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Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce

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Search Results for: L5M2 Online Prüfungen 🦝 L5M2 Lernressourcen 🍑 L5M2 Übungsmaterialien 🚓 Suchen Sie auf ▛ www.itzert.com ▟ nach kostenlosem Download von 「 L5M2 」 🔧L5M2 PDF Demo

Daily Update: March 8, 2022

March 8, 2022 | Daily Update

Chamber of Commerce launches Championing Women in Business in Canada toolkit, Welland Canal opening ceremonies, and more.

In this edition:

Chamber of Commerce launches Championing Women in Business in Canada toolkit
Ontario Chamber Marks International Women’s Day by signing onto the 50-30 Challenge
Top Hat Ceremony to open Welland Canal will be held March 20

Chamber of Commerce launches Championing Women in Business in Canada toolkit

It is now well-known that the pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on women in the workforce. Far from being a “women’s issue”, this is an economic issue with broad implications that directly affect Canada’s recovery from the pandemic and future economic growth.

For this reason, this International Women’s Day, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce is launching its Council for Women’s Advocacy’s (CWA) Championing Women in Business in Canada – a practical toolkit providing steps and resources to assist Canadian employers to recruit, retain and promote more women into leadership positions and bring them onto boards of directors.

The GNCC, in partnership with the Canadian Chamber, has made the toolkit available here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ8Bxtm_kiM

Learn more about the work of the Canadian Chamber’s Council for Women’s Advocacy here.

Ontario Chamber Marks International Women’s Day by signing onto the 50-30 Challenge

To mark International Women’s Day 2022, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) is reaffirming its commitment to creating inclusive workplaces by signing onto the Government of Canada’s 50-30 Challenge. The goal of the 50-30 Challenge is to increase the representation and inclusion of equity deserving groups within workplaces and in leadership roles, while highlighting the benefits of giving all Canadians a seat at the table.

The GNCC signed on to the 50-30 Challenge several weeks ago, and has made equity, diversity, and inclusion one of its 2022-2024 strategic goals.

Read more about the 50-30 Challenge here.

Top Hat Ceremony to open Welland Canal will be held March 20

As clocks spring forward this weekend and the first day of spring is less than two weeks away, the opening of the Welland Canal is sure to follow. Port Colborne’s Top Hat Ceremony celebrates the opening of the Welland Canal and start of the 2022 shipping season by welcoming the captain of the first downbound vessel.

Kicking off the festivities on Sunday, Mar. 20, 2022, St. James and St. Brendan Anglican Church (55 Charlotte Street, Port Colborne) will host a Mariner’s Service at 7 p.m.

The Top Hat Ceremony will be held on Thursday, Mar. 24, 2022, in the pavilion at Lock 8 Gateway Park (163 Mellanby Avenue, Port Colborne), hosted by Mayor William C. Steele, along with representatives from upper levels of government and the marine industry.

Click here to read more.

Reading Recommendations

Women-led startups get much less funding than men. Female investors hope to change that

Update on Ukraine

Oligarchs, politicos, and Putin: Meet the Russians Canada has recently sanctioned

CTV  News

From top politicians to influential oligarchs and media figures, Canada has slapped sanctions on high-profile Russians, including President Vladimir Putin, as he continues his unjustified and deadly attack on Ukraine.

In light of the current invasion, the government has targeted those who federal officials say have enabled Putin and this war, with financial and other penalties.

This builds on the multiple rounds of sanctions and other responsive measures Canada has imposed on Russia since its 2014 occupation and annexation of Crimea.

In an immediate response to the 2022 attacks on Ukraine, Canada updated its sanction list twice. First, to add 351 members of the state Duma, a handful of entities, and to impose new prohibitions on Russian sovereign debt. In the second instance, another 31 individuals and 19 entities were sanctioned.

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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Championing Women in Business

March 8, 2022 |

[[“”,”Actions”,”Implementation resources”],[“RECRUIT”,”

  • Expand candidate pools by supporting internal mobility, going beyond your typical recruiting channels, and reviewing your benefits package to ensure it reflects the needs of women.

    • \n

  • Examine job descriptions to ensure they don\u2019t inadvertently discourage women from applying.

    • \n

  • Provide \u201ctrain-to-hire\u201d options for women to give them on-the-job experience that will propel them into jobs they currently consider out of their reach.

    • \n

  • Improve human resources policies to ensure women have the supports they need to succeed, such as flexible work arrangements, anti- harassment policies, parental leave, and mental health first aid training.

    • \n

  • Implement bias training to help understand how even implicit bias can play a role in excluding women from hiring and promotion.

    • \n

  • Track hiring outcomes to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion in your workplace.

“,”

  • Tips for recruiting more women to your company.

    • \n

  • How mentorship can help businesses fill labour gaps.

    • \n

  • Learn how to recognize and address implicit bias.

    • \n

  • Leverage tools for interrupting bias in hiring.

    • \n

  • Actionable tips for building a diverse candidate pool.

“],[“RETAIN”,”

  • Strive for equal pay in your workplace by annually re-grading jobs.

    • \n

  • Provide training/upskilling resources to ensure professional development for women who want to move up the ladder.

    • \n

  • Promote mentorship within your team to help fill gaps and develop skill sets.

    • \n

  • Create hybrid/back to office policies that focus on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).

    • \n

  • Allow flexibility for child care support so mothers don\u2019t have to choose between their families and getting ahead at work.

    • \n

  • Create an internal awareness campaign which highlights the barriers women face in the workplace

    • \n

  • Provide DEI training to build allyship and communicate expectations for employees on what constitutes an inclusive culture.

    • \n

  • Include DEI/well-being support in the job descriptions for managers so they are aware of their role in creating an inclusive workplace.

    • \n

  • Implement human resources policies to eliminate discrimination.

    • \n

  • Support employee mental health and address burnout which is particularly pervasive among parents.

“,”

“],[“PROMOTE”,”

  • Create bias training for performance reviews to ensure equitable promotion to manager positions and address the \u201cbroken rung\u201d phenomenon \u2014 where women fall off the corporate ladder the higher up they go.

    • \n

  • Track promotion outcomes to see how women are advancing in your workplace.

    • \n

  • Hold senior leaders accountable and provide financial incentives for progress on diversity goals

    • \n

  • Recognize and reward women leaders for their achievements, particularly around DEI that drives better outcomes for their organizations.

    • \n

  • Provide networking opportunities for women to connect with senior leaders and other women who can become their champions.

    • \n

  • Provide mentorship opportunities to help connect women with other successful women to build confidence and leadership skills.

    • \n

  • Ensure women have sponsors who can advocate for their accomplishments and potential, connect them to others in their network, and recommend them for bigger roles.

    • \n

  • Improve procurement/supplier diversity to better level the playing field for women competing for business opportunities with male-run companies.

    • \n

“,”

  • Tips for supporting effective career path planning and development.

    • \n

  • Ways to encourage women to chart their career paths.

    • \n

  • Strategies for empowering female employees.

    • \n

  • List of networks for women entrepreneurs across Canada.

    • \n

  • Leverage organizations like WBE Canada, which bridges public and corporate procurement and Canadian women business enterprises.

    • \n

  • Improve access to mentorships and sponsorships.

    • \n

  • Provide regular, constructive and actionable feedback.

“],[“GET ON BOARDS”,”

  • Improve board diversity by recruiting and attracting more women to board positions.

    • \n

  • Address key barriers that even highly qualified women face when it comes to being candidates for board positions.

    • \n

  • Ensure board skill and experience requirements are aligned to corporate governance realities of the current economic climate.

    • \n

  • Put in place board readiness training and mentoring programs for women to widen the pipeline.

“,”

  • Playbook for getting women on boards.

    • \n

  • Guide: Stacking Your Board for Diversity.

    • \n

  • Strategies to get more women of colour on boards.

    • \n

  • Tools to help women with career planning and getting board ready.

    • \n

  • Actions organizations and leaders can take for a more inclusive workplace.

“]]

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Daily Update: March 4, 2022

March 4, 2022 | Daily Update

Deputy Premier Christine Elliott will not seek re-election, entrepreneur Jenn Harper honoured at International Women’s Day event, and more.

In this edition:

Deputy Premier Christine Elliott will not seek re-election
Women interested in municipal politics encouraged to participate in Seat at the Table
Entrepreneur Jenn Harper honoured at GNCC International Women’s Day event
Mental health-related disability rises among employed Canadians during pandemic
Legislation to increase access to rapid testing across the country receives Royal Assent

Deputy Premier Christine Elliott will not seek re-election

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is facing another high-profile resignation just months away from the provincial election, CBC news reports, as Christine Elliott, his deputy premier, announced on Friday that she’s leaving politics.

Elliott has served as health minister since Ford’s Progressive Conservatives took office in 2018, putting her at the forefront of the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

​In a statement issued Friday morning, Elliott said she made the decision to not run in the coming provincial election after “considerable reflection and discussion” with her family.

Elliott will stay on as health minister until the spring.

Click here to read more.

Women interested in municipal politics encouraged to participate in Niagara Region Seat at the Table

Niagara Region is partnering with the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce (GNCC) Women in Niagara (WIN) Council, the City of St. Catharines, YWCA, Future Black Female, Services 4 Humanity, Muslim Senior Circle and Niagara Region’s Women’s Advisory Committee to encourage more diversity in elected councils in 2022.

Niagara Region’s Seat at the Table program aims to address barriers that women and gender diverse people face when running for municipal office, while also improving the environment once elected. Despite being just over half of the Niagara population, women are underrepresented in local government, especially in senior leadership.

The program consists of four workshops that will help women, gender diverse people, and underrepresented groups feel informed and educated when making the decision to run for local government or supporting a female or gender diverse candidate.

The first session, taking place virtually on Thursday, April 7 at 6 p.m., will be open to all women and gender diverse people across all 12 local municipalities. The workshop will inspire and prepare women from underrepresented backgrounds to run for election and change the face of elected councils to better represent the people of Niagara. Register by April 5 for the first session on Niagara Region’s website.

Click here to read more.

Entrepreneur Jenn Harper honoured at GNCC International Women’s Day event

The GNCC, in partnership with PenFinancial Credit Union and Niagara Economic Development, conferred an award on St. Catharines Indigenous entrepreneur Jenn Harper, founder of Cheekbone Beauty, an ethical cosmetics company renowned for its charitable activity and activism for the environment and for Indigenous youth.

The keynote speech, delivered by advocate and organizer Steph Guthrie, discussed the topic of intimidation and harassment and those who commit crimes using “free speech” as a shield. With incidents of vandalism, intimidation, and threats on the rise against Niagara’s elected officials and community leaders, conversation on the subject could not be more timely.

View the livestreamed event here.

Mental health-related disability rises among employed Canadians during pandemic

New combined data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and the Canadian Income Survey shed new light on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of disability in the workplace. Among those who were employed during the first four months of 2021, more than one in five (21.5%) had a physical, mental health, cognitive or other disability. This was an increase of 2.7 percentage points compared with 2019 (18.8%), continuing a long-term upward trend associated with population aging and other factors.

Click here to read more.

Legislation to increase access to rapid testing across the country receives Royal Assent

oday, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, welcomed the Royal Assent in Parliament of Bill C-10 – An Act respecting certain measures related to COVID-19. This bill provides Health Canada with $2.5 billion in funding and the statutory authority to purchase and distribute COVID-19 rapid tests across Canada.

With this funding, the Government of Canada will ship hundreds of millions of additional COVID-19 rapid tests to provinces and territories and Indigenous communities over the next three months, free of charge. The funding also allows Health Canada to continue to provide tests for distribution through partners such as the Canadian Red Cross, chambers of commerce and pharmacies.

Click here to read more.

Reading Recommendations

Commodities soar as anxiety over supply shortages increases

Bloomberg News

Commodities extended their massive rally as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to roil global markets and fuel fears of supply crunches.

Prices from crude and nickel to aluminum and wheat soared, as raw materials stage their most stunning weekly surge since 1974, during the days of the oil crisis.

Russia’s growing isolation is choking off a major source of energy, metals and crops, sparking fears of prolonged shortages and accelerating global inflation. Traders, banks and shipowners are increasingly avoiding business with Russia because of the difficulty in securing payments, while shipping lines are shunning bookings from the region.

Tensions rose early Friday after Russia attacked a Ukrainian nuclear plant, the biggest in Europe, according to Ukrainian officials. As Russian forces occupied the area, Ukraine’s nuclear regulator said its last check before it halted monitoring showed normal radiation levels.

Click here to read more.

Update on Ukraine

Russia to foreign firms: stay, leave or hand over the keys

Financial Post

Companies around the globe grappled with a dilemma over what to do with their Russian investments today as Moscow laid out their options: stay in the country, exit entirely or hand over their holdings to local managers until they return.

First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov spelt out the government’s position a little more than a week after Russia invaded Ukraine, and a day after French bank Societe Generale sent a chill through the corporate world by saying Russian authorities could seize its assets in the country.

Click here to read more.

Niagara COVID-19 statistics tracker

Niagara COVID vaccination tracker

Information on government grants, resources, and programs, policies, forms, and posters for download and use, are available here. The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.

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 3, 2022

March 3, 2022 | Daily Update

Province launches Intellectual Property Ontario, new Canada Digital Adoption Program for small businesses, and more.

In this edition:

Province launches Intellectual Property Ontario
New Canada Digital Adoption Program for small businesses
St. Catharines approves developer partnership with Habitat for Humanity
Thorold releases 2022 Community Profile

Province launches Intellectual Property Ontario to help businesses commercialize ideas

The Ontario government is launching Intellectual Property Ontario, a new board-governed agency that will serve as a go-to resource for Intellectual Property (IP) expertise to help researchers and companies maximize the value of their IP, strengthen their capacity to grow, and compete in the global market.

In Summer 2020, Ontario released an Intellectual Property Action Plan in response to the recommendations of the Expert Panel on Intellectual Property. Intellectual Property Ontario is a significant milestone of that plan.

Click here to learn more.

New Canada Digital Adoption Program to help small businesses thrive in the digital economy

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced the launch of the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP), to help Canadian small- and medium-sized businesses grow their online presence and upgrade or adopt digital technologies. This investment, which will provide $4 billion over four years, will support up to 160,000 small businesses and create good middle-class jobs across the country, including thousands of jobs for young Canadians.

Under the CDAP, Canadian small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be able to assess their digital readiness and apply for grants and loans online.

Depending on their size, specific needs, and goals, businesses can apply for funding through the Grow Your Business Online or Boost your Business Technology streams.

Click here to read more.

St. Catharines approves developer partnership with Habitat for Humanity

Building on ongoing work to ensure the sale of a City property drives affordable housing, City Council has approved a staff recommendation to allow the buyer to partner with Habitat for Humanity Niagara.

In November 2021, Council approved the sale of roughly 3.8 acres at 320 Geneva St., previously occupied by the City’s Community, Recreation and Culture Services administration building. The sale was approved provided it is used in part for affordable and social housing. Specifically, the City will sell the land for $1.35 million to Penn Terra Group Ltd. (PTGL), based on the developer’s proposal to develop the area with 43 per cent affordable housing, 14 per cent social housing and 43 per cent market rate housing.

Click here to learn more.

Thorold releases 2022 Community Profile

The City of Thorold has released its 2022 Community Profile, a magazine to tell the “Thorold Story” and highlight the great foundational industries and businesses that call the “New GTA,” a.k.a. the Greater Thorold Area, home. The magazine highlights local businesses such as Norgen Biotek, housed in the Brock Business Park, the Thorold Multimodal Hub, and the benefits of business development in the city.

Click here to read more.

Reading Recommendations

Macklem says Bank of Canada needs to raise rates to put a lid on inflation expectations

CBC

Canada’s top central banker says raising the Bank of Canada’s benchmark interest rate may be costly for households, but waiting longer to act would be more costly for the country.

Governor Tiff Macklem says the impact of raising the bank’s key policy rate will be higher interest rates for Canadian households and businesses.

But the country can handle it, Macklem says, noting that the economy has hit its productive capacity, growth has been stronger than expected and demand for goods remains high.

Click here to read more.

Featured Content

Manufacturing – A Key Element To Future North American Success

Pollice Consulting Group

Over the past twenty five years the decline of the United States and Canadian manufacturing industry has contributed to rising inequity and hurt the North America global competitiveness. A revitalization could not only contribute to sustainable and inclusive growth, it can also re – establish the middle class and eliminate some of our societal problems such as poverty, homeless, crime and early deaths.

Long before COVID-19 came to dominate our lexicon, the North American growth model was slowly showing signs of strain. With years of uneven growth across sectors and geographies, some industries flourished while others faltered. Major hubs have boomed but countless smaller communities have fallen through the cracks. In some areas the labour market has become increasingly polarized with the number of high and low wage jobs growing while the number of people in the middle wage jobs have declined significantly. These forces have stroked inequality and the pandemic has served only to exacerbate this trend. Should we decide not to invest more resources into our manufacturing sector, several other people will be left behind in the North American economy, we all will suffer for it and that is not good for any of us from an economic and social point of view.

Click here to read more.

Does Your Company Offer Fruitful Careers — Or Dead-End Jobs?

Harvard Business Review

Whether it’s from investors or the SEC, companies are under increasing pressure to quantify and measure their organization’s “human capital” — the value of their workforce’s knowledge and skills.

Yet in our conversations with more than a dozen companies, we’ve learned that managers frequently struggle to define what they mean by human capital, and few have developed measures to determine whether their employment strategies are effective.

We’ve sought to make headway on the issue of human capital measurement by focusing on one important aspect of employee management that should matter to stakeholders ranging from executives to shareholders to employees to the government: documenting the quality of the jobs that companies create. In other words, we ask whether we can help companies identify and separate dead-end jobs from those that lead to a fruitful career.

Click here to read more.

Update on Ukraine

Canada cuts Russia and Belarus from Most-Favoured-Nation Tariff treatment

Today, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, announced that the Government of Canada has issued the Most-Favoured-Nation Tariff Withdrawal Order (2022-1), removing these countries’ entitlement to the Most-Favoured-Nation Tariff (MFN) treatment under the Customs Tariff.

This Order results in the application of the General Tariff for goods imported into Canada that originate from Russia or Belarus. Under the General Tariff, a tariff rate of 35 per cent will now be applicable on virtually all of these imports. Russia and Belarus will join North Korea as the only countries whose imports are subject to the General Tariff.

Click here to read more.

Niagara COVID-19 statistics tracker

Niagara COVID vaccination tracker

Information on government grants, resources, and programs, policies, forms, and posters for download and use, are available here. The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.

Through the Daily Updates, the GNCC aims to deliver important business news in a timely manner. We disseminate all news and information we feel will be important to businesses. Inclusion in the Daily Update is not an endorsement by the GNCC.

Share this:

Daily Update: March 2, 2022

March 2, 2022 | Daily Update

Bank of Canada increases the interest rate, Competition Bureau of Canada focuses on fake reviews for fraud prevention month, and more.

In this edition:

Bank of Canada increases interest rate
Competition Bureau of Canada focuses on fake reviews

Bank of Canada increases interest rate

The Bank of Canada today increased its target for the overnight rate to ½ %, with the Bank Rate at ¾ % and the deposit rate at ½ %. The Bank is continuing its reinvestment phase, keeping its overall holdings of Government of Canada bonds on its balance sheet roughly constant until such time as it becomes appropriate to allow the size of its balance sheet to decline.

The unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by Russia is a major new source of uncertainty. Prices for oil and other commodities have risen sharply. This will add to inflation around the world, and negative impacts on confidence and new supply disruptions could weigh on global growth. Financial market volatility has increased.

Economic growth in Canada was very strong in the fourth quarter of last year at 6.7%. This is stronger than the Bank’s projection and confirms its view that economic slack has been absorbed. Both exports and imports have picked up, consistent with solid global demand. In January, the recovery in Canada’s labour market suffered a setback due to the Omicron variant, with temporary layoffs in service sectors and elevated employee absenteeism. However, the rebound from Omicron now appears to be well in train: household spending is proving resilient and should strengthen further with the lifting of public health restrictions.

As the economy continues to expand and inflation pressures remain elevated, the Governing Council expects interest rates will need to rise further.

Click here to read more.

Competition Bureau of Canada launches Fraud Prevention Month, focuses on fake reviews

Online consumer reviews  help both consumers and businesses – they provide a wealth of “unbiased” product information to help you shop smart, and they reward businesses that provide a great product or service.

Consumer reviews often strike at the heart of a consumer’s buying decision. Shoppers trust that these reviews are from real customers, just like them. Posting fake reviews online can damage that trust and seriously erode consumer confidence.

If your business has suffered from fake online reviews, you can report them to the Competition Bureau.

Click here to read more.

Reading Recommendations

Affordable child-care program providing relief for families amid rising cost of living

CBC News

The cost of living is rising across the country, although for many parents with young kids, the new program is providing major financial relief.

The federal government launched the $30 billion program last year and signed agreements with most provinces and territories. The goal is to drive down the cost of child care to just $10 a day, per child, nationwide.

Of all the provinces and territories, only Ontario has yet to negotiate a deal with the federal government. It’s a sizeable omission considering the province’s population. In January, Premier Doug Ford said a deal was very close, but last month his education minister Stephen Lecce said it may take some time before an agreement is reached.

Click here to read more.

Disclaimer: the GNCC is lobbying for an affordable child care system in Ontario, recognizing that the high cost of child care is driving up wages and exacerbating labour shortages.

Future infectious diseases: Recent history shows we can never again be complacent about pathogens

The Conversation

As we move into the third year of the global pandemic caused by COVID-19, it’s important to ask what we have learned and what we have done to prepare for the next infectious-disease crisis.

It could be an outbreak of Lyme disease, an epidemic of measles or another full-blown global pandemic of influenza or coronavirus. It could be a threat that emerges from the ongoing challenge of antimicrobial resistance and the steadily fading power of established antibiotics.

One thing is certain: COVID-19 will not be the last challenge of our time, and even while we are striving to tame the current pandemic, we need to prepare for the next challenge, using evidence and knowledge.

Click here to read more.

Update on Ukraine

Global brands exit Russia over Ukraine invasion

Reuters

From Canada Goose parkas and the latest iPhone to spare parts for aircraft engines and even some of the planes themselves – the list of goods, consumer and industrial, that will no longer be sold in Russia is growing longer with every day.

Some of the biggest Westerns brands, from Boeing and Exxon Mobil to Ford Motor Co, have suspended operations in Russia in an unprecedented wave of corporate action against Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine.

Winter clothing maker Canada Goose Holdings said on Wednesday it would suspend all wholesale and e-commerce sales to Russia, while Apple has said it has stopped sales of iPhones and other products.

Western nations have steadily ratcheted up sanctions on Russia since it invaded Ukraine last week, including against President Vladimir Putin and the central bank.

Click here to read more.

Niagara COVID-19 statistics tracker

Niagara COVID vaccination tracker

Information on government grants, resources, and programs, policies, forms, and posters for download and use, are available here. The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.

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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The FirstOntario 1Awards kicks off 10th annual business competition

March 1, 2022 | Members in the News, Network News

The FirstOntario 1Awards is celebrating 10 years of supporting local entrepreneurs and their dreams of success. Business owners in Hamilton, Halton, Brant and the Niagara Region can apply now for a chance to win and share in $135,000 in cash and in-kind, professional services.

To celebrate this 10-year milestone, all FirstOntario communities have been combined under the 2022 1Awards competition with a bigger prize pot this year.

“The 1Awards started 10 years ago as a way to support local businesses and help get them to the next level with assistance from our community partners,” said Joanne Battaglia, Vice President Marketing, Communications and Community Partnerships. “A decade later, businesses need support more than ever, given the impact of the pandemic. This program could not be possible without the ongoing commitment from our community partners.

In nine years, FirstOntario and 1Awards partners have invested more than $1.6 million into more than 40 businesses through the Hamilton and Niagara competitions. This year’s partners include Agro Zaffiro LLP, Giant Shoe Creative, KPMG, Mohawk College, PLAY, The Hamilton Spectator, The Thornton Group and Weever. Additional sponsors include the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, Global Payments and Carmen’s Group.

Successful applicants will present a 15-minute pitch in May to the partners who want to hear about the business – past success, present challenges and future aspirations. Winners can share $25,500 in cash and $109,500 of in-kind services. The partners determine how the prizes will be allocated following the presentations based on individual needs.

Eligible candidates must apply online at 1Awards.ca before midnight on Friday, April 1. Eligible businesses must have less than 50 employees and have been in operation for at least two years. They must demonstrate measurable growth, innovation and community impact. Full details can be found at 1Awards.ca

About FirstOntario Credit Union FirstOntario is a full service cooperative financial institution, serving members for more than 80 years throughout the Golden Horseshoe, Niagara Region and Southwestern regions of Ontario. With $5.8 billion in assets under management, FirstOntario is one of Canada’s largest credit unions. Everyone is welcome to be part of FirstOntario for financial services including daily transactions, mortgages, lines of credit, loans and investments. FirstOntario profits are invested into the communities we serve through support for entrepreneurs, competitive rates and charitable pursuits including our award winning student nutrition program. Learn more about us today at FirstOntario.com.

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Daily Update: March 1, 2022

March 1, 2022 | Daily Update

Ontario will allow credit unions to offer more services, Niagara Public Health recommends workplaces continue vaccination policies, and more.

In this edition:

Ontario will allow credit unions to offer more services
Niagara Public Health recommends workplaces continue vaccination policies
Ontario eliminates local transit fares when connecting to GO
GNCC highlights electricity costs in first day of Ontario Chamber network 2022 Advocacy Series

Ontario will allow credit unions to offer more services

New legislation will allow credit unions and caisses populaires to provide more options through expanded services to its members, including small businesses in the agriculture, hospitality and tourism sectors.

Highlights of the Credit Unions and Caisses Populaires Act, 2020 include:

  • Removing restrictions that currently limit credit unions’ ability to invest and offer services to consumers.
  • Allowing the sale of property and casualty insurance in branches and online.
  • Enabling the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) to operate as a principles-based regulator that maintains the stability of the credit unions and caisses populaires sector.
  • Enabling FSRA to have better oversight of the sector through an industry-led market code of conduct and a strengthened compliance regime.

Click here to read more.

Niagara Region Public Health recommends workplaces continue vaccination policies

Public Health advises residents and businesses to make individual choices to protect themselves and their communities from COVID-19. In particular, while not a requirement under provincial legislation or local orders, Public Health strongly recommends that organizations maintain proof-of-vaccination and employee vaccination policies.

In order to align proof-of-vaccination requirements with the current science on vaccinations, Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr. Mustafa Hirji has called on the provincial government to incorporate booster doses into their proof-of-vaccination QR code system. This will allow those businesses who continue to opt for this protective measure to provide the best possible protection to their customers and employees. Similarly, Public Health recommends that organizations strengthen their workplace vaccination polices by adding a booster dose requirement at 4-7 months after the second dose.

For organizations that are continuing proof of vaccination or workplace vaccination polices, Public Health encourages designing them with the involvement of legal and labour relations experts.

Click here to read more.

Ontario eliminates local transit fares when connecting to GO

The province is eliminating the fare for most local transit when using GO Transit service and increasing PRESTO discounts for youth and post-secondary students. Beginning March 14, local transit will be free for riders connecting to and from GO Transit on municipal transit systems with GO Transit co-fare agreements.

The GO Transit co-fare discounts apply to the following agencies: Durham Region Transit, Milton Transit, Grand River Transit, Guelph Transit, Oakville Transit, MiWay, Brampton Transit, Hamilton Street Railway, Burlington Transit, Bradford West Gwillimbury Transit, York Region Transit, and Barrie Transit.

No Niagara transit agencies are included. The GNCC hopes that a co-fare agreement can be reached as part of the work to integrate and enhance Niagara’s public transit systems.

Click here to read more.

GNCC highlights electricity costs in first day of Ontario Chamber network 2022 Advocacy Series

Today, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) kicked off its 2022 Advocacy Series by meeting with all four of Ontario’s political parties this week to advocate for public policies that support business predictability, stability and growth, including through a safe and sustainable reopening.

Throughout this week, Ontario Chamber Network leaders from across the province will advocate for the right conditions to support and protect business resilience in Ontario throughout the 2022 Advocacy Series.

At an opening session with Minister of Energy Todd Smith, GNCC staff thanked the Ministry for its recent reductions to electricity rates, and suggested that a future review of time-of-use billing when the temporarily-lowered rates end should incorporate a full cost-benefit analysis to use the program not just as a driver of energy conservation, but of economic growth, and to calculate the economic costs of such programs as well as the potential energy savings.

Click here to read more.

Reading Recommendations

Canada’s economy was growing at 6.7% pace at the end of 2021

CBC News

The Canadian economy mostly started 2022 on strong footing, despite the impact of the Omicron coronavirus variant and protests that shut down key border crossings, as fourth quarter growth came in above expectations, official data showed on Tuesday.

Canada’s economy grew 6.7 per cent in the fourth quarter on an annualized basis, beating analyst expectations of 6.5 per cent, while January GDP most likely rose 0.2 per cent after stagnating in December, Statistics Canada data showed.

With January’s gain, which is a preliminary estimate, economic activity is now 0.6 per cent above pre-pandemic levels, the agency said.

“While the clouds darkened a bit before the end of the year … GDP posted a surprising 0.2 per cent advance in January despite the Omicron wave and all of the associated job losses,” said Royce Mendes, head of macro strategies at Desjardins Group.

Click here to read more.

Update on Ukraine

Canada imposes new sanctions on Russian individuals, bans Russian ships from Canadian waters, prohibits import of Russian oil, and offers additional $100 million in assistance to Ukraine

Effective immediately, Canada is imposing new sanctions in response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine.

The new amendments impose restrictions on 18 members of the Security Council of the Russian Federation responsible for these actions. The new measures also expand existing prohibitions imposed on 3 Russian financial entities beyond the areas of sovereign debt, as announced on February 24, 2022.

The Government of Canada also announced that it intends to ban Russian-owned or registered ships and fishing vessels in Canadian ports and internal waters. The ban is expected to be in effect later this week through orders made pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act.

The government will also ban crude oil imports from Russia. According to the Canada Energy Regulator, Canada does not currently import any crude oil from Russia, and has not since 2019. The new ban will ensure this remains the case going forward. Once approved, this ban will be effective until further notice.

Finally, the government will offer an additional $100 million in humanitarian assistance to help experienced partners address the most pressing humanitarian needs on the ground in Ukraine and neighbouring countries. This support will help provide emergency health services (including trauma care), protection, support to displaced populations and essential life-saving services such as shelter, water and sanitation, and food.

Niagara COVID-19 statistics tracker

Niagara COVID vaccination tracker

Information on government grants, resources, and programs, policies, forms, and posters for download and use, are available here. The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.

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, 2022

February 28, 2022 | Daily Update

Local section 22 orders and letter of instruction being rescinded, Ontario introduces workplace changes with new legislation, and more.

In this edition:

Local section 22 orders and letter of instruction being rescinded
Ontario introduces workplace changes with new legislation
Local municipalities to discontinue proof-of-vaccine requirements, Niagara Health permits visitors
Alectra offers financial support to businesses installing EV stations
Applications now being accepted for Youth Employment and Skills Program

Local section 22 orders and letter of instruction being rescinded

After reviewing the revised Ontario regulation 364/20 that will be in place to prevent COVID-19 come March 1, 2022, Dr. Mustafa Hirji, Medical Officer of Health & Commissioner (Acting) has determined that the local section 22 orders and letter of instructions in place for food premises, retail premises, as well as indoor sports and recreational fitness facilities are no longer likely to have significant effect with the removal of complementary provincial measures. Therefore, the determination has been made to rescind the orders and letter of instructions in these premises effective 12:01 a.m. on March 1, 2022.

As of March 1, there will be no additional local requirements for food premises, retail premises, or indoor sports and recreational fitness facilities in Niagara beyond the provincial regulations.

Niagara Region Public Health would like to thank everyone for their efforts and cooperation in implementing and following these measures. The ongoing diligence over the past two years has truly prevented infections and protected the health of many against COVID-19, the regional government stated.

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Ontario introduces workplace changes with new legislation

Today, the Government of Ontario will introduce the Working for Workers Act, 2022 that would, if passed:

  • Guarantee a minimum wage, protection of tips, resolution of disputes, and protection from reprisals to “gig economy” workers in ride-sharing, delivery, or courier services
  • Ensure out-of-province workers can register in their regulated profession or trade within 30 days
  • Mandate that larger employers establish and share policies with their employees on how they are monitoring electronic devices
  • Require employers to provide a naloxone kit in workplaces where overdoses are a potential hazard
  • Increase the maximum fines for operators and directors of businesses that fail to provide a safe work environment
  • Expand military reservist leave to cover time spent training and reduce the amount of time they need to hold a job before they have it protected
  • Clarify the treatment of many IT and business consultants under the Employment Standards Act
  • Reduce barriers in the provision of traditional Chinese medicine

Click here to read more.

St. Catharines, Lincoln, Pelham, Port Colborne to discontinue proof-of-vaccine requirements, Niagara Health permits visitors

The City of St. Catharines, the Town of Lincoln, the Town of Pelham, the City of Port Colborne, in line with the Province’s next phase of reopening, will be removing the requirement for proof of vaccination to enter City facilities, as of March 1.

Additionally, Niagara Health will permit patients one visitor at their bedside from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. from March 1.

Other municipal governments in Niagara had not shared their plans for vaccine mandates at municipal facilities at press time.

Click here to read more.

Alectra offers financial support to businesses installing EV stations

Alectra is now accepting applications from businesses seeking financial support to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.

As a delivery partner in the Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program, Alectra can distribute up to 50% of eligible project costs, up to a maximum of $100,000 per project, for Level 2 and Fast Charging EV infrastructure installed in public places, on-street, in multi-unit residential buildings, at workplaces, and for light-duty vehicle fleets.

Organizations that meet NRCan’s funding eligibility criteria can apply now. Information for applicants, including timing, eligibility, covered costs, and full incentive details, is available at alectrautilities.com/zevip. Funding is limited. Interested businesses should apply as soon as possible.

Applications now being accepted for Youth Employment and Skills Program

Today, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, announced an investment of up to $3.7 million to enhance the Youth Employment and Skills Program (YESP) and support approximately 300 jobs for youth in the agriculture sector. The YESP aims to support agri-food employers and provide young Canadians between the ages of 15 and 30 with job experience in agriculture that could lead to a career working in the sector.

The YESP will support agriculture employers with the cost of hiring Canadian youth with an additional focus on those who face employment barriers. Eligible applicants include producers, agri-businesses, industry associations, provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous organizations and research facilities.

Employers can apply between February 28, 2022 and March 21, 2022 for their project to be considered.

Click here to learn more.

Reading Recommendations

Canada’s new travel rules explained

CBC News

Canada is easing several travel measures on Monday for people entering the country.

But some rules remain, including the pre-arrival COVID-19 test requirement, which means returning home from abroad can still be complicated and costly.

Here’s what you need to know if you have upcoming travel plans.

Update on Ukraine

Russia’s central bank doubles interest rates and closes stock market as rouble plunges

The Guardian

Russia’s central bank has more than doubled interest rates to 20% and refused to open the Moscow stock exchange as it sought to protect its economy from Ukraine-related sanctions that sent the value of the rouble plunging by a fifth.

Amid growing queues at cash machines across Russia, the central bank tried to prevent the currency falling further by increasing the main rate from 9.5% to 20% and preventing trading.

It went further by ordering domestic businesses to sell 80% of their dollar assets held abroad to circumvent a clampdown by the US and EU aimed at preventing the central bank from selling foreign holdings worth $640bn (£477bn) under its control to help the war effort.

With the invasion of Ukraine by Kremlin forces entering its fifth day on Monday, the US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank spearheaded plans to effectively ban assets sales by Russia’s central bank.

Restrictions on trades using the Swift international trading system were agreed by the western powers over the weekend, in a move that targeted a range of commercial banks, including a ban on transactions by the central bank.

Click here to read more.

Canada foreign minister says more sanctions coming against Russia

Reuters

Canada’s foreign minister said on Monday that she and her G7 counterparts agreed over the weekend to take further action against Russia in response to its military actions in Ukraine, with more sanctions coming.

“We will take action. That’s what the G7 ministers agreed upon over the weekend… There will be more sanctions coming. And I’ll have more to say during the coming week,” Melanie Joly told reporters following a U.N. Human Rights Council meeting.

Click here to read more.

Niagara COVID-19 statistics tracker

Niagara COVID vaccination tracker

Information on government grants, resources, and programs, policies, forms, and posters for download and use, are available here. The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.

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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