Daily Update: August 8, 2023

August 8, 2023 | Daily Update

Niagara unemployment rate rises as 2,200 workers leave local labour force, blockbuster report bolsters effort to uncork wine industry, and more.

In this edition:

  • Ontario invests in free training for construction workers
  • Canada introduces Recognized Employer Pilot for Temporary Foreign Worker program
  • Canadian trade deficit widens to $3.7bn
  • Ottawa announces Powering Canada Forward plan for grid decarbonization
  • New hospital in Niagara Falls gets $2M donation from LJM
  • Affordable housing for seniors coming to Thorold
  • Reading Recommendations: Finance & Economy

Ontario invests in free training for construction workers

The Ontario government is investing $3.6 million to support three innovative projects to help over 2,200 women and young people across Ontario prepare for meaningful and well-paying careers in the construction trades. Led by the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario (PBCTCO), these free programs will focus on increasing female participation in the industry, providing online training tools and exclusive employment opportunities to jobseekers, and giving grade 12 students a first-hand look at life-changing careers in construction.

Click here to read more.

Canada introduces Recognized Employer Pilot for Temporary Foreign Worker program

Today, the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, launched the Recognized Employer Pilot (REP) under the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program. REP is a three-year initiative that will help to address labour shortages and reduce the administrative burden for repeat employers participating in the program who demonstrate a history of complying with program requirements.

Most employers need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) before they can submit a work permit application to hire a temporary foreign worker. An LMIA confirms that there is a need for a temporary foreign worker and that no Canadians or permanent residents are available to do the job. It also ensures that the employer’s job offer is legitimate, and that the employer has complied with Program requirements to protect workers.

Employers who become recognized will gain access to LMIA validity periods of up to 36 months, and, if required, simplified LMIA applications to hire additional workers in the future.

Click here to read more.

Canadian trade deficit widens to $3.7bn

In June, Canada’s merchandise exports decreased 2.2%, while imports were down 0.5%. As a result, Canada’s merchandise trade deficit with the world widened from $2.7 billion in May to $3.7 billion in June.

Following a 3.0% decrease in May, total exports were down 2.2% in June, with 9 of the 11 product sections posting declines. Total exports in real (or volume) terms fell 1.1% in June. As for export prices, they declined for the 11th time in the past 12 months. From June 2022 to June 2023, total export prices decreased 14.2%. However, during the same period, the value of total exports declined 12.3%, meaning that exports in real terms in fact increased.

Click here to read more.

Ottawa announces Powering Canada Forward plan for grid decarbonization

Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, released Powering Canada Forward, the Government of Canada’s vision for transforming Canada’s electricity sector, to decarbonize our grids by 2035, keep our electricity systems reliable and ensure household energy costs are affordable.

Powering Canada Forward underscores the critical importance of decarbonizing Canada’s electricity systems as a step toward achieving net-zero emissions across the economy by 2050 and ensuring a prosperous future for Canadians. To get there, the government stated, the paper invites Canadians to join an important national conversation that will inform the development of Canada’s first Clean Electricity Strategy to be released in 2024.

Click here to read more.

New hospital in Niagara Falls gets $2M donation from LJM

Another donation has been made for the new South Niagara Hospital with the Niagara Health Foundation’s announcement that LJM Developments Inc. and the Mian Family have donated $2M towards the ‘It’s Our Future’ campaign.

So far, over $55 million has been made in donations and pledges to help get shovels in the ground for the new hospital in Niagara Falls.

LJM Developments Inc. was founded in 2001 with a focus to invest, develop and manage commercial and residential properties in Canada.

Click here to read more.

Affordable housing for seniors coming to Thorold

A total of $18 million in funding is being provided to construct 60 new units for seniors in Thorold.

Twelve of units will be fully wheelchair accessible. The building is located at 5 Baker Street, and owned and operated by the Thorold Municipal Non-Profit Housing Corporation.

The project has sustainability goals, aiming for a 30% reduction in energy consumption and 33.5% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. Construction of the project is expected to be complete by Fall 2024.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

Apple launched a fashion line in 1986, a year after Steve Jobs was ousted. It included a $35 Apple watch.

Focus on Finance & Economy

Inflation is down overall, so why are my grocery bills still going up?

Despite Canada’s inflation rate falling to its lowest point in two years, food prices remain high. The Consumer Price Index slowed to 2.8 per cent in June compared to last year, but food prices increased by 8.3 per cent. Food prices in stores increased by 9.1 per cent.

The gap between general inflation and food prices is puzzling — and frustrating — for many, especially because the Bank of Canada’s interest rate hikes don’t seem to be affecting food prices at all. In periods of high inflation, central banks raise interest rates to moderate price increases, or, ideally, bring them down.

But food prices don’t respond to interest rate policies as much as other factors do. This is because food demand is relatively steady — we can’t put off food purchases like we might put off the purchase of a new computer or car.

So if interest rates won’t help bring down food prices, what will?

Click here to read more.

An exodus from Canada’s priciest provinces is driving many to plant ‘New Roots’

“Alberta is calling,” read the ads plastered across Toronto’s transit system.

“Find things you’d never expect,” they coax, “like an affordable house.”

The advertisements, a blunt recruitment initiative from the Alberta government launched last fall, tout ample job opportunities alongside comparisons of housing prices between Toronto and Calgary.

For the family of Suzi Hansen and Tyler Brown, Alberta’s advertising campaign seems to have worked.

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 3, 2023

August 3, 2023 | Daily Update

Minister of Labour requests inquiry into possibility of negotiated settlement in BC strike, Niagara Region seeks applicants for committees, and more.

In this edition:

  • Prime Minister announces new Lieutenant Governor for Ontario
  • Canadian universities collectively report $1.5bn budget surplus despite pandemic
  • Instacart slashes shopper minimum order pay rates from $7 to $4
  • Your latest questions about Bill C-18 and the blocking of Canadian news answered
  • Orangeville father and son collaborate on Niagara region wine guide
  • Beautification makes for good first impressions for business
  • Reading Recommendations: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

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Prime Minister announces new Lieutenant Governor for Ontario

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced the appointment of Edith Dumont as the new Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.

A passionate educator, Ms. Dumont is a special education teacher, a school principal, and an executive. She was the first woman to lead the Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario. Most recently, she served as Vice-President of Partnerships, Communities, and International Relations at the Université de l’Ontario français, in Toronto.

When she assumes office, Ms. Dumont will be the first Franco-Ontarian Lieutenant Governor in the province’s history.

Click here to read more.

Canadian universities collectively report $1.5bn budget surplus despite pandemic

In 2021/2022, despite the ongoing challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, universities collectively reported a $1.5 billion budget surplus. This was slightly lower than the $1.7 billion annual average recorded in the five years (2015/2016 to 2019/2020) preceding the pandemic. All dollar figures in this release are expressed in 2022 constant dollars to factor in inflation and enable comparisons across time.

The 2021/2022 fiscal year was marked by the gradual return of students, faculty and staff members to campuses, which positively impacted universities’ product and service-based revenues such as residences, parking fees and facility rentals. Universities also faced challenges with decreased revenue from government funding and investment income.

Click here to read more.

Instacart slashes shopper minimum order pay rates from $7 to $4

Instacart is dropping its minimum order base pay rates for shoppers from $7 to $4, leaving many workers up in arms about the pay cut, reports Business Insider. In fact, shoppers told Insider that they would “rather quit and work for McDonald’s or DoorDash” after the company lowered their minimum order pay.  

Some of the workers say they’re considering switching over to restaurant order deliveries (which don’t require shopping), while others are considering alternatives like full-time jobs.

Click here to read more.

Your latest questions about Bill C-18 and the blocking of Canadian news answered

It’s August 2023. Do you know where your Canadian news is?

All Facebook and Instagram users in Canada won’t be able to access news on those platforms soon, after parent company Meta said it would shut out news in the country over the next few weeks.

The social media giant has been signalling the move since the Liberal government passed its Online News Act, Bill C-18, in June. Google may follow suit.

Click here to read more.

Orangeville father and son collaborate on Niagara region wine guide

An Orangeville father and his son have just released a photo-rich Niagara region winery compilation called “Niagara: A Wine Lover’s Guide”.

Written by Thistle and Rose pub co-owner Bill Perrie, along with his son, Andrew Perrie, this 159-page compendium of over 75 wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake and the surrounding Niagara countryside was a year-long family project and an authentic exercise in father and son relationship building.

“I have a very proud feeling about this book we’ve written together,” said Bill. “Andrew and I are both passionate about wine and to collaborate on this project together was something I’ll never forget. This project helped to strengthen the bond we already had.”

Click here to read more.

Beautification makes for good first impressions for business

Some businesses sink enormous amounts of money into marketing their business, but Alan Filer has a grassroots way of raising the profile of his financial planning business: tapping into the beauty of Mother Nature.

When the world was plunged into the pandemic in 2020, the founder of Lifetime Financial Planning Group (LFPG) on Portage Road in Niagara Falls embarked on a beautification process that has caught the eye of the Niagara Falls Horticultural Society, which hopes other businesses in the city follow suit.

“This was all weeds and a few red bushes,” Filer said of the property surrounding his building.

He found motivation to change all that in the summer of 2020 after the pandemic hit and all those lockdowns and restrictions and bans on gatherings dragged on for months at a time.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

60% of the world’s steel is recycled.

Focus on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Québec’s cultural awareness training makes flawed assumptions that do not prioritize the safety of Indigenous people

Québec’s Minister Responsible for Relations with the First Nations and the Inuit, Ian Lafrenière, recently introduced Bill 32, which aims to “establish the cultural safety approach within the health and social services network.”

The intent of the bill is for health and social service networks in Québec to adopt a cultural safety approach towards Indigenous people, taking into account cultural and historical realities.

In November 2020, in the aftermath of the death of Joyce Echaquan at the Centre hospitalier de Lanaudière in Joliette, the Québec government introduced 90-minute mandatory Indigenous cultural awareness training for all employees of the province’s ministry of health and social services.

However, since the training program was launched, Indigenous leaders and health professionals have said it fails to improve cultural safety and poses safety risks to Indigenous Peoples.

Click here to read more.

Mary Simon Is Leading Indigenous Peoples to New Heights

In May 2021, ground-penetrating radar detected more than 200 potential unmarked graves of children in an apple orchard beside the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. The discovery exposed the crimes underlying a nation built on land taken from Indigenous peoples—systemic abuse, assault, rape, even murder—and reinforced the need for a national reckoning. Makeshift memorials sprung up across the country. People took to the streets. Institutions named after the architects of cultural genocide changed their nomenclature. Statues fell. Churches were vandalized. Some even burned. And as more First Nations initiated their own investigations, the potential number of child-sized graves climbed into the thousands.

Less than two months after the discovery at Kamloops, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Inuk leader and former Canadian diplomat Mary Jeannie May Simon to offer her a job. Canada has had four women (two of them refugees) and dozens of white men serve as governor general for a term that usually lasts five years. But there had never been an Indigenous person appointed. (New Zealand, another former settler colony of the British empire, has had three Māori governors general.)

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: July 27, 2023

July 27, 2023 | Daily Update

Universal childcare increased Quebec female workforce participation, low-income workers to receive first enhanced Workers Benefit payments, and more.

In this edition:

  • Universal childcare in Quebec increased female workforce participation by 9%
  • Latest data indicate little change in number of paid employees as unfilled jobs continue to decline
  • Low-income workers to receive first enhanced Canada Workers Benefit payments
  • Bank of Canada publishes 2024 schedule for policy interest rate announcements
  • Niagara Chief of Police and Deputy announce retirement
  • Five-storey, 71-unit building approved in Merritton
  • Fort Erie seeks public feedback on 2023-2026 Corporate Strategic Plan
  • Pelham adjusts procurement policy to allow rejection of bids not in best interests of town
  • Niagara-on-the-Lake to explore enhanced bylaw officer presence
  • Reading Recommendation: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Universal childcare in Quebec increased female workforce participation by 9%

In Quebec, the introduction of the low-cost universal child care program resulted in an increase in the labour force participation rate of women and in the use of paid child care, a new Statistics Canada study has revealed.

Hours worked rose by 9% for women with children in Quebec from 1998 to 2015—a contribution of $2.8 billion to gross domestic product.

Workers in other provinces paid an average of $9,616 per year for the full-time care of children aged 0-5. When considering children who were in any number of hours of care per week (including part-time care), parents paid an average of $7,294, excluding Quebec.

Click here to read more.

Latest data indicate little change in number of paid employees as unfilled jobs continue to decline

The number of employees receiving pay and benefits from their employer—measured as “payroll employees” in the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours—increased by 23,300 (+0.1%) in May, excluding federal government public administration. Meanwhile, the number of job vacancies declined by 26,000 (-3.3%) to 759,000 in May, continuing the steady downward trend observed over the past year.

Click here to read more.

Low-income workers to receive first enhanced Canada Workers Benefit payments

Starting tomorrow, millions of low- and modest-income Canadian workers will receive their first automatic advance payments of the newly enhanced Canada Workers Benefit.

The Canada Workers Benefit will provide up to $2,616 total for an eligible family, and $1,518 total for eligible single workers, split between three advance payments this fiscal year (in July 2023, October 2023, and January 2024), and a final payment after filing their 2023 tax return.

Low- and modest-income Canadian workers who received the Canada Workers Benefit in 2022 will automatically receive their advance payments, with no need to apply.

Click here to read more.

Bank of Canada publishes 2024 schedule for policy interest rate announcements

The Bank of Canada today published its 2024 schedule for policy interest rate announcements and the release of the quarterly Monetary Policy Report. It also reconfirmed the scheduled interest rate announcement dates for the remainder of this year.

In addition, the Bank published its schedule for the release of the Business Outlook Survey and the Canadian Survey of Consumer Expectations, and the Financial System Review.

Click here to read more.

Police Chief Bryan MacCulloch and Deputy Chief Brett Flynn have formally advised the Niagara Police Services Board of their intention to retire from the Niagara Regional Police Service, effective February 1, 2024.

Chief of Police Bryan MacCulloch has dedicated over 39 years to the policing profession. He was first appointed Chief of Police on September 28, 2017, and will have been in that position for over six years when he retires on February 1, 2024.

Deputy Chief Brett Flynn has devoted over 33 years of distinguished service to the Niagara Regional Police Service. He was appointed Deputy Chief of Police on September 28, 2017 and will have served in that rank for over six years when he retires on February 1, 2024.

Click here to read more.

Five-storey, 71-unit building approved in Merritton

It was a tale of two developments for St. Catharines’ Merritton ward this week.

One proposed building was deemed a good fit for its neighbourhood and got thumbs up from city council. The other proposal didn’t fare as well.

Both developments were for similar-sized pieces of land but the buildings were drastically different sizes with dissimilar surroundings.

Approved unanimously were zoning amendments for a five-storey, 71-unit residential building at 47 Hastings St., an area behind the Sobeys plaza on Glendale Avenue. The 0.45-hectare plot is vacant and was used for overflow parking for Stone Mill Inn and Johnny Rocco’s Italian Grill.

Click here to read more.

Fort Erie seeks public feedback on 2023-2026 Corporate Strategic Plan

On July 24, 2023, the Town of Fort Erie Council unveiled their draft 2023-2026 Corporate Strategic Plan (CSP) that identifies priorities that will lead the municipality over the next four years. The draft CSP includes six key pillars and 27 specific “strategy to actions.”

The Town encourages the public to provide feedback on the draft Plan through an online survey from July 26 to August 11, 2023. Hard copies of the survey are available at Town Hall. To complete the survey, please visit:  CSP Community Survey

Click here to read more.

Pelham adjusts procurement policy to allow rejection of bids not in best interests of town

On February 21, 2023, Pelham Council approved the Procurement Policy – Purchasing Goods and Services for the Town of Pelham. Council approved the recommended revision received on July 26 to authorize the Town to reject a low bid where the bidder’s experience or references result in a reasonable and good faith concern that the bidder will be unable to deliver the contracted goods or services or that the bid is not in the best interests of the Town.

Click here to read more.

Niagara-on-the-Lake to explore enhanced bylaw officer presence

It may be too late for this year, but 2024 could see enhanced bylaw enforcement in the town.

Councillors approved a motion from Maria Mavridis at its Tuesday, July 25 council meeting that asks staff to produce a business case for increasing the number of bylaw officers. That would be considered during council’s budget deliberations for 2024.

“It’s asking for us to have the business case,” Mavridis said. “I would like to ensure for the next season we’re prepared.”

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

Every year, Walker Industries’ Niagara Composting Facility processes over 55,000 metric tonnes of Niagara’s organic waste and leaf & yard brush into premium AA compost.

Focus on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

The progress of women in the workplace is at a standstill. How can we break through the glass ceiling?

Women are promoted less than men because they are deemed to have less leadership potential than men.

These are the findings of a study published in 2022 by professors Alan Benson of the University of Minnesota, Danielle Li of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and Kelly Shue of Yale University and the NBER. Their conclusion is based on the consultation of 30,000 performance evaluation forms of employees working in a large American retail chain.

According to a recent World Economic Forum report on gender inequality in the world, at this rate, it would take another 132 years (compared to 136 in 2021) to close the gender gap.

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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Is low risk perception a problem in your workplace?

July 27, 2023 | WSPS

Many people may find themselves completing the same jobs and tasks daily. But how many times do they pause to consider the risks that are related to these seemingly mundane tasks?

“If people don’t fully appreciate the risks, health and safety protocols may not be top of mind,” says Hamish Morgan, Consulting Services Manager at WSPS.

What is low risk perception?

Low risk perception refers to the cognitive bias in which individuals underestimate the potential dangers or hazards present in their work environment. “Over time, as people become more comfortable with a task, they can become complacent.”  When the job becomes routine, they don’t think about the risks. They forget that certain procedures are in place specifically to protect them. Managers and supervisors can become relaxed too when it comes to reviewing and enforcing those procedures.

Competing pressures to get a job done can inadvertently downplay the risks as well. Without them being top of mind, safe protocols are less likely to be applied in the workplace

Don’t let an injury be a reminder of risk. “You need to continuously communicate the risks in a way that workers, supervisors, and managers can relate to,” says Hamish. He emphasizes the importance of reminding everyone what’s at stake when health and safety procedures are not followed. “It’s not about fearmongering,” says Hamish. “It’s about making sure everyone understands the reality of the consequences when health and safety protocols are not prioritized.”

Communicating risk

Here are some suggestions to remind employees that health and safety should be top of mind to prevent low risk perception.

  • Regularly communicate the potential outcomes of an incident through internal campaigns, videos, and meeting discussions. Go beyond what the injury would look like. Show how this type of injury would impact a person’s family and daily life.
  • Embed risk information in the training. It’s not enough to explain how to complete a task safely. People want to understand why. Include information about past injuries and how procedures have been adapted as a result.
  • Have Threads of Life speakers, or others in the community, share their stories. Threads of Life is a Canadian registered charity dedicated to supporting families after a workplace tragedy. Their volunteers share how a life-altering workplace injury, occupational disease, or work-related fatality has impacted their families. When people learn about an actual event that occurred and meet the people impacted, it helps others understand the real consequences of not taking health and safety precautions.
  • Include supervisors and managers in your campaigns and communications about risks. Harness the internal responsibility system (IRS) by making sure all workplace parties have a clear understanding of the risks. With an established IRS, people will hold each other accountable to following health and safety procedures. When managers and supervisors understand the potential outcomes, they are less likely to look the other way when safety procedures are ignored.
  • Ensure workers who perform the task participate in risk assessments along with experienced workers and supervisors who can share insight from past incidents. Going through the risk assessment process—thinking about what could happen and how it could happen—will help keep these risks top of mind. It will help everyone develop an understanding of why certain procedures are so important.
  • Staff will take cues from leadership. If safety is prioritized it will be evident in the workplace culture and part of regular discussion. A detailed assessment, with an appreciation of the risks, can be an important foundation for effective procedure development and training. Refresher training with follow up is a good way to ensure everyone is thinking about potential consequences. Enforcement of procedures can be another.

How WSPS Can Help

Consulting

Connect with a WSPS consultant for help with developing your health and safety program.

Resources

Free Webinar

Training

The information in this article is accurate as of its publication date.

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Daily Update: July 21, 2023

July 21, 2023 | Daily Update

Industry champions celebrated at 2023 Canadian Wine Industry Awards, Niagara Region moves forward to support more attainable housing, and more.

In this edition:

  • Industry champions celebrated at 2023 Canadian Wine Industry Awards ceremony
  • Niagara Region moves forward with plans to support more attainable housing, find efficiencies
  • City of Welland adopts Affordable Rental Housing Community Improvement Program
  • Ontarians wagering far more on legal online casino games than on sports betting
  • Retail sales in Canada up 0.2 per cent to $66 billion in May

Industry champions celebrated at 2023 Canadian Wine Industry Awards ceremony

Wine Growers Canada (WGC), the national association representing the Canadian wine industry, honoured industry leaders and champions through the 2023 Canadian Wine Industry Awards, which took place this week in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

This year’s distinguished recipients are:

  • Canadian Wine Industry Awards of Distinction – Jay Wright, former President & CEO at Arterra Wines Canada, and John Howard, Owner/ Founder of Megalomaniac Winery
  • Canadian Wine Industry Champion Awards – Minister of Agriculture & Agri-Food, Marie-Claude Bibeau & the Parliamentary National Wine Caucus
  • The Karl Kaiser Canadian Winemaker Award – Jean-Laurent “J-L” Groux, the founding winemaker of Stratus Vineyards
  • Ontario Wine Industry Champion Award – Rebecca Mackenzie.

Click here for more details.

Niagara Region moves forward with plans to support more attainable housing, find efficiencies

In response to some of the most pressing concerns of residents and businesses, yesterday Niagara Region outlined its initial plans to both increase the supply of attainable housing options and find ways to better utilize public resources across Niagara.

In March, Regional Council worked with staff to create the Strategic Transformation Office, a division that houses staff dedicated to finding opportunities to better share municipal resources, as well as increase attainable housing options across Niagara.

Highlights of the new Office’s early work include:

  • Shared Services – Niagara Region has dedicated resources specifically focused on finding more opportunities to share services between Niagara’s municipalities, to make both service delivery more seamless for residents and ultimately more cost-effective
  • Attainable Housing – Staff outlined initial plans to increase the supply of attainable housing that is available across the region. The work will complement the initiatives undertaken by Niagara Region Housing and the Region’s Community Services Department related to supportive, subsidized and community housing programs.
  • GO Implementation – Staff is also tasked with carrying forward the final stages of Council’s GO Station Development Strategy.

Click here for more details.

City of Welland adopts Affordable Rental Housing Community Improvement Program 

This week, Welland City Council officially adopted an Affordable Rental Housing Community Improvement Plan (CIP). This program aims to establish a new housing partnership with multiple providers to address the city’s affordable housing needs.

The CIP and its accompanying programs offer financial incentives to private property owners and non-profit housing providers who wish to build affordable rental housing. Creating the CIP is part of the City’s Housing Action Plan and will help the City meet its housing growth target.

Click here for more details.

Ontarians wagering far more on legal online casino games than on sports betting

Ontarians’ total wagers on online casino games stand far higher than what’s spent on sports-related betting, according to newly released figures from iGaming Ontario (iGO), providing a first glimpse into how these two segments compare.

The province launched a regulated online gaming market last year, allowing licensed operators to provide services including casino games, sports betting and poker services. Data released this week by iGO, a subsidiary of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario that manages the regulated market, indicates that Ontarians placed $14 billion in total wagers in the recent April – June quarter.

Together, these wagers generated $545 million in gaming revenues. By comparison, the market generated $162 million in these revenues during the equivalent quarter last year, its first in operation.

Click here for more details.

Statistics Canada says retail sales up 0.2 per cent to $66 billion in May

Statistics Canada says retail sales rose 0.2 per cent to $66.0 billion in May, helped by gains at motor vehicle and parts dealers, and food and beverage retailers. Core retail sales – which exclude gas stations and fuel vendors, along with motor vehicle and parts dealers – were unchanged in May. In Ontario, retail sales were down for the second time in three months.

Statistics Canada also said its initial estimate for June suggested retail sales for that month were unchanged, but cautioned the figure would be revised.

Click here for more details.

Did you know?

If you type the word “askew” into the Google search box, the entire page will tilt slightly.

Focus on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Why we should talk about ‘belonging’ when we talk about DEI

Art Markman; Fast Company

Over the past few years, many DEI efforts have added “belonging” as a core element (and have sometimes been recast as DEIB). The concept of belonging focuses on an individual’s sense that they feel like a member of the community and deserve to be there.

The sense of belonging matters, because it affects how people deal with adversity. When something goes wrong, that can either be motivating or demotivating – and belonging plays a role in determining which it is. If you feel like you do belong in your role and in your organization, then setbacks are just part of the normal challenge of doing difficult things. Your belief in yourself creates a sense that your actions can lead to desirable outcomes. As a result, setbacks can be motivating.

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: July 20, 2023

July 20, 2023 | Daily Update

Niagara businesses benefiting from $3.6-billion new hospital, Niagara College wins grand national champion U.S. beer competition, and more.

In this edition:

  • Featured content from Meridian: Time to Outsource Payroll
  • Niagara businesses already benefiting from $3.6-billion build of new hospital
  • Study shows that rental costs outpace minimum wages in every single province
  • Canadians receiving regular Employment Insurance benefits on the rise
  • Internet use among Canadians reaching 95 per cent
  • Niagara College (NC) wins grand national champion at U.S. beer competition
  • Nissan to adopt Tesla EV-charging design in U.S. and Canada

Time to outsource payroll

Sponsored content from Meridian Credit Union

Sooner or later, many entrepreneurs reach a point where the effort and energy they put into managing payroll becomes a source of aggravation, taking them away from other critical business activities. This is why many “solopreneurs” and small businesses choose to outsource and automate payroll so they can focus on doing what they love to do.

Whether you’re on your own or running any size of company, it may be time to outsource the job to full-time, dedicated experts.

Click here to discover the benefits of outsourced payroll.

 

Niagara businesses already benefiting from $3.6-billion build of new hospital

It is local workers who are now on site preparing for construction of the 12-storey hospital to serve south Niagara residents, although the contact to build it went to company from London, Ont.

And Rankin Construction chief executive officer Tom Rankin hopes his workers and other local tradespeople and suppliers will remain heavily involved as EllisDon Infrastructure Healthcare – the company awarded the $3.6-billion contract in February to design, build, finance and maintain the hospital – develops the facility over the next five years.

Niagara Health vice-president for finance, redevelopment and facilities Angela Zangari said the hospital system placed a focus on local trades and suppliers from the outset.

Zangari said Niagara Health teamed up with Niagara Economic Development to establish an online database to link EllisDon with local contractors and suppliers who could meet its needs as construction progressed.

She said Niagara Health also took steps to ensure equity seeking groups, as well as apprentices, would be included during the development of the south Niagara hospital.

Click here for more details.

Study shows that rental costs outpace minimum wages in every single province

The Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives released a study on Tuesday that compared the gap between the minimum wage and apartment rental costs across the country in 2022. The study calculated hourly wages necessary to afford rent, allocating 30 per cent or less of income earned toward rent while working 40 hours a week, referring to that figure as the “rental wage.”

“The rental wage is considerably higher than minimum wage in every single province, even in the three provinces with the highest minimum wage in Canada (B.C., Ontario, and Alberta),” the study said.

Click here for more details.

Canadians receiving regular Employment Insurance benefits on the rise 

The number of Canadians receiving regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits rose by 9,800 (+2.5 per cent) to 399,000 in May, the first increase since July 2022. This was driven by increases in Quebec (+10.2 per cent) and British Columbia (+6.1 per cent). Meanwhile, the number of regular EI beneficiaries fell in the four Atlantic provinces.

According to the Labour Force Survey (LFS), the unemployment rate in Canada rose 0.2 percentage points to 5.2 per cent in May 2023, the first increase since August 2022.

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Internet use among Canadians reaching 95 per cent

Statistics Canada reports that year over year, various trends in technology reflect a smarter and more connected lifestyle, benefiting both the younger and older generations. The year 2022 was no exception, with Internet use among Canadians aged 15 years and older reaching 95 per cent, up from 92 per cent in 2020. The largest increase was seen among Canadians aged 75 years and older, up from 62 per cent in 2020 to 72 per cent in 2022.

As the use of digital technologies grows, Canadians are becoming more acquainted with newer technologies and incorporating them into their daily routines.

More than three in four Canadians used the Internet to conduct general online banking, and one in six used it to manage investments online, such as stocks, mutual funds and cryptocurrencies.

The proportion of Canadians who experienced cyber security incidents increased from 58 per cent in 2020 to 70 per cent in 2022. The most common incidents reported were receiving unsolicited spam and receiving fraudulent content.

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Niagara College (NC) wins grand national champion at U.S. beer competition

NC won five medals and the top title at the 2023 U.S. Open College Beer Championship. Every beer that the College’s Teaching Brewery entered in this year’s competition achieved a medal, including two golds, two silvers, and a bronze.

Final term students from the College’s two-year Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management diploma program were behind each of the five medals.

“We’re so very proud of these students and this program,” said Maija Saari, Associate Dean, Culinary, Tourism and Beverage Studies. “It is absolutely incredible to witness such a showing at an international competition for student-produced beers.”

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Nissan to adopt Tesla EV-charging design in U.S. and Canada

Yesterday, Nissan became the first Japanese automaker to agree to adopt Tesla’s electric-vehicle charging technology in the U.S. and Canada, joining global peers in expanding their fast-charger network to boost EV adoption.

Starting in 2025, Nissan will equip its EVs with the Tesla-developed North American Charging Standard (NACS) port, as it targets 40 per cent of U.S. vehicle sales to be fully electric by 2030, the company said. American rivals Ford, General Motors and Rivian are among the companies that have accepted NACS.

Click here for more details.

Did you know?

The shortest commercial flight in the world is in Scotland and takes just 90 seconds by plane.

Focus on Climate

International Monetary Fund (IMF) applauds Canada’s climate action, warns of ‘race to the bottom’ with subsidies

Nojoud Al Mallees; Financial Post

The IMF applauded Canada’s climate action, including its carbon-pricing regime and 2023 federal budget investments in the green economy. But it called for better international co-ordination to avoid a “race to the bottom” where countries compete over investments with even larger subsidies.

“Moreover, the current strong focus on electric vehicles and their batteries in particular — as key to Canada’s green industrial development will require a cautious approach given rapid technological change,” the report says.

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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Small Biz Safety Podcast: Protect employees from wildfire smoke

July 20, 2023 | WSPS

Wildfires are expected to continue for the rest of the summer and to increase in intensity, severity, size and duration in future. Learn how you can use the Air Quality Index and protect employees from the impact of wildfire smoke. Guest is WSPS Occupational Hygienist, Gord Pajuluoma.

Note: This episode was recorded on July 19, 2023. All information presented was in effect at that time

Show Notes
• 6 ways to protect employees from wildfire smoke: www.wsps.ca/resource-hub/articl…from-wildfire-smoke
• Wildfire Smoke in Canada: Understand the health risks to ensure workplace safety with a Q&A: www.wsps.ca/resource-hub/articl…re-workplace-safety
• Air Quality Health Index: weather.gc.ca/airquality/pages/p…_summary/on_e.html
• Wildfire smoke, air quality and your health: www.canada.ca/en/environment-cli…ildfire-smoke.html
• Guide to developing human rights policies and procedures: www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-primer-…es-and-procedures
• Wildfire Smoke infographic: www.ohcow.on.ca/wp-content/upload…phic-06-22-23.pdf

Contact Workplace Safety & Prevention Services
· Looking for Small Biz resources and more information? Visit the WSPS Small Business Centre: www.wsps.ca/Small-Business-Centre/Home.aspx
· Have health and safety questions? Contact the WSPS Customer Care online by visiting www.wsps.ca/forms/customer-care or calling 1-877-494-WSPS (9777).
· Have questions about this podcast or show ideas? We’d love to hear from you! Contact smallbizsafety@wsps.ca

Follow WSPS on social media
· Twitter: twitter.com/WSPS_NEWS
· Facebook: www.facebook.com/wsps.news
· LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/workplac…vention-services
· YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/WSPSpromo

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Daily Update: July 19, 2023

July 19, 2023 | Daily Update

Niagara Region Transit taking another step towards streamlining payments, Niagara groups cleaning up Great Lakes receive provincial funding, and more.

In this edition:

  • B.C. port workers serve notice to strike again starting Saturday
  • Canada defends digital taxes but sees path for global deal
  • Investment in building construction declined 1.2 per cent to $19.9 billion in May
  • Niagara groups cleaning up Great Lakes receive provincial funding
  • Niagara Region Transit taking another step towards streamlining payments

B.C. port workers serve notice to strike again starting Saturday

B.C. port workers say they will resume striking as soon as Saturday after their Tuesday job action was ruled illegal and they were ordered back to work this morning.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada served the B.C. Maritime Employers Association with a 72-hour strike notice starting at 9 a.m. PT Saturday morning, the association said.

Click here for more details.

Canada defends digital taxes but sees path for global deal 

Yesterday, Canada defended its decision to push ahead with its implementation of digital services taxes starting next year, citing national interest even as Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland expressed hope in reaching an international consensus.

More than 140 countries were planning to implement a 2021 deal that would overhaul decades-old rules on how governments tax multinational companies that were widely considered to be outdated as digital giants like Apple or Amazon.com can book their profits in low-tax countries.

Last week, however, most countries set to apply the first part of the deal in 2024 agreed to hold off by at least another year to reach a consensus on tax details. Ottawa refused, saying an extension of the freeze would disadvantage Canada relative to governments that have been collecting revenue under their pre-existing tax regimes.

Click here for more details.

Investment in building construction declined 1.2 per cent to $19.9 billion in May 

According to Statistics Canada, investment in Canadian building construction declined 1.2 per cent to $19.9 billion in May. The residential sector decreased 1.7 per cent to $14.0 billion, while the non-residential sector was stable at $5.9 billion.

The decline in residential building construction in May brought Alberta down to its lowest level since December 2020. This was also the province’s ninth consecutive monthly decrease.

At a national level, single family home investment fell 2.9% to $7.4 billion in May 2023. Overall, seven provinces posted declines.

Click here for more details.

Niagara groups cleaning up Great Lakes receive provincial funding 

Niagara Coastal and Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority to benefit from Ontario’s investment of $6 million to restore the Great Lakes by reducing plastic litter, excess nutrients and road salt from entering lakes, rivers and streams.

Niagara Coastal will expand its Visual Assessment Survey Tool (VAST) web platform that engages coastal citizens, community groups and local organizations in collecting data to fill knowledge gaps for Great Lakes shorelines, including the Niagara River Area of Concern.

With the funding, Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority will conduct studies and develop a plan to clean up contaminated sediment in a tributary of the Niagara River, engage the community in decision-making related to habitat restoration goals, and provide students and teachers with educational opportunities to learn about the lakes.

Ontario’s Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River shoreline is the longest freshwater coastline in the world, measuring 10,000 kilometres.

Click here for more details.

Niagara Region Transit taking another step towards streamlining payments

Niagara Region Transit has rolled out new fareboxes on all Niagara Falls conventional buses and paratransit vehicles.

The upgrade in Niagara Falls will streamline fareboxes across Niagara to a single, magnetic stripe technology, allowing the transit operation to transition to a single, new local transit pass in areas with bus and paratransit services already established.

The installation of the new fareboxes, funded through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, is expected to take one week.

Click here for more details.

Did you know?

Volvo invented the three-point seatbelt in 1959 but gave away the patent for free to save lives.

Focus on Finance and Economy

Canadians’ vacation plans hit by inflation, airline delays: Leger survey

Canadian Press

A third of Canadians have changed or cancelled their vacation plans due to inflation, according to a new survey by Leger.

In addition to concerns about inflation, Canadians are also feeling the sting of flight delays and cancellations when it comes to their vacation plans.

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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