supply.

The event, called Driving Solutions to the Crisis, runs from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. It is the third virtual housing summit sponsored by RESCON. Storeys is media sponsor for the event.

“The housing supply and affordability crisis is very real and, at a time when we should be increasing the number of starts, they are trending in the wrong direction and the situation is getting worse,” explains RESCON president Richard Lyall. “To fix the problem and boost the number of new housing units being built, we must find ways to move residential development approvals through the system faster, get shovels in the ground sooner, and speed up the building process.”

Click here to read more.

NOTL grape grower Erwin Wiens named 2023 Grape King

With Grape and Wine upon us the Grape Growers of Ontario have named their Grape King.

Niagara-on-the-Lake grape grower Erwin Wiens has been chosen by his peers as the 2023 Grape King.

Wiens tends a 120-acres vineyard that grows a range of grapes including Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Merlot.

Debbie Zimmerman, CEO of the Grape Growers of Ontario, says “We are delighted that Erwin Wiens has been selected as 2023 Grape King. Erwin will be a wonderful ambassador for the Ontario grape and wine industry.”

Click here to read more.

‘Anxious and exciting’: Grape harvest season starting in Niagara

The route here wasn’t exactly normal, but the destination’s the same. It’s what happens during September and October that will tell the ultimate tale of the 2023 grape harvest.

Growers in Niagara are gearing up for a busy and important few months as different varieties come into prime picking time. Some wineries and growers have begun harvesting, mostly for sparkling wines, while others expect to start any day now.

“It’s an anxious and exciting time for us,” said Matthias Oppenlaender, chair of Grape Growers of Ontario and a Niagara-on-the-Lake grower who began picking on Sept. 7.

Click here to read more.

St. Catharines Mayor wants to get on with governance review decision

The Mayor of St. Catharines wants the province to move on one way or another.

“We need to have the conversation and then we need to get on with what needs to be done in the community.”

St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe made the comments following an announcement by housing minister Paul Calandra that he is now reviewing the plan to appoint a facilitator to look over governance in the region.=

Click here to listen to the full interview.

Investments bring high-speed internet to Wainfleet communities

Folks in a number of communities in Wainfleet will get access to high-speed internet, as part of $219 million in funding the province and federal government are providing to bring that service to more than 66,000 households in rural communities.

That internet expansion, coming to more than 300 Ontario communities, includes 30 local projects in the Niagara West riding of MPP Sam Oosterhoff.

His office announced on Sept. 8 that the partners have selected Rogers as the internet service providers.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

In 1982, the automobile industry employed one out of every six American workers.

Focus on Finance & Economy

Trump says he’ll impose huge new tariffs if elected in 2024

Donald Trump’s return to the White House could bring about seismic changes to US trade policy, as the Republican frontrunner proposed setting up a universal tariff on imports entering the country.

He also proposed a “matching tax” on certain countries that would be equivalent to high tariffs on US products.

While Trump laid out the idea of a universal tariff months earlier, he appeared to get more specific last week.

“I think when companies come in and they dump their products in the United States, they should pay automatically, let’s say a 10% tax,” he told Fox News on Thursday. “That money would be used to pay off the debt. It’s a massive amount of money.”

Click here to read more.

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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Daily Update: September 11, 2023

September 11, 2023 | Daily Update

YMCA of Niagara interim CEO accepts permanent position, Canada challenges U.S. softwood lumber duties, and more.

In this edition:

  • No governance facilitator appointed for Niagara, Minister Calandra to “review previous intention”
  • Apple users warned to update their devices after University of Toronto researchers expose spyware
  • Solutions to housing supply crisis will be explored at free RESCON online summit
  • Canada encourages Canadians to explore careers in the skilled trades
  • ‘It’s our goal to turn Niagara orange’: Dockstader
  • Reading Recommendations: Small Business

No governance facilitator appointed for Niagara, Minister Calandra to “review previous intention”

Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Paul Calandra says he’s reviewing plans to name facilitators to review certain regional municipalities in Ontario.

Under previous housing minister Steve Clark, regional municipalities were told in the fall of 2022 to expect a facilitator who would work to ensure the regions were ready to “deliver on the government’s commitment to tackle the housing supply crisis.”

But in a statement on the website X.com, previously Twitter, Calandra said he will be “reviewing the previously stated intention to appoint facilitators.”

Calandra said the ministry would provide “an update on next steps by the end of September.”

Last month, Clark announced during the annual conference of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario that he would name the facilitators by Sept. 11.

Click here to read more.

Apple users warned to update their devices after University of Toronto researchers expose spyware

Last week, University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab discovered a vulnerability in iPhone devices being “actively exploited” to deliver NSO Group’s Pegasus mercenary spyware, without any interaction from the victim.

Citizen Lab said it made the discovery while checking the device of an individual employed by a Washington DC-based civil society organization with international offices.

The “zero-click” exploit chain, which Citizen Lab refers to as BLASTPASS, was capable of compromising iPhones running the latest version of iOS (16.6) and involved PassKit attachments containing malicious images sent from an attacker iMessage account to the victim.

Click here to read more.

Solutions to housing supply crisis will be explored at free RESCON online summit

The Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) is hosting a free online housing summit Oct. 12, 2023, to spark innovative discussions and discuss what needs to be done to boost supply.

The event, called Driving Solutions to the Crisis, runs from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. It is the third virtual housing summit sponsored by RESCON. Storeys is media sponsor for the event.

“The housing supply and affordability crisis is very real and, at a time when we should be increasing the number of starts, they are trending in the wrong direction and the situation is getting worse,” explains RESCON president Richard Lyall. “To fix the problem and boost the number of new housing units being built, we must find ways to move residential development approvals through the system faster, get shovels in the ground sooner, and speed up the building process.”

Click here to read more.

Canada encourages Canadians to explore careers in the skilled trades

Demographic shifts and high retirement rates are fuelling demand and a growing need to recruit and train thousands more Canadians for careers in the skilled trades.

A series of experiential marketing events will be featured across Canada, including: Ottawa as a first stop, Montréal, Fredericton, Saint John, Toronto and Vancouver.

This new exhibit provides an experience where individuals can learn about different skilled trades careers, find in-demand trades in their province or territory and discover the steps it takes to become a skilled trades worker. The exhibit focuses on creating an in-person and immersive experience.

Click here to read more.

‘It’s our goal to turn Niagara orange’: Dockstader

Jennifer Dockstader is looking forward to the day Niagara turns orange.

That is why the third annual Unity Walk in Fort Erie — and now Welland — is so important to the executive director of the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre.

“We want to recognize residential school survivors and remember the discovery of unmarked burial sites,” said Dockstader, who is a member of the Oneida of the Thames nation, Bear Clan.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

There are 47,700 kilometres of high-speed rail in Asia and 20,500 in Europe. There are 735 in North America and zero in Canada, the only G7 country with no commercial high-speed rail.

Focus on Small Business

How to perform a root cause analysis and corrective action

When running day-to-day operations and having pressure of hitting sales targets, it’s easy to be reactionary rather than proactive when following up on problems with processes. When this happens, often only symptoms are addressed, and shortcuts are taken. Unfortunately, this leads to implemented measures being wrong, or only a temporary fix and a very expensive solution.

The instinctive reaction is to use “brain storming” and a heavy reliance on using job skill and experience, which seldomly identifies potential root causes. Reactionary problem solvers seldomly seek to identify potential changes and distinctions. Rather than addressing the root cause of the problem, they treat the symptoms. As a result, they fall into a detrimental, cyclical pattern where the problem recurs.

Click here to read more.

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.

Share this:

Daily Update: September 7, 2023

September 7, 2023 | Daily Update

YMCA of Niagara interim CEO accepts permanent position, Canada challenges U.S. softwood lumber duties, and more.

In this edition:

  • Niagara Falls ranked world’s second most popular bucket-list travel destination
  • St. Catharines launches new building permit application portal
  • Niagara-on-the-Lake relaunches Discretionary Grant Program
  • Ontario Chamber marks National Trucking Week by urging action on industry challenges
  • Recent gains in residential building fail to overcome overall sector decline in July
  • Bell Media Radio recognized as outstanding community partner
  • Grimsby hires new director of planning
  • Reading Recommendations: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Niagara Falls ranked world’s second most popular bucket-list travel destination

Niagara Falls has again found itself on a list — this time as one of the top bucket-list travel destinations in the world.

And with the busy peak summer tourism season behind them, it has come at a good time for local tourism officials planning to keep visitors coming through the fall and winter months.

A new report from tourism company Kuoni listed Niagara Falls second to the Maldives as it examined global search volumes for 115 travel bucket-list items.

Click here to read more.

St. Catharines launches new building permit application portal

St. Catharines has launched phase one of a new building permit application portal, allowing those looking to build or renovate in the city to easily apply and pay for permits online.

This initial stage allows residents, contractors and developers to fill out and track permit applications to construct, renovate, add on to, or demolish structures like houses, semi-detached houses, townhouses, apartment buildings and hotels. Payments can be made for invoices within the portal using the invoice number or building permit number.

Click here to read more.

Niagara-on-the-Lake relaunches Discretionary Grant Program

The Town is proud to announce that its Discretionary Grant Program opens for applications on September 7, 2023, and closes on October 20, 2023. This Program is designed to allocate discretionary funds to organizations, groups and events that contribute to the cultural, social, environmental, and economic well-being of the Niagara-on-the-Lake community.

The Town operates a Discretionary Grant Program with a total budget of $102,000 funded from the parking program. The Program supports a wide variety of community-based events and capital purchases to create investments in the community that are easily observed and have a positive community impact.

Click here to read more.

Ontario Chamber marks National Trucking Week by urging action on industry challenges

As National Trucking Week casts a spotlight on the vital role trucking plays in the Ontario and Canadian economy, the President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), Rocco Rossi, emphasizes the pressing need to address challenges impacting the sector.

“The trucking industry forms the backbone of the economy, ensuring goods are transported reliably and efficiently across vast distances,” Rossi remarked in a statement issued today. “While National Trucking Week provides an opportunity for us to recognize the hard work and dedication of truck drivers and industry professionals, it is also a time to call for public policy action as the industry struggles to rebound following the pandemic as consumer demand drops.”

Click here to read more.

Recent gains in residential building fail to overcome overall sector decline in July

The total monthly value of building permits in Canada declined 1.5% in July to $11.7 billion, despite a monthly gain of 5.4% in the residential sector, new data released today by Statistics Canada reveals. On a constant dollar basis (2012=100), the total value of building permits was down 3.5% to $6.7 billion.

The total monthly value of residential permits increased 5.4% to $7.4 billion in July. Ontario (+23.9% to $3.5 billion) contributed the most to the rise in value of both single-family and multi-family dwelling permits.

Across Canada, July marked the third consecutive monthly increase in single-family home permits, up 7.6% to $2.8 billion. This prolonged uptick followed a year of trending decline in construction intentions for single-family homes from May 2022 to April 2023.

Click here to read more.

Bell Media Radio recognized as outstanding community partner

Bell Media Radio – Niagara was recognized as an Outstanding Community Partner at the Golden Horseshoe Chapter of The Association of Fundraising Professionals’ 2023 National Philanthropy Day awards.

The awards will be handed out Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at the elegant Carmen’s Banquet Centre in Hamilton.

This year marks the return of the National Philanthropy Day event after a three-year hiatus due to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Click here to read more.

Grimsby hires new director of planning

After a year-and-a-half-long search, Grimsby has found a new director of planning and building.

Chief administrative officer (CAO) Sarah Kim formally welcomed Harold Madi to the town at the Sept. 5 council meeting, which was also his first day.

With more than 25 years of experience, Madi has worked as founding principal of Urbanism by Design (UxD), director of urban design for the City of Toronto, senior principal and urban places Canada lead for Stantec and more.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

Tourists spend $2.4 billion in Niagara every year – enough to buy 85 million tickets for the Maid of the Mist.

Focus on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Spell it out: Using plain language to create inclusive workplaces

What’s the ROI on that? Have you booked your PTO? Make sure you read the SDS on that chemical.

Organizations and industries have historically used acronyms and expressions to make communication more efficient, as well as to foster camaraderie over a shared language.

But as workplaces become more diverse and demographics change, acronyms, expressions, and other complex language practices can put up unnecessary language barriers. Workers who are new to the workforce, new to the country, or not yet accustomed to their workplace often have difficulty understanding them.

Communicating simply and clearly is a part of plain language principles — a set of guidelines that helps everyone in the workplace understand the information being communicated.

Click here to read more.

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.

Share this:

Daily Update: September 1, 2023

September 1, 2023 | Daily Update

YMCA of Niagara interim CEO accepts permanent position, Canada challenges U.S. softwood lumber duties, and more.

In this edition:

  • Metro opens new store in Niagara Falls
  • Province ‘laser focused’ on housing, not amalgamations: Niagara Region chair
  • Countdown starts for 2024 World Rowing Championships
  • Ontario invests additional $160m in Skills Development Fund
  • Niagara Falls releases draft Climate Adaptation Plan
  • St. Catharines goes to bat for Hoverlink
  • OAA introduces new climate-action weapon, the TEUI 2.0 calculator
  • Canada Post segment reports $254-million loss before tax in Q2
  • Reading Recommendations: Human Resources

YMCA of Niagara interim CEO accepts permanent position

YMCA of Niagara today announced the appointment of Christian Wulff as the Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Wulff, who has been serving as the interim CEO throughout 2023, has already demonstrated his dedication to the YMCA of Niagara and the Niagara Region, YMCA Chair Allie Hughes said in a statement.

The appointment of Christian Wulff follows a comprehensive four-month selection process.

Currently operating from 118 sites across Niagara, the YMCA impacts the health and well-being of over 80,000 individuals from diverse backgrounds, abilities, and stages of life. Its services encompass Health & Fitness, Community Initiatives, Child Care, Day Camp, and Employment & Immigrant Services, all supported by the dedication of 800 volunteers annually.

Click here to read more.

Falling housing investment behind flat economic growth: Statistics Canada

Real gross domestic product (GDP) was nearly unchanged in the second quarter, following a 0.6% rise in the first quarter. In today’s report on gross domestic product, Statistics Canada attributed the slowdown to continued declines in housing investment, smaller inventory accumulation, as well as slower international exports and household spending.

Housing investment fell 2.1% in the second quarter, making it the fifth consecutive quarterly decrease. The decline was led by a sharp drop in new construction (-8.2%), which was observed in every province and territory except for Nova Scotia. These declines coincided with higher borrowing costs and lower demand for mortgage funds, as the Bank of Canada continued their monetary tightening, raising the policy interest rate to 4.75% in the second quarter.

Click here to read more.

Countdown starts for 2024 World Rowing Championships

The world is coming to St. Catharines for the third time. On Thursday at the Neil Campbell Rowing Centre on Henley Island, a flag ceremony was held to begin the official countdown to the 2024 World Rowing Championships taking place Aug.18-25 in St. Catharines.

The city hosted the senior worlds in 1970 and 1999 but the 2024 edition will include the under-23, junior (under-19) and senior championships for non-Olympic boat classes. St. Catharines was awarded the championships in September 2019 following a vote by delegates at the FISA Congress in Linz, Austria.

Click here to read more.

Ontario invests additional $160m in Skills Development Fund

The Ontario government is investing an additional $160 million in the Skills Development Fund (SDF) to tackle the labour shortage and help at least 100,000 workers get free training to meet the needs of employers hiring in their communities. The funding will prioritize programs that propose innovative training solutions to help people on social assistance and with prior criminal records find meaningful employment in critical industries like healthcare, auto-manufacturing, information technology, hospitality and the skilled trades.

Click here to read more.

Niagara Falls releases draft Climate Adaptation Plan

Since the beginning of 2023, the City of Niagara Falls has been convening project stakeholders from across the community to collaboratively create a plan that will increase the adaptive capacity of Niagara Falls to the impacts of our changing climate.

The Draft Plan is online now and community and business members can provide general feedback as well as consider opportunities for engagement with the plan’s implementation. Comments and feedback on the plan are welcomed on or before Tuesday, September 5th, 2023.

Click here to read more.

St. Catharines goes to bat for Hoverlink

The City of St. Catharines team advocated for a proposed cross-lake passenger hovercraft during sit downs with provincial ministers at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference this week.

Mayor Mat Siscoe said provincial officials were already enthusiastic about Hoverlink Ontario Inc.’s plan to create a rapid transit link between St. Catharines and Toronto when St. Catharines broached the subject.

“That was probably my biggest take home from the meeting with the Minister of Infrastructure. They’re very enthusiastic about the project and they see it as a very viable way to get people off of the highway,” Siscoe said.

Click here to read more.

OAA introduces new climate-action weapon, the TEUI 2.0 calculator

The Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) has launched a new building energy usage calculator designed for use by both Ontario architects and the general public.

The new Total Energy Usage Intensity (TEUI) 2.0 calculator supplements the original TEUI 1.0 and is intended for larger Part 9 buildings as opposed to the smaller Part 3 buildings that were targeted by the first calculator.

TEUI 2.0 has the capacity to include embodied carbon, building statistics and air quality conditions and the ability to evaluate a proposed building against code compliance requirements.

Click here to read more.

Canada Post segment reports $254-million loss before tax in Q2

Canada Post recorded a loss before tax of $254 million in the second quarter of 2023 as revenue fell across all lines of business.

The Canada Post segment’s revenue in the second quarter declined by $78 million, or 6.0 per cent1, compared to the same period in 2022. The segment’s loss before tax in the second quarter widened by $94 million, from a loss before tax of $160 million in the second quarter of 2022. For the first half of 2023, Canada Post’s revenue fell by $110 million, or 3.3 per cent, compared to the same period of the prior year. The segment’s loss before tax was $361 million compared to a loss before tax of $289 million in the first half of 2022.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

The Grand Coulee Dam contains enough concrete to build a sidewalk four feet wide and four inches thick that would wrap around the world twice at the equator.

Focus on Human Resources

Keeping your team safe: Leadership tips for working with subcontractors

Most business leaders recognize their duty to protect workers within the four walls of their operating facilities. Even in recent years, with more employers adapting policies to address remote work, production staff in the manufacturing sector remained onsite.

But what if your team provides services and support onsite elsewhere — at a facility you don’t own? What if you employ temporary workers and contract employees? Where do the obligations of contractor and subcontractor begin and end in protecting contract workers’ health and safety?

Click here to read more.

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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Daily Update: August 30, 2023

August 30, 2023 | Daily Update

Vehicle-related sales see growth in June while other retail sectors decline, Region expects 2024 budget to wrap up before year’s end, and more.

In this edition:

  • Government of Canada announces new investment in Niagara EV industry
  • Four months left until the CEBA repayment deadline
  • Ontario issues RFQ for satellite internet provider to serve 43,000 homes and businesses
  • Mahtay Café, a downtown St. Catharines ‘hub’ for over a decade, changes hands
  • Employment rate for disabled persons dramatically lower: Statistics Canada
  • Ontario and Quebec reach 600MW energy agreement
  • Unifor targets Ford Motors as lead company in auto contract talks
  • Competition Bureau ordered to pay millions to Rogers and Shaw for challenging merger
  • Reading Recommendations: Climate

Government of Canada announces new investment in Niagara EV industry

Today, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), along with Vance Badawey, Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre, and Chris Bittle, Member of Parliament for St. Catharines, announced a $300,000-investment that will be delivered by the Regional Municipality of Niagara (Niagara Region) to accelerate the growth of the EV sector in the Niagara region.

With this investment, Niagara Region will develop an EV strategy with support from an EV battery specialist. This new strategy will focus on building partnerships, developing the infrastructure needed,  connecting industry leaders and post-secondary institutions, and enabling Niagara Region representation at industry events. This investment is expected to support over 50 regional businesses and organizations and establish up to five new partnerships to ensure that the region has the opportunity to contribute to this growing and important sector.

St. Catharines firm FBT Inc. will also receive $4m from FedDev Ontario, which will enable them to upgrade the facility to increase producivity by about 75%.

Federal officials say as the demand for domestic production of EV, energy, and semiconductor related-parts has risen in Canada, and FBT will adopt new robotic and automated solutions to increase production.

Click here to read more.

Four months left until the CEBA repayment deadline

Four months are left until the CEBA repayment is due on December 31. If the CEBA loan is not repaid by then, small business owners will lose the up to $20,000 forgivable portion and begin paying interest on a much larger loan balance.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce and a coalition of industry associations, including the GNCC, have joined calls for the federal government to extend the deadline for small businesses to repay pandemic loans received through the Canada Emergency Business Account program.

CFIB research shows that 19 per cent of all small businesses in Canada—or nearly 250,000 small businesses—could close their doors next year unless the federal government changes the deadline.

Click here to read more.

Ontario issues RFQ for satellite internet provider to serve 43,000 homes and businesses

The Ontario government will use a satellite internet service provider to bring high-speed internet access to approximately 43,000 unserved and underserved homes and businesses, marking another milestone in the province’s plan to help bring connectivity to every community by the end of 2025.

In partnership with Infrastructure Ontario, the province has launched a competitive process to find qualified satellite internet service providers. Interested service providers can visit www.merx.com to download the Request for Qualifications (RFQ).

Click here to read more.

Mahtay Café, a downtown St. Catharines ‘hub’ for over a decade, changes hands

Chris Lowes took a leap of faith in 2011 when he opened the doors of Mahtay Café on St. Paul Street.

“It felt like we were at ground zero at the beginning, for sure,” Lowes said, adding it was still a few years before new developments including FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre and Meridian Centre would open their doors, drawing visitors to St. Catharines’ downtown core.

“There was talk at the time that the downtown would be revived if we waited long enough.”

Click here to read more.

Employment rate for disabled persons dramatically lower: Statistics Canada

In 2022, the employment rate for those aged 16 to 64 with disabilities was 65.1%, compared with 80.1% for those without disabilities, a new Statistics Canada report has revealed. The employment rate for persons with disabilities varied by the severity of the disability. Those with a severe disability were employed at a rate of 50.4% and those with a very severe disability were employed at a rate of 26.8%.

In 2022, the unemployment rate for persons aged 16 to 64 with disabilities was 6.9%. The rate was nearly twice as high as for persons in the same age group without disabilities (3.8%). The unemployment rate for persons with disabilities was higher than for persons without disabilities among both women and men.

Click here to read more.

Ontario and Quebec reach 600MW energy agreement

The governments of Ontario and Quebec are supporting a new 600 megawatt (MW) trade agreement between Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) and Hydro-Québec that will optimize the use of existing electricity generation capacity in both provinces.

 

This electricity trade agreement is possible because Ontario and Quebec have complementary seasonal peaks in electricity demand. Ontario’s peak demand occurs in the summer, driven mainly by air conditioning on hot days, and Quebec’s peak demand occurs in the winter, driven mainly by electric heating on cold days. As a result, both provinces have excess capacity during the other province’s electricity peak period that can be exchanged to reduce the need for new generation capacity.

Click here to read more.

Unifor targets Ford Motors as lead company in auto contract talks

Unifor has picked Ford Motor Co. as the lead company for negotiations with the Detroit Three automakers as it works to hammer out new contracts.

The bargaining with Ford will serve as a blueprint for workers at General Motors and Stellantis, the union’s national president said Tuesday, as it focuses on securing electric vehicle production investments.

Lana Payne said she is encouraged by Ford’s transparency with the union in key areas, but warned workers are prepared to strike if necessary.

Click here to read more.

Competition Bureau ordered to pay millions to Rogers and Shaw for challenging merger

In March 2022, the Competition Bureau set out to block the Rogers C$26 billion takeover of Shaw. Now it is being ordered to pay millions of dollars to the two telcos after failing to do so.

In a document posted on Tuesday, the Competition Tribunal, which adjudicated the Bureau’s case against the merger, ordered the Commissioner of Competition to pay $9,298,152.58 to Rogers and $2,836,920.30 to Shaw, plus applicable HST.

Additionally, the Commissioner will have to pay 25 per cent of the legal fees incurred by the two telcos, amounting to over $400,000 each.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

The office chair was invented by Charles Darwin, better-known for the theory of evolution.

Focus on Climate

Why we need to reuse waste energy to achieve net-zero heating systems

As we move toward a cleaner energy future, there is a growing push to electrify everything, from cars to home heating. While that sounds ideal, it is also much more than a matter of simply plugging in.

The grid is nowhere near ready to satisfy our carbon-free energy needs, especially as more and more Canadians switch to electric vehicles and we wait for more carbon-free sources of electricity to supply the growing demand.

We’re already pushing the system on the hottest days of the year to keep our electric air conditioning running, mainly by supplementing with inefficient carbon-producing natural gas or coal power plants during peak demand periods.

If we were all relying on electrical forms of heating, electricity demand would be substantially higher on the coldest days of the year and overwhelm the grid. The solution to this problem, however, lies not in the heat we generate but the heat we reuse.

Click here to read more.

Quebec’s Deep Sky dreams big with carbon capture pilot

Montreal carbon-capture startup Deep Sky continues to move with haste as it forges partnerships with tech specialists in the sector while defying traditional project development timelines.

The business model involves building plants to scrub the atmosphere and oceans of CO2, transforming the captured CO2 into minerals and storing it underground, thus obtaining carbon credits and selling the credits to entities aiming to meet emissions-reduction obligations.

A pilot demonstration of the technology capturing 100 tonnes of CO2 annually will be built in Quebec, with the aim to eventually construct commercial facilities that capture between 100,000 and one million tonnes annually.

Click here to read more.

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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Daily Update: August 25, 2023

August 25, 2023 | Daily Update

Industrial product and raw material index down 2.7% year-over-year, building construction investment declines for fourth straight month, and more.

In this edition:

  • Metro opens new store in Niagara Falls
  • Province ‘laser focused’ on housing, not amalgamations: Niagara Region chair
  • Countdown starts for 2024 World Rowing Championships
  • Ontario invests additional $160m in Skills Development Fund
  • Niagara Falls releases draft Climate Adaptation Plan
  • St. Catharines goes to bat for Hoverlink
  • OAA introduces new climate-action weapon, the TEUI 2.0 calculator
  • Canada Post segment reports $254-million loss before tax in Q2
  • Reading Recommendations: Human Resources

Metro opens new store in Niagara Falls

Metro’s new 44,000 square-foot location is the banner’s 131st store in Ontario. Metro has hired a team of 130 employees for the location.

Customers will be able to shop a variety of fresh and local products including Foodland Ontario produce, Irresistibles and Selection products, ready-made meals, a full floral section, pharmacy and Nature’s Signature. The store will also offer free electric vehicle charging stations and online click-and-collect ordering.

As part of the opening, Metro will donate $10,000 to Project Share, which is affiliated with Feed Ontario – Metro’s long-time partner, notably through the grocer’s food recovery program, One More Bite.

Click here to read more.

Province ‘laser focused’ on housing, not amalgamations: Niagara Region chair

Niagara Region Chair Jim Bradley said the provincial government’s plan to appoint facilitators to assess local governance structures is entirely focused on housing — not potential mergers or dissolutions among local municipalities.

“Keep in mind this, this government is laser focused on what they consider, and I think most people would consider to be, a major challenge and that is getting housing units built for people in Ontario. I think the focus they have with the facilitator is to try to determine how best to get those houses built. That’s really the focus they have, and I don’t think they want to be distracted with other things,” he said.

Click here to read more.

Countdown starts for 2024 World Rowing Championships

The world is coming to St. Catharines for the third time. On Thursday at the Neil Campbell Rowing Centre on Henley Island, a flag ceremony was held to begin the official countdown to the 2024 World Rowing Championships taking place Aug.18-25 in St. Catharines.

The city hosted the senior worlds in 1970 and 1999 but the 2024 edition will include the under-23, junior (under-19) and senior championships for non-Olympic boat classes. St. Catharines was awarded the championships in September 2019 following a vote by delegates at the FISA Congress in Linz, Austria.

Click here to read more.

Ontario invests additional $160m in Skills Development Fund

The Ontario government is investing an additional $160 million in the Skills Development Fund (SDF) to tackle the labour shortage and help at least 100,000 workers get free training to meet the needs of employers hiring in their communities. The funding will prioritize programs that propose innovative training solutions to help people on social assistance and with prior criminal records find meaningful employment in critical industries like healthcare, auto-manufacturing, information technology, hospitality and the skilled trades.

Click here to read more.

Niagara Falls releases draft Climate Adaptation Plan

Since the beginning of 2023, the City of Niagara Falls has been convening project stakeholders from across the community to collaboratively create a plan that will increase the adaptive capacity of Niagara Falls to the impacts of our changing climate.

The Draft Plan is online now and community and business members can provide general feedback as well as consider opportunities for engagement with the plan’s implementation. Comments and feedback on the plan are welcomed on or before Tuesday, September 5th, 2023.

Click here to read more.

St. Catharines goes to bat for Hoverlink

The City of St. Catharines team advocated for a proposed cross-lake passenger hovercraft during sit downs with provincial ministers at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference this week.

Mayor Mat Siscoe said provincial officials were already enthusiastic about Hoverlink Ontario Inc.’s plan to create a rapid transit link between St. Catharines and Toronto when St. Catharines broached the subject.

“That was probably my biggest take home from the meeting with the Minister of Infrastructure. They’re very enthusiastic about the project and they see it as a very viable way to get people off of the highway,” Siscoe said.

Click here to read more.

OAA introduces new climate-action weapon, the TEUI 2.0 calculator

The Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) has launched a new building energy usage calculator designed for use by both Ontario architects and the general public.

The new Total Energy Usage Intensity (TEUI) 2.0 calculator supplements the original TEUI 1.0 and is intended for larger Part 9 buildings as opposed to the smaller Part 3 buildings that were targeted by the first calculator.

TEUI 2.0 has the capacity to include embodied carbon, building statistics and air quality conditions and the ability to evaluate a proposed building against code compliance requirements.

Click here to read more.

Canada Post segment reports $254-million loss before tax in Q2

Canada Post recorded a loss before tax of $254 million in the second quarter of 2023 as revenue fell across all lines of business.

The Canada Post segment’s revenue in the second quarter declined by $78 million, or 6.0 per cent1, compared to the same period in 2022. The segment’s loss before tax in the second quarter widened by $94 million, from a loss before tax of $160 million in the second quarter of 2022. For the first half of 2023, Canada Post’s revenue fell by $110 million, or 3.3 per cent, compared to the same period of the prior year. The segment’s loss before tax was $361 million compared to a loss before tax of $289 million in the first half of 2022.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

The Grand Coulee Dam contains enough concrete to build a sidewalk four feet wide and four inches thick that would wrap around the world twice at the equator.

Focus on Human Resources

Keeping your team safe: Leadership tips for working with subcontractors

Most business leaders recognize their duty to protect workers within the four walls of their operating facilities. Even in recent years, with more employers adapting policies to address remote work, production staff in the manufacturing sector remained onsite.

But what if your team provides services and support onsite elsewhere — at a facility you don’t own? What if you employ temporary workers and contract employees? Where do the obligations of contractor and subcontractor begin and end in protecting contract workers’ health and safety?

Click here to read more.

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.

Share this:

Daily Update: August 23, 2023

August 23, 2023 | Daily Update

Vehicle-related sales see growth in June while other retail sectors decline, Region expects 2024 budget to wrap up before year’s end, and more.

In this edition:

  • Vehicle-related sales see growth in June while other retail sectors decline
  • St. Catharines introduces online payments
  • Niagara municipalities lobby at AMO conference
  • Niagara Region expects 2024 budget to wrap up before year’s end
  • Canadians leave wallets at home as Interac Debit mobile contactless transactions surge 53% in the last year
  • Back-to-school shoppers expected to head back to stores but pull back on spending
  • Who is to blame for the housing crisis? Canadians split in poll
  • Reading Recommendations: Climate

Vehicle-related sales see growth in June while other retail sectors decline

Retail sales increased 0.1% to $65.9 billion in June. Sales increased in three of nine subsectors and were led by increases at motor vehicle and parts dealers (+2.5%).

Core retail sales—which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers—were down 0.9% in June.

In volume terms, retail sales edged down 0.2% in June.

Click here to read more.

St. Catharines introduces online payments

The City of St. Catharines has launched a new online payment portal allowing residents to easily pay for property taxes, water bills and parking tickets online.

The new portal is designed to provide a convenient and seamless payment experience through its user-friendly interface. With just a few clicks, residents can take care of City payments promptly. The system uses industry-standard encryption protocols to ensure that personal and financial data is protected throughout the payment process.

Click here to read more.

Niagara municipalities lobby at AMO conference

The 2023 Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference was held in London, Ontario from August 20-23, 2023. The AMO conference is a yearly event which brings municipalities together to discuss best practices and share industry knowledge, while also allowing municipal representatives and ministries to meet to discuss the municipalities’ strategic priorities, to advocate for local issues, and to discuss program and funding partnerships.

Among the many Niagara representatives were Mayor Jeff Jordan, Councillor Jacob Baradziej, Councillor Veronica Charrois, Councillor Delight Davoli, Councillor Reg Freake, Councillor Lianne Vardy, as well as five representatives from staff attended the conference and participated in six delegations with members of the Provincial Government, advocating for multiple issues on behalf of the Town of Grimsby.

Also present, representing the City of Port Colborne was councillor, Dave Elliott, chief administrative officer, Scott Luey, and manager of strategic initiatives, Gary Long.

“We are very encouraged by this housing update from Premier Ford, as well as the positive responses we got from meeting with his Ministers and PAs (Parliamentary Assistants),” said Luey.

Niagara Region expects 2024 budget to wrap up before year’s end, despite St. Catharines concerns

There likely won’t be any surprises in store when it comes to Niagara Region property taxes next year.

Despite concerns expressed by St. Catharines city council at last week’s meeting, regional treasurer Todd Harrison said 2024 budget deliberations should be back to normal — after approval of last year’s budget was delayed until Feb. 23 due to the municipal election, while ballooning to a 7.29 per cent increase on top of a special levy to help pay for uploading regional transit services.

Click here to read more.

Canadians leave wallets at home as Interac Debit mobile contactless transactions surge 53% in the last year

Canadians’ reliance on their smartphones continues to increase. Interac data reveals a 53 per cent jump in the use of Interac® Debit for mobile contactless payments in stores and a 17 per cent surge in its use for e-Commerce purchases between August 2022 and July 2023. Over one billion of these mobile transactions have taken place within a 12-month period for the first time ever.
Click here to read more.

Back-to-school shoppers expected to head back to stores but pull back on spending

The stationary aisles are expected to be busier this year as parents and students return to in-store shopping when stocking up on back-to-school essentials, though their baskets may be a little less full.

The annual shopping ritual comes as rising costs for food and housing squeeze optional spending plans for many households.

A survey by the Retail Council of Canada found that about 73.6 per cent of back-to-school shoppers plan to spend more than $50 this year, down from about 77 per cent last year.

Click here to read more.

Who is to blame for the housing crisis? Canadians split in poll

Despite what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said recently, a new poll suggests 40 per cent of Canadians think his government is to blame for the country’s housing crisis.

Leger surveyed 1,537 people between Aug. 18 and 20, asking a series of questions about the rising cost of housing and what should be done about it.

When asked which level of government deserves the most blame for the crisis, 40 per cent of respondents pointed the finger at the federal government and 32 per cent at their provincial government.

Just six per cent of those polled felt their municipal government was to blame and another 22 per cent said they were not sure.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

There are ten million bricks in the Empire State Building.

Focus on Climate

German supermarket trials charging true climate cost of foods

A leading discount supermarket in Germany has raised the prices of a selection of its products to reflect their real cost on people’s health and the environment.

In a week-long experiment in all 2,150 branches of the Penny chain, a range of nine products, mainly dairy and meat, will be priced at what experts from two universities have deemed to be their true cost, in relation to their effect on soil, climate, water use and health.

The “wahre Kosten” or “real costs” campaign has seen the price of wiener sausages rise from €3.19 to €6.01, mozzarella go up by 74% to €1.55, and fruit yoghurt increase by 31% from €1.19 to €1.56.

Click here to read more.

The ‘Gulf Stream’ will not collapse in 2025: What the alarmist headlines got wrong

Those following the latest developments in climate science would have been stunned by the jaw-dropping headlines last week proclaiming the “Gulf Stream could collapse as early as 2025, study suggests” — which responded to a recent publication in Nature Communications.

“Be very worried: Gulf Stream collapse could spark global chaos by 2025” announced the New York Post. “A crucial system of ocean currents is heading for a collapse that ‘would affect every person on the planet” noted CNN in the U.S. and repeated CTV News here in Canada.

One can only imagine how those already stricken with climate anxiety internalized this seemingly apocalyptic news as temperature records were being shattered across the globe.

This latest alarmist rhetoric provides a textbook example of how not to communicate climate science. These headlines do nothing to raise public awareness, let alone influence public policy to support climate solutions.

Click here to read more.

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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