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Daily Update: March 28

March 28, 2024 | Daily Update

In this edition:

  • Chair Bradley delivers State of the Region address
  • City of Niagara Falls 2024 Development Charges Background Study released to the public
  • New Canadian Chamber report reveals businesses are proceeding with caution as economic confidence edges up
  • Economy posts 0.6% growth in January, led by service sector
  • Number of unfilled jobs continues slow but steady decline
  • BuildForce hikes construction workforce need estimates
  • Business leaders say housing biggest risk to economy: KPMG survey
  • Focus on Human Resources

Chair Bradley delivers State of the Region address

The State of the Region event with Chair Bradley, powered by PenFinancial Credit Union, is a gathering of local business leaders, community members, and elected officials to discuss the current state and future prospects of the region. Chair Bradley presents a comprehensive overview of the current economic conditions, as well as key initiatives and projects underway to support growth and development.
Click here to view the video of the event.

Click here to read the transcript.

Click here to read coverage in the St. Catharines Standard.

City of Niagara Falls 2024 Development Charges Background Study released to the public

The City of Niagara Falls has released its 2024 Development Charges Background Study. The City engaged Hemson Consulting Ltd. to update the study, and  the proposed Development Charges By-law(s) will follow prior to the public meeting scheduled for April 30, 2024.

Development Charges (DCs) are a tool available for municipalities to recover the cost of projects required to meet the increased need for services from growth and development, and are governed by the Development Charges Act, 1997 (DCA).

Click here to read more.

New Canadian Chamber report reveals businesses are proceeding with caution as economic confidence edges up

Canadian businesses are stuck in a cautious near-term holding pattern according to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s new Business Expectations Index (BEI). The BEI finds that business sentiment in Canada remains weak in the first quarter of 2024 (at 99.1), despite improving from the previous quarter (93.9). For this indicator, an index score of 100 is the threshold that separates improving sentiment (scores above 100) from deteriorating sentiment (scores below 100).

The business outlook in Canada is currently being dragged down by Ontario (96.8) and British Columbia (98.0) but is notably stronger in Atlantic Canada (102.6) and Quebec (102.5). At the local level, business sentiment is weakest in major Southwestern Ontario cities (including London, Toronto and Hamilton) and Vancouver.

Click here to read more.

Economy posts 0.6% growth in January, led by service sector

Real gross domestic product (GDP) grew 0.6% in January. Services-producing industries increased 0.7% in January. Goods-producing industries were up 0.2% in January 2024 with the utilities and manufacturing sectors rebounding from declines in the previous month. The educational services sector (+6.0%) was the largest contributor to growth in January as activity rebounded from the declines recorded in November and December that resulted from the public sector workers’ strikes in Quebec.

The manufacturing sector fully recouped December’s decline with a 0.9% increase in January, while a sudden drop in temperatures mid-January in parts of the country contributed to increased activity in the utilities sector (+3.2%), posting its largest growth rate since January 2022.

Click here to read more.

Number of unfilled jobs continues slow but steady decline

There were 632,100 job vacancies across all sectors in January, little changed from December, but down 34,800 (-5.2%) from November, Statistics Canada reported today. On a year-over-year basis, vacancies were down by 226,700 (-26.4%) in January.

Job vacancies declined in three sectors in January: transport and warehousing (-16,300; -38.5%), manufacturing (-4,300; -10.2%), and wholesale trade (-3,900; -14.8%). These declines were offset by increases in retail trade (+6,700; +11.3%), professional, scientific and technical services (+5,000; +13.3%), finance and insurance (+3,500; +17.8%), and arts, entertainment and recreation (+2,300; +24.1%). The remaining 13 sectors were little changed.

Click here to read more.

BuildForce hikes construction workforce need estimates

BuildForce Canada has hiked its estimate of national construction workforce needs significantly over the next decade after sizing up the next 10 years of projected sustained growth in the sector.

BuildForce executive director Bill Ferreira says the new workforce estimates are prompted by project demand that looks to fire on all cylinders through 2033.

“Demand keeps growing. And we’ve been seeing heightened demands, as opposed to plateauing,” said Ferreira recently. “Every year that we look at this, the demand for construction services seems to be rising.”

Click here to read more.

Business leaders say housing biggest risk to economy: KPMG survey

Business leaders see the housing crisis as the biggest risk to the economy, a new survey from KPMG Canada shows.

It found 94 per cent of respondents agreed that high housing costs and a lack of supply are the top risk, and that housing should be a main focus in the upcoming federal budget. The survey questioned 534 businesses.

Housing issues are forcing businesses to boost pay to better attract talent and budget for higher labour costs, agreed 87 per cent of respondents.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

Between 1871 and 1900, the United States laid down an average of 25 kilometres of railroad track per day.

Focus on Human Resources

Visitor management plays big role in workplace violence prevention strategies

At any organization, creating a safe work environment needs to be a top priority. Workplace violence can happen at any time, so organizations need to be prepared to identify potential threats and intervene before issues escalate.

When workers are threatened, so are operations, so the more precautions and responsive measures an organization can take, the more they can minimize the impact of violent events. This is often easier said than done, but with the right tools in place, organizations can begin to mitigate and in some cases prevent workplace violence.

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: March 27

March 27, 2024 | Daily Update

In this edition:

  • 610 CKTB’s Tim Denis receives award at State of the Region following retirement announcement
  • Niagara-on-the-Lake Town Council approves 2024 operating budget
  • PM announces highlights from upcoming federal budget
  • Municipalities must prepare for Niagara Health’s big change in 2028, says its CEO
  • Ontario deficit ballooning to $9.8B next year amid slow economic growth
  • Cisco study shows that few organizations in Canada are prepared to defend against cyber attacks
  • Focus on Climate

610 CKTB’s Tim Denis receives award at State of the Region following retirement announcement

A big day for 610 CKTB’s Tim Denis.

Denis, who has hosted Niagara in the Morning for 29 years, announced his retirement this morning after a successful 47-year broadcasting career.

He was honoured today at Niagara’s State of the Region event, receiving the Community Leader Award.

Other award winners include Strong Water Singers, Mark Basciano, Valentina Agudo Chacon, The Pie Guys, and Liz Benneian.

Click here to read more.

Niagara-on-the-Lake Town Council approves 2024 operating budget

At the March 26, 2024, Special Council Meeting, Niagara-on-the-Lake Town Council approved the 2024 Operating Budget at $48.5M, an increase of 6.75% (or $1,010,156) from the 2023 Operating Budget (after consideration of assessment growth of .90%).

The Operating Budget allocates funds to maintain the day-to-day functions of the Town and establishes the tax rate. It primarily covers expenses related to recreation programs, parks, fire services, planning and development, administrative services, road and sidewalk maintenance, winter operations, library services, and other similar costs.

Click here to read more.

PM announces highlights from upcoming federal budget

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced measures from the upcoming Budget 2024 which aim to make the playing field fairer for renters and make it easier for them to become homeowners.

These measures include:

  • Launching a new $15 million Tenant Protection Fund.
  • Creating a new Canadian Renters’ Bill of Rights, developed and implemented in partnership with provinces and territories.
  • Making sure renters get credit for on-time rent payments.

Click here to read more.

Municipalities must prepare for Niagara Health’s big change in 2028, says its CEO

Changes will take effect at local hospitals long before Niagara Health’s plans for a three-site model become a reality in 2028.

While construction of the new hospital in Niagara Falls continues, Niagara Health president and chief executive officer Lynn Guerriero said hospital system is building its staffing strategy.

“There’s so much going on … There are a lot of moving pieces, so it’s really important for us to change those operational practices and the team cultures, years before the change,” she said.

Click here to read more.

Ontario deficit ballooning to $9.8B next year amid slow economic growth

Ontario is delaying its path to balance as lethargic economic growth drags the province’s books further into the red, with a $9.8-billion budget deficit projected for the coming fiscal year.

Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy acknowledged the challenging economic times Tuesday, saying life has rarely been this expensive, though his budget contains few new affordability measures.

“The pressure of managing a government budget pales in comparison to the pressures many families are facing as they manage their family budget in a time when everything is costing more,” Bethlenfalvy told the legislature.

Click here to read more.

Cisco study shows that few organizations in Canada are prepared to defend against cyber attacks

Only one per cent of organizations in Canada have the ‘Mature’ level of readiness needed to be resilient against modern cybersecurity risks, according to Cisco’s 2024 Cybersecurity Readiness Index.

The 2024 Cisco Cybersecurity Readiness Index was developed in an era defined by hyperconnectivity and a rapidly evolving threat landscape. Companies today continue to be targeted with a variety of techniques that range from phishing and ransomware to supply chain and social engineering attacks. And while they are building defenses against these attacks, they still struggle to defend against them, slowed down by their own overly complex security postures that are dominated by multiple point solutions.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

In 1850, Great Britain produced 50% of the world’s iron.

Focus on Climate

Climate change expected to drive shifts in urban birds, animals, bugs

A study suggests climate change will drive a massive shift in the birds, bugs and other critters that live alongside humans in 60 cities across North America.

The good news in the newly published paper is that under warming temperatures, cities with temperate climates like those in Canada could welcome new animals.

By the end of the century, cities such as Ottawa and Edmonton could become hospitable for hundreds of new species while losing habitat for a couple dozen.

The bad news is that the species most likely to benefit from the changes are insects.

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: March 22

March 22, 2024 | Daily Update

In this edition:

  • St. Catharines studies feasibility of new Hwy. 406 crossing
  • Siscoe says 35 years not enough time for taxpayers to clear water infrastructure backlog
  • Retail sales fall in January, led by motor vehicles and parts
  • Class of 2020 faced employment challenges, but are employed at same rate as peers three years on
  • GNCC, Meridian host webinar on Business Accelerator Loan
  • Select drivers get free rush-hour access to Highway 407 ETR
  • Transport Canada announces updated agreement with St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation
  • Province will not introduce legislation that automatically approves fourplexes: Ford
  • Focus on Health & Safety

St. Catharines studies feasibility of new Hwy. 406 crossing

St. Catharines is looking at the feasibility of building a pedestrian and cyclist bridge over Highway 406 to create an east-west connection between Merritton and Glenridge.

The highway divides the two areas of the city with no crossings for about a 2.5-kilometre stretch between Westchester Crescent downtown and Chestnut Street West to the south by The Pen Centre.

The city announced Thursday it has received a $50,000 grant from Infrastructure Canada’s Active Transportation Fund that will pay for the entire study.

Click here to read more.

Siscoe says 35 years not enough time for taxpayers to clear water infrastructure backlog

St. Catharines staff have been asked to come up with a new long-term water and wastewater infrastructure plan for taxpayers that’s more sprinkle, less downpour.

Mayor Mat Siscoe asked for alternative options this week after staff presented a 10-year water and wastewater financial plan that recommended catching up on the related infrastructure backlog over a 35-year-period.

The proposed plan would see rates climb on the average annual bill from about $1,130 in 2024 to more than $2,660 by 2034.

Click here to read more.

Retail sales fall in January, led by motor vehicles and parts

Retail sales decreased 0.3% to $67.0 billion in January. Sales were down in three of nine subsectors and were led by decreases in motor vehicle and parts dealers (-2.4%), which recorded their first decline in five months.

Core retail sales increased 0.4% in January, posting its second consecutive monthly increase. The gain was led by higher sales at sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers (+3.0%).

Click here to read more.

Class of 2020 faced employment challenges, but are employed at same rate as peers three years on

The postsecondary graduating class of 2020 faced unique challenges as it entered the labour market during the initial waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results from the National Graduates Survey reveal that over half (55.6%) of those who graduated in 2020 saw their employment status or employment plans change at some point that year as a result of the pandemic.

Despite the labour market challenges faced by the class of 2020, their employment rate three years after graduation (90.3%) was similar to that of 2015 graduates (89.9%). The 2023 employment rate for 2020 graduates was slightly higher than the 2023 employment rate for the overall Canadian core working age population (aged 25 to 54 years) with a postsecondary certificate or diploma (87.3%).

Click here to read more.

Click here to watch the webinar.

Select drivers get free rush-hour access to Highway 407 ETR

A select number of customers are getting free rush-hour access to Highway 407 ETR between April and June of this year.

“This promotion was offered to a small number of customers,” said 407 ETR spokesperson Jeff Dean via email.

“To be eligible for 407 ETR pricing promotions, you must be a customer of 407 ETR and have an active My Account with your current email address.”

Click here to read more.

Transport Canada announces updated agreement with St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation

The St. Lawrence Seaway is a trade corridor for key bulk commodities used across Canada and the United States. The Government of Canada says they are committed to supporting this binational waterway’s long-term economic growth and sustainability and reinforcing Canada’s reputation as a reliable and strong trading partner.

The Minister of Transport, Pablo Rodriguez, and Terence Bowles, President and CEO of the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, announced that they signed an agreement for the Corporation — a not-for-profit organization — to continue managing, maintaining, and operating the Seaway, which it has done since 1998.

Click here to read more.

Province will not introduce legislation that automatically approves fourplexes: Ford

Ontario will not introduce legislation to automatically allow fourplex homes to be built across the province, Premier Doug Ford said Thursday.

Such legislation – which would override municipal prohibitions – would be a “massive mistake,” Ford said.

“It’s off the table for us,” Ford said. “We’re going to build homes, single dwelling homes, townhomes, that’s what we’re focused on.”

Ford has pledged to build 1.5 million homes by 2031.

Click here to read more.

 

Did you know?

A sheet of graphene can be one atom thick, 1.3 millionths the thickness of a sheet of paper. 

Focus on Health & Safety

Hard hats, hard choices: Head protection works, but only if worn properly

Driving along Richmond Street in downtown Toronto the other day, two men were out on the street acting as flag people to allow a concrete mixer to safely exit a high-rise construction site.

It was a cold day and both men had their hard hats precariously balanced atop toques and the pulled-up hoods of their sweatshirts.

Those hard hats were unlikely to provide much protection if something were to fall on their heads. Hats that don’t fit tightly enough — so they’re harder to put on and off than a baseball cap — won’t provide protection if they just come off on impact or if a worker falls, said Remi Badra, product manager of head protection at manufacturer PIP Canada.

Anything worn under a hard hat should also be approved by the manufacturer, said Badra, and needs to be relatively thin and tight.

Click here to read more.

More Canadians have poor mental health. The economy is partly to blame, survey says

The double whammy of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic stressors is taking a toll on the mental health of Canadian adults, according to new data released by the Canadian Institute for Health Information on Thursday.

An international survey conducted in 10 high-income countries by The Commonwealth Fund found that 29 per cent of Canadians aged 18 and older suffered from depression, anxiety or another mental health issue in 2023.

At the same time, many Canadians weren’t seeking mental health care because of the cost, the study said.

Fewer Canadian adults — 20 per cent — reported having mental health problems back in 2016.

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: March 20

March 20, 2024 | Daily Update

In this edition:

  • Ontario Culture Days names Niagara as festival hub for September
  • Niagara Health recognized as Brock University’s Non-profit Co-op Employer of the Year
  • Competition Bureau seeks feedback on artificial intelligence and competition
  • Treasury Board launches action plan to improve procurement
  • Demand for non-profit services outpaces capacity: StatCan
  • Bank of Canada governors find labour markets easing, but concern remains over housing
  • U.N. says e-waste from trashed electric devices is piling up, recycling not enough
  • Focus on Climate

Ontario Culture Days names Niagara as festival hub for September

Ontario Culture Days has announced the 13 Ontario communities selected to be official 2024 Festival Hubs for the fall festival – and St. Catharines and Niagara Region are on the list!

The festival will run from Sept. 20 to Oct. 13 across Ontario.

Click here to read more.

Niagara Health recognized as Brock University’s Non-profit Co-op Employer of the Year

Niagara Health has been named Brock University’s 2023 Co-op Employer of the Year Award, in the non-profit category. This award recognizes the hospital network’s commitment to fostering extraordinary learning opportunities for Brock University’s co-op students.

Being recognized as a top employer is a successful outcome of Niagara Health realigning its strategy to meet a shared vision of transforming care to meet the healthcare needs of Niagara’s growing and aging population, the agency said in a media release.

Click here to read more.

Click here to read more.

Treasury Board launches action plan to improve procurement

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) is taking a series of actions to enhance its oversight of departmental practices and processes and support effective management across government.

TBS has introduced five new steps in addition to the steps they have taken over the past year to strengthen the management of procurement by departments.

Click here to read more.

Demand for non-profit services outpaces capacity: StatCan

In 2023, close to half (46.1%) of non-profit organizations reported increased demand for services or products, with 21.4% reporting a significant increase and 24.7% reporting a modest increase, Statistics Canada reported today. However, just under one-quarter (24.3%) of organizations reported that their overall capacity to meet demand had increased, with 18.2% reporting a modest increase in capacity, and 6.1% reporting a significant increase in capacity.

Social services (70.2%) and health (69.7%) organizations were most likely to experience increases in demand.

Click here to read more.

Bank of Canada governors find labour markets easing, but concern remains over housing market

The Bank of Canada has issued its report on the Governing Council’s policy decision-making meetings, which began on March 1.

Labour markets continued to ease gradually, with employment growing more slowly than the population. Governing Council members noted that recent data were beginning to show signs of easing wage pressures. Governing Council members expressed concern that the housing market continued to pose upside risks to the inflation outlook, however.

Click here to read more.

U.N. says e-waste from trashed electric devices is piling up, recycling not enough

The U.N. says just over 22% of the e-waste mass was properly collected and recycled in 2022. U.N. agencies have warned that electrical and electronic waste is piling up worldwide while recycling rates remain low and are likely to fall even further.

In a new report released on Mar. 20, the U.N.’s International Telecommunications Union and research arm UNITAR said some 62 million tons of “e-waste” was generated in 2022, enough to fill tractor-trailers that could be lined up bumper to bumper around the globe. It’s on track to reach 82 million tons by 2030.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

Almost half of all bottled water is derived from tap water. 

Focus on Climate

Bill C-372: Banning fossil fuel ads does not go far enough

When the New Democratic Party MP Charlie Angus proposed private member’s bill C-372 in February to ban fossil-fuel advertising it is unsurprising that he struck a nerve with many. After all, standing up to fossil fuel interests in a natural resources economy such as Canada’s is unlikely to make you a lot of friends.

While the bill’s future remains uncertain, what is clear is that the debate it triggered has revealed interesting dynamics, and fault lines, at play within the Canadian economy and civil society.

Some reactions to bill C-372 show bad faith on the part of the lobbyists of the oil and gas sector — and illustrate still wide-spread ignorance about the existential threat of climate change. However, other lines of criticism thrown at Angus should be taken seriously, even if they ultimately fall short of being convincing.

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: March 13

March 13, 2024 | Daily Update

In this edition:

  • Niagara not mentioned in GO Transit expansion plan
  • Officials in Lincoln concerned about cap on new development charges
  • LCBO union opposes Ford government’s alcohol sales expansion to big box stores
  • Welland Downtown BIA executive director sees opportunity in city core
  • Household net worth increases as rally in financial markets outweighs cooling in housing
  • Project Arrow 2.0 information session hosted by Welland’s economic development office
  • Focus on Climate

Niagara not mentioned in GO Transit expansion plan

It doesn’t appear Niagara will be part of GO Transit’s largest service expansion in 11 years.

In its largest service expansion since 2013, GO Transit will be introducing 308 new weekly rail trips April 28, according to an update from Metrolinx that was mistakenly published early.

While the original post from Metrolinx, which owns and operates GO Transit, has since been taken down, it has been shared on Reddit.

Click here to read more.

Officials in Lincoln concerned about cap on new development charges

The Town of Lincoln could miss out on millions of dollars in development charges over the next five years.

With Lincoln’s development charges bylaw expiring at the end of April, town officials are working on new legislation.

But, under the province’s More Homes Built Faster Act (Bill 23), development charges are capped at 80 per cent in Year 1 as soon as a new bylaw is passed.

Click here to read more.

Click here to read more.

Welland Downtown BIA executive director sees opportunity in city core

Revitalizing and reinvigorating the city’s downtown core is fraught with challenges, says Welland Downtown Business Improvement Area’s new executive director.

But instead of looking at boarded-up and empty buildings and storefronts in the BIA’s catchment area solely as eyesores, Lee Carr, with experience in business development and destination marketing in Niagara’s tourism sector, views them as opportunities waiting to be realized.

Click here to read more.

Household net worth increases as rally in financial markets outweighs continued cooling in housing market

Households were wealthier in the fourth quarter as their net worth—the value of all assets minus all liabilities—increased $289.8 billion (+1.8%) to $16,419.9 billion, Statistics Canada reported today. This increase was driven by strength in financial markets as both bonds and equities rallied after losing ground in the prior quarter.

This pushed financial assets higher by nearly half a trillion dollars to a new record high of $9,741.3 billion, surpassing the previous record set in the fourth quarter of 2021. In the fourth quarter of 2023, this gain in financial assets was partially offset by a $157.8 billion decline in the value of residential real estate, the second consecutive quarterly decrease.

Click here to read more.

Project Arrow 2.0 information session hosted by Welland’s economic development office

The City of Welland’s economic development office, in collaborative partnership with the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association (APMA) of Canada, hosted an information session at Welland City Hall to launch Project Arrow 2.0.

Poised to address challenges within the electric vehicle sector, including supply chain disruptions and mineral production capacity constraints, Project Arrow 2.0 is a beacon of innovation. One of the project’s cornerstones is its emphasis on multi-sector collaboration. The initiative intends to become a dynamic hub where industries, academic institutions, and municipalities converge to propel advancements in the area of electric vehicles.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

1 in every 10 jobs in the world was supported by tourism in 2018.

Focus on Climate

What we can learn from Canada’s record wildfire season, as a new one approaches

Fire crews across much of Canada are already on high alert for the coming wildfire season, only months after the conclusion of the worst season on record.

Quebec’s fire monitoring agency, SOPFEU, issued a warning for some parts of the province last week, the earliest in its history.

“It’s going to get dry very quickly, so it’s going to become very, very easy to start a fire,” said Philippe Bergeron, a spokesperson for the agency based in Quebec City.

“We have an early spring that is coming, a mild end of this winter and the snow cover that is disappearing faster than usual.”

Alberta also declared last month that its wildfire season had started, 10 days early, and B.C. issued a notice saying it was monitoring holdover fires from last year.

The B.C. Wildfire Service has since announced a number of prescribed burns, in an attempt to reduce dried vegetation and protect communities against wildfires.

More than 100 fires are still burning in B.C. and Alberta after unusually dry conditions in both provinces.

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: March 7

March 7, 2024 | Daily Update

In this edition:

  • Ontario budget set for March 26; minister says no tax increases
  • Building permits rebound in January following 11.5% drop in December
  • Business insolvencies leap higher in January from a year earlier, led by bankruptcies
  • Niagara-on-the-Lake extends Temporary Patio Program to 2025
  • Niagara Region’s Adopt-a-Road program looking for volunteers and organizations
  • Water systems, land, escarpment ‘unmistakably’ have made Niagara what is: NCO
  • $400M development proposed for Beamsville
  • Focus on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Ontario budget set for March 26; minister says no tax increases

Ontario’s finance minister says he will present the province’s next budget on March 26. Peter Bethlenfalvy says it will outline how the government is “rebuilding Ontario’s economy without raising taxes and fees or putting more burden on businesses and municipalities.”

When Bethlenfalvy presented an update last month on the province’s finances from the third quarter of this fiscal year, he projected Ontario would end the year with a $4.5 billion deficit.

Click here to read more.

Building permits rebound in January following 11.5% drop in December

Month over month, the total value of building permits in Canada rose 13.5% in January to $10.8 billion, rebounding after a decrease of 11.5% in December. The residential sector increased 12.6% to $6.5 billion in January, while the non-residential sector grew 14.8% to $4.2 billion.

On a constant dollar basis (2017=100), the total value of building permits was up 14.0% to $6.7 billion in January.

Click here to read more.

Click here to read more.

Niagara-on-the-Lake extends Temporary Patio Program to 2025

t the February 27, 2024, Council Meeting, Town Council passed the Temporary Use By-law to allow the extension of restaurant and bar patios until February 28, 2025, subject to the Town’s Temporary Patio Program requirements.

The extension of the Temporary Use By-law allows for the continuation of the temporary patio program in Niagara-on-the-Lake for the 2024 season, for a maximum of 8 months, and the continued review of the program.

Click here to read more.

Niagara Region’s Adopt-a-Road program looking for volunteers and organizations

Niagara Region’s Adopt-a-Road program is looking for volunteer groups and organizations to help beautify their community and pick up litter along Regional Road rights-of-way.

Adopt-a-Road provides support for citizens, community and civic organizations, private businesses, and industry to help clean and beautify roads throughout Niagara. The program encourages cleaner, healthier environments and raises community spirit and pride with people taking an active role in their community.

For more information or to apply for the program visit to the Region’s Adopt-a-Road webpage.

Click here to read more.

Water systems, land, escarpment ‘unmistakably’ have made Niagara what is: NCO

A multi-year research project into Niagara’s history and economic development in its initial stages has found the region “has punched well above its weight in helping to shape and enrich Canada into the nation we know today.”

The project comes from a multi-year partnership between Brock University and the Wilson Foundation, facilitated by Brock’s Niagara Community Observatory (NCO), with the goal of mapping Niagara’s history and deepening understanding of the region’s economic and social development.

Economic developers, historians, educators, business leaders and experts gathered for a closer look at the team’s initial findings this week for its project called Mapping the Economic History and Assets of Niagara in a Changing World.

Click here to read more.

$400M development proposed for Beamsville

A hotel and event centre along with commercial and residential development has been proposed for a vacant parcel of land in Beamsville near the QEW.

“It’s an exciting project for Beamsville,” said William Heikoop, planning manager at Upper Canada Planning and Engineering.

The St. Catharines firm is the planning consultant and agent for developer QEW-EX64-10A Inc. of Brampton that is looking to build Lincoln Lakeview on about four hectares (10 acres) of land on the east side of Ontario Street and North Service Road in Lincoln.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

Greenhouses are able to grow up to 25 times more produce per square meter than crops grown via conventional farming.

Focus on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

The ‘She-Covery’: Women’s employment rebounds post-pandemic, but challenges remain

With the female employment rate in January 2023 hitting a record high of 82 per cent, women have made a successful recovery back into the workforce in what some are calling the “She-Covery.”

“Women’s employment has rebounded from the loss that we experienced in 2020 and 2021, so this is really good to see,” says Mishka Balsom, president of the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce.

According to Statistics Canada’s labour force survey for January, the employment rate of core-aged women (25 to 54 years old) in Canada was 81.1 per cent, while the employment rate of core-aged men was 87.2 per cent.

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: March 6

March 6, 2024 | Daily Update

In this edition:

  • Bank of Canada maintains policy rate, continues quantitative tightening
  • Beer sales fell to all-time low in 2022-23, wine loses market share: StatCan
  • Niagara-on-the-Lake councillors reduce proposed tax increase to 6.75%
  • Fort Erie development charges going up 35 per cent
  • Majority of Niagara homes now cost more than a half-million dollars
  • Consultant hired to complete public transit service study
  • Alectra launches customer engagement survey on electricity grid future planning and growth
  • Focus on Climate

Bank of Canada maintains policy rate, continues quantitative tightening

The Bank of Canada today held its target for the overnight rate at 5%, with the Bank Rate at 5¼% and the deposit rate at 5%. The Bank is continuing its policy of quantitative tightening.

The economy grew in the fourth quarter by more than expected, although the pace remained weak and below potential. Real GDP expanded by 1% after contracting 0.5% in the third quarter. Consumption was up a modest 1%, and final domestic demand contracted with a large decline in business investment. A strong increase in exports boosted growth. Employment continues to grow more slowly than the population, and there are now some signs that wage pressures may be easing. Overall, the Bank reports, the data point to an economy in modest excess supply.

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Beer sales fell to all-time low in 2022-23, wine loses market share: StatCan

By volume, beer sales declined to 65.1 litres of beer per year per person of legal drinking age in 2022/2023, an all-time low since Statistics Canada began tracking alcohol sales in 1949. This is equivalent to 3.6 standard bottles of beer per week per person of legal drinking age.

In 2022/2023, wine sales decreased 3.0% to 500 million litres, the Canadian statistics agency reported today. Wine was the only beverage category that lost market share compared with 2021/2022.

Click here to read more.

Click here to read more.

Fort Erie development charges going up 35 per cent

The cost of building a home in Fort Erie is going up considerably as the town attempts to recover more from developers of the costs of servicing those new builds.

On March 4, council approved its new development charges (DC) bylaws, which combined will see charges on single-family homes and semis rise from $21,878 to $29,512, an increase of nearly 35 per cent.

However, once the new DCs are fully phased in after five years, the rate will be $36,890. Under Ontario’s Bill 23, DC increases must be phased in, with 80 per cent of the increase in the first year, going up five per cent a year after that.

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Majority of Niagara homes now cost more than a half-million dollars, as scarce rental units become more costly

New reports show home ownership is getting further out of reach for many Niagarans, while at the same time rents continue to surge for units that are becoming harder to find.

A 2023 rental market report by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) showed vacancy rates remained unchanged from 2022 in the St. Catharines-Niagara area at 2.8 per cent, but with rents increasing almost 8.5 per cent.

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Consultant hired to complete public transit service study

The Niagara Transit Commission (NTC) is proud to announce that it has hired consultant Left Turn Right Turn (LTRT) to complete a comprehensive study aimed at revolutionizing public transit service in Niagara.

The Facilities, Strategic Asset, and Service Network Master Plan is expected to take 18 months to complete and will set the course for optimizing transit services over the next decade, with a focus on improving accessibility, efficiency, and affordability for residents and visitors alike.

Click here to read more.

Alectra launches customer engagement survey on electricity grid future planning and growth

Alectra Utilities Corporation (Alectra) launched its customer engagement survey seeking feedback on future planning and operations, to fortify and modernize the electricity grid. This is in response to increasing customer demands caused by population growth and the expected electrification of transportation and home heating.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

Growing a single California almond requires 12 litres of water.

Focus on Climate

China’s clean tech boom has lessons for Canada

When the world’s largest carbon emitter announced in 2020 that it would aim to have carbon emissions peak by the end of the decade and be carbon neutral by 2060, climate watchers were cautiously optimistic.

After all, “there is no plausible path to limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5 C without China,” says the International Energy Agency.

At the time of the announcement, Chinese President Xi Jinping didn’t specify the year in which he expected his country’s emissions to peak. But analysts from the Finnish think-tank Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air projected in a report that 2024 could be the year emissions in China start to fall.

If that happens, it could be considered a huge win for the climate.

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: February 28

February 28, 2024 | Daily Update

In this edition:

  • Siscoe delivers optimistic state of the city address
  • Conservatives vote for Liberal government bill banning replacement workers
  • Number of job vacancies holding steady for third consecutive month
  • Crown Point Video Joins eThereLIVE and Soundbox
  • City of Thorold seeks input on a new Strategic Plan
  • Number of women inventors growing at a faster pace than that of men inventors
  • Brock University to mark solar eclipse with free community event
  • University of Niagara Falls Canada earns national management accreditations
  • Focus on Climate

Siscoe delivers optimistic state of the city address

St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe says writing a second state of the city speech was a very different process than the first.

The first speech a few months into the mayor’s role can be filled with “high minded rhetoric” and “wonderful ideals.”

By Year 2, there’s a record of accomplishment, but things have happened, events have transpired and decisions have been made which thrusts one into reality.

Click here to read more.

Click here to watch a video recording of the event.

Conservatives vote for Liberal government bill banning replacement workers

A Liberal government bill that would ban replacement workers from being used during strikes and lockouts at federally regulated workplaces is moving ahead after the House of Commons unanimously backed it Tuesday.

The legislation passed second reading with the support of the Opposition Conservatives. It was the first time the Tories took any position on the bill.

In a statement, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce called the vote “bad news for Canada, for Canadian families, and for Canadian workers.”

Click here to read more.

Click here to read more.

Crown Point Video Joins eThereLIVE and Soundbox

Soundbox and eThereLIVE are proud to announce the acquisition of Crown Point Video. Crown Point Video has had the privilege of working with some of the premier sports organizations in the country including the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), Canadian Football League (CFL), Canadian Premier League (CPL), USPORTS, and Ontario University Athletics (OUA).

The resources of Soundbox, as a live audiovisual support company, also gives Crown Point Video clients the ability to elevate their in-person and/or on-camera experience with top-quality audio, lighting, staging, and more – all under one roof.

Click here to read more.

City of Thorold seeks input on a new Strategic Plan

The City of Thorold is seeking comments and suggestions from businesses and residents as the City develops its new Strategic Plan.

The new Strategic Plan will set a clear vision for the future and prioritize projects that are most important in the community over the next four years. The City is looking to the future and working collaboratively to position Thorold for future success.

Residents and businesses are encouraged to share their thoughts on key issues, community needs, and opportunities for improvement. The survey link is available on the City’s website at www.thorold.ca on the home page web banner.

Click here to read more.

Number of women inventors growing at a faster pace than that of men inventors

From 2005 to 2019, Canadian men inventors outnumbered women inventors, a new study has found, but the number of women inventors grew at a faster pace. Compared with men, women inventors were more likely to be younger (31.9% were younger than 35 years compared with 23.0% of men in 2019), a higher proportion of them were immigrants (44.3% compared with 34.2% of men in 2019) and they were more likely to “co-patent” (joint application for a patent). Women inventors were more heavily concentrated in large businesses, and a higher proportion worked in professional, scientific and technical services. The study also found that one-half of women inventors were repeat inventors, submitting more than one patent application over time.
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Brock University to mark solar eclipse with free community event

The Niagara community is invited to join Brock University experts and special guests in celebrating a rare celestial spectacle.

On Monday, April 8, a total solar eclipse will take place over southern Ontario, with the moon passing between the Earth and the sun, blocking the sun completely and turning the sky dark enough to see the stars.

This rare astronomical event will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many. The last time a total solar eclipse occurred over Ontario was in 1979, and the next one won’t happen again over the province until 2099.

Click here to read more.

University of Niagara Falls Canada earns national management accreditations

University of Niagara Falls Canada (UNF) is thrilled to announce that two of its programs have earned national accreditation from a leading professional association.

UNF’s Master of Management (MM) and Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programs recently received Professional Accreditation from the National Committee for Management Accreditation (NCMA) through CIM | Chartered Managers Canada.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

There are twenty thousand species of bee on earth. Seven make honey.

Focus on Climate

The outlook for Canada’s vertical farm sector

They were hailed as the next big thing in food: indoor vertical farms growing year-round crops using significantly less water, land and energy than farms in the great outdoors. Not only was this hightech solution more sustainable, vertical farms would also help feed the planet. Loads of hype and billions in venture capital investment later, the lights went out at many vertical farms.

Among those that ran into trouble were: Infarm, a Berlin-based startup that declared bankruptcy in major European markets in 2023; New Jersey’s AeroFarms, which declared bankruptcy last summer and emerged with a rebuilding plan; and Kentucky’s AppHarvest, which also joined the bankruptcy list in 2023.

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: February 27

February 27, 2024 | Daily Update

In this edition:

  • Government of Canada announces $123M for Affordable Housing Innovation Fund
  • Niagara Falls issues Mother Earth Day Call for Vendors
  • St. Catharines launches survey on community climate action
  • Niagara Region bridge deal with CNR includes funding for current replacement
  • Ontario announces over $26M in grant funding through Ontario Trillium Foundation
  • Temporary shelter opens in St. Catharines offering 46 beds to those in need
  • Environmental and labour groups make plea for sustainable jobs bill to pass
  • Focus on Finance & Economy

Government of Canada announces $123M for Affordable Housing Innovation Fund

Today, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, joined by the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced a $123 million investment through the Affordable Housing Innovation Fund, which will build more than 5,000 affordable homes.

This investment will support eight innovative homebuilders to develop, test, and streamline the next generation of homebuilding techniques to build more homes, faster.

Click here to read more.

Niagara Falls issues Mother Earth Day Call for Vendors

Mother Earth Day will be celebrated again in 2024. The environmental event will take place Saturday, May 11, 2024, between 9 am and 3 pm, at Firemen’s Park, 2275 Dorchester Road (rain or shine). The event, presented by PenFinancial Credit Union, is being organized and hosted by the Environmental Action Committee.

The Environmental Action Committee is currently accepting retail, food & beverage, educational, environmental and wellness vendors, specifically those that focus on positive environmental products or services.

Click here to read more.

Click here to read more.

Niagara Region bridge deal with CNR includes funding for current replacement

Niagara Region will assume ownership of the St. Paul Street West CNR bridge once it’s reconstructed — despite cold feet from some politicians.

Regional council voted last Thursday in favour of its public works committee’s recommendation to take on the responsibilities of future repairs and replacement, with CNR providing $1.5 million to cover its share of the costs over the next 150 years.

Click here to read more.

Ontario announces over $26M in grant funding through Ontario Trillium Foundation

Today, the Ontario government announced more than $26 million in grant funding this year to support 251 local projects at non-profit organizations across the province through the seventh and final round of the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s (OTF) Resilient Communities Fund.

The Resilient Communities Fund was created in August 2020 to help Ontario’s non-profit organizations address pandemic-related challenges so they could continue to provide local services. To date, this fund has supported 3,299 projects with $294 million in support.

Click here to read more.

Temporary shelter opens in St. Catharines offering 46 beds to those in need

A new, temporary housing shelter is open in St. Catharines helping get more people experiencing homelessness off the streets.

The 46-bed modular shelter was constructed at 29 Riordon Street in a few short months, and opened this week.

Click here to read more.

Environmental and labour groups make plea for sustainable jobs bill to pass

A dozen environment groups and labour organizations are pleading with the Liberal government to end a political stalemate over its forthcoming sustainable jobs bill.

Aliénor Rougeot, climate and energy program manager at Environmental Defence, said the government keeps saying Bill C-50 is a priority but has not moved to get it back onto the floor of the House of Commons for a final vote.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

The world’s first scheduled passenger airline flight took off on January 1st, 1914.

Focus on Finance & Economy

Here’s what we can learn from Canada’s response to inflation in the 1980s and 1990s

For the last two years, inflation has been at top of mind for Canadians. It is a tax on households. When prices rise, the purchasing power of each dollar earned falls.

This generates huge losses for the economy, as well as households on fixed incomes, and increases uncertainty, making it more difficult to plan for the future.

The real question in the minds of many economists is what the trend in inflation will be going forward, and when interest rates will begin to fall and bring relief to Canadians.

While this episode of inflation has created challenges for many, this is not the first time Canada has gone through such an experience; we have been here before.

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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