Rapid COVID-19 tests now available for Niagara businesses

May 18, 2021 | Media Releases

The Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce (GNCC) is pleased to announce a partnership with Great Wolf Lodge for the distribution of COVID-19 rapid testing kits. Great Wolf Lodge, located at 3950 Victoria Avenue, Niagara Falls, is a member of the Ontario Vaccination Support Council, whose mission is to support public vaccination through partnerships with private businesses. Great Wolf Lodge will be the distribution site for kits throughout Niagara.

The kits are being provided free of charge to employers, with kit costs covered by the governments of Ontario and Canada. The GNCC and Great Wolf Lodge are donating their resources and facilities to the administration of this program, which was developed and spearheaded by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.

Kits must be ordered at https://gncc.ca/workplace-self-screening-kits/. Online ordering is now available. The online portal allows businesses to book an appointment to pick up kits, which will be offered between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday. The ample facilities and parking available at Great Wolf Lodge will make processing orders safe and easy. The GNCC and Great Wolf Lodge are also providing facilities for the safe return and disposal of used tests.

For the safety of staff and volunteers at the site, no kits can be picked up without an appointment. These kits are for businesses with essential employees only and cannot be distributed to the public. Great Wolf Lodge is unable to provide information or book appointments directly.  Vital and familiar safety measures will be implemented to ensure a safe and contactless pickup.  Masks, hand sanitizing, following the red directional signage and appointment schedules will be critical.

Studies have suggested that as many as one-third of COVID-19 cases are asymptomatic, so detecting and isolating asymptomatic carriers is vital to stopping the spread. While PCR testing remains the gold standard, these tests are expensive and must be done in a laboratory, with results taking several days to return.

Rapid antigen test kits can identify a significant number of asymptomatic individuals. When used to test employees in essential workplaces, along with rigorous self-screening, the COVID Alert app, physical distancing and PPE, these tests can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 through workplaces.

Symptomatic individuals should contact health authorities to arrange for a PCR test.

The tests are to be self-administered twice a week, under supervision. Instructions on correct usage of the kits are being provided with them. All aggregated test results are sent to the Province to identify and track outbreaks, and while employees retain the right to opt out of testing, no personally identifying information is gathered or uploaded.

The Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business in Niagara, the largest business organization in the region and the second-largest Chamber of Commerce in Ontario, with 1,500 members representing 50,000 employees. More information on the GNCC is available at gncc.ca.

 

Contact:
Mishka Balsom, CEO, GNCC
Mishka@gncc.ca or 905-684-2361

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Daily Update: May 17th, 2021

May 17, 2021 | Daily Update

The Government of Ontario is extending vaccine booking eligibility to individuals aged 18 and over, with new appointments available now.

Government of Ontario extends vaccine booking eligibility to individuals aged 18 and over

As the pace of Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues to accelerate with 2.2 million doses scheduled to arrive this week, the government is extending booking eligibility at mass immunization clinics to individuals aged 18 and over. This high number of doses is due to an early delivery of the week of May 24 shipment, to accommodate the long weekend, and is an opportunity for the province to offer an appointment to receive the vaccine to more Ontarians ahead of schedule.

As of 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, individuals aged 18 and over in 2021 across Ontario will be eligible to book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment through the provincial booking system and call centre, or directly through public health units that use their own booking system. On May 3, 2021, the government expanded booking eligibility to those 18 and over in 2021 and who live in one of the 114 hot spot communities.

New vaccination clinic dates have been added in Niagara.

Government of Canada launches new “Ripple Effect” advertising campaign to encourage COVID-19 vaccination

The latest tracking polling shows that the number of people who have already had a shot or who will take one as soon as it is available to them is up from previous weeks and now stands at over 70%. More and more of our family members, friends, and neighbours in communities across Canada are getting vaccinated or say they intend to. This momentum to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible needs to continue. It is important that people know that their choice to vaccinate plays an important part in keeping them and their loved ones healthy.

The campaign uses the concept of a ripple effect to underscore how one small, individual action can greatly influence outcomes for everyone. Getting vaccinated will help reduce infection rates, ease pressure on the health system and create the conditions that will allow us to get back to important social, economic and recreational activities.

Statement from the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada

Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 1,328,582 cases of COVID-19, including 70,341 active cases and 24,948 deaths reported in Canada; these cumulative numbers tell us about the overall burden of COVID-19 illness to date. They also tell us, together with results of serological studies, that a large majority of Canadians remain susceptible to COVID-19. Multiple safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, with unique advantages, are authorised for use in Canada. As vaccine delivery continues to ramp up, there is increasing optimism that widespread and lasting immunity can be achieved through COVID-19 vaccination.

However, as COVID-19 activity remains elevated in many jurisdictions, strong public health measures must be sustained where COVID-19 is circulating and individual precautions are important everywhere to drive infection rates down to low and manageable levels, while getting our vaccination rates as high as possible. While the latest national-level data show continued declines in disease activity, daily case counts remain very high.

Reading Recommendations

Housing market moderates in April compared to March

Canadian Real Estate Association

Home sales recorded over Canadian MLS® Systems fell by 12.5% in April 2021 compared to the highest level ever recorded in March. (Chart A)

Month-over-month declines in sales activity were observed in close to 85% of all local markets, including virtually all of B.C. and Ontario.

In contrast, actual (not seasonally adjusted) sales activity posted a 256% year-over-year gain in April, reflecting the chasm between the best April ever in 2021 and the worst ever last year.

Commodities send loonie soaring, creating quandary for Canada

Bloomberg News

The broad rally in raw materials that’s lifted prices for crops, energy and metals is a bonanza for Canada’s economy and a major challenge for the nation’s policy makers, who are under pressure to ensure that everybody benefits.

Should the commodities boom hold, it would represent a windfall for the resource-rich nation endowed with oil, natural gas and vast lands to mine and farm. Export receipts are already at near a record and poised to go higher. The value of lumber shipments alone nearly doubled in the first quarter.

Niagara COVID status tracker (May 8)

Niagara’s most up-to-date COVID statistics, measured against the targets for the various stages of the Ontario COVID-19 Response Framework, are presented below. This does not predict government policy, but is offered to give you an idea of where Niagara is situated and how likely a relaxation (or further restrictions) may be. These data are the most recent published by Niagara Region. The Grey-Lockdown level does not have its own metrics, but is triggered when the COVID-specific measurements in a Red-Control region have continued to deteriorate.

The Province of Ontario is currently under a stay-at-home order. The COVID-19 Response Framework does not apply during this order. Click here to review the restrictions currently in place.

▲: Metric has increased since last published measurement

▼: Metric has decreased since last published measurement

— : Metric has not changed since last published measurement

December 18December 25January 1January 8January 15January 22January 29
Reproductive number1.41.81.41.11.00.70.9
New cases per 100,000101.2267.3469.8575.8507.1295.5250.6
New cases per day (not including outbreaks)60.7178.7311.7376.9325.4182.7145.7
Percent of hospital beds occupied97%95.2%98.2%103.2%104.5%103.6%106%
Percent of intensive care beds occupied78.8%77.3%87.9%87.9%90.9%89.4%93.9%
Percentage of positive tests6.1%15.6%28.1%28.6%26.6%21.2%16.2%

Definitions:

  • Weekly Incidence Rate: the number of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people per week
  • Percent Positivity: the number of positive COVID-19 tests as a percentage of all COVID-19 tests performed
  • Rt: the reproductive rate, or the number of people infected by each case of the virus

Niagara COVID vaccination tracker (May 17)

Niagara’s most up-to-date vaccination numbers are presented below, along with comparison data from Ontario, Canada, and G7 countries.

Total doses administered in Niagara: 227,637

Total doses administered in Niagara since yesterday: 3,928

Percentage of population with one dosePercentage of population fully vaccinated
Niagara82.7%78.2%
Ontario84.6%79.1%
Canada84.7%78.6%
United States75%64%
United Kingdom78%72%
Germany76%74%
France80%77%
Italy83%76%
Japan80%79%
World63%53%

Data are drawn from Niagara Region, the Government of Ontario, and Oxford University’s Our World in Data project.

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.
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Daily Update: May 14th, 2021

May 14, 2021 | Daily Update

COVID-19 antigen rapid test kits are expected to arrive in Niagara for distribution during the week beginning May 17th.

COVID-19 rapid testing kits for businesses expected soon

COVID-19 antigen rapid test kits are expected to arrive in Niagara for distribution during the week beginning May 17th. Interested businesses can get more information here. Once the delivery date has been confirmed, our ordering system will go live. A mailing list is available, and those who sign up will be notified as soon as orders can be placed.

Click here to review frequently asked questions about the kits.

Ontario providing more relief for tourism industry

The Ontario government is providing over $1 million in financial relief to more than 300 resource-based tourism businesses operating at Ontario’s provincial parks and conservation reserves by waiving and reducing certain land use and licence fees for 2021. The province’s continued support for the resource-based tourism industry will help local businesses that have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.

The 2021 relief for resource-based tourism businesses includes:

  • Removing 2021 annual land use fees for commercial outpost camp permit holders.
  • Reducing and deferring payment of land use fees for commercial youth camps until the 2022 season.
  • Reducing license fees for some commercial operators under service agreements in Ontario Parks for 2021.

Resource-based businesses do not need to apply for this relief.

Niagara’s health and community leaders encourage residents to seek out reliable information on COVID-19 vaccines

Niagara’s health care, public health and community leaders are taking to social media to encourage everyone in our community to get the facts about COVID-19 vaccines.

In recent weeks, Niagara Health has seen a dramatic increase in the strain placed on its critical care capacity due to the third wave of COVID-19 infections. Encouraging as many people as possible to get vaccinated is key to controlling infections and relieving the pressure on our hospital system.

Leaders from Niagara Health and Niagara’s Community Coordination Task Force for COVID-19 Vaccination have created a series of short videos that answer common questions and misconceptions about the vaccine. The videos can be viewed on YouTube, or through Niagara Region and Niagara Health’s social media channels, and more will be added in the coming weeks.

St. Catharines licensing, by-laws approved to better address short-term rental concerns

The City of St. Catharines is beefing up its regulatory framework when it comes to addressing concerns with short-term rental (STR) operations.

On Monday night, City Council approved a Licensing and Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) for STRs, such as those operated through online portals like AirBnB and VRBO. These new tools compliment amendments made to the City’s Zoning By-law late in 2020 that redefined STRs as home-based businesses. The amendments, combined with licensing and AMPS, will allow the City to better regulate, and enforce compliance with City by-laws, as they relate to STRs. Both will be phased into effect starting January 2022. Until that time STRs are not permitted under the City’s Zoning By-law.

Welland seeks community engagement on Public Works Service Level Review

City of Welland staff have done background research, interviews and workshops with community partners and now are asking all residents (PDF link) to complete the survey and bulletin board with their thoughts and comments. Those who wish to participate in a virtual community conversation can do so by subscribing to the project by clicking the Stay Informed button in YourChannel. The virtual meeting will take place on May 20, 2021, 7-8 P.M. The city asks all residents to visit YourChannel to provide feedback, complete the survey and share their experiences with Public Works Service Levels.

Niagara Health begins booking high-risk healthcare workers for second dose COVID-19 vaccination at a shortened interval

Today, Niagara Health started scheduling high-risk healthcare workers for their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a shortened interval.

An estimated 13,000 healthcare workers in Niagara will be impacted by this new provincial direction to shorten the second-dose interval.

As Niagara Health continues to face significant pressures in the hospital, we strongly urge the community to follow public health measures to minimize further increases in COVID-19 cases. This includes masking, physical distancing, handwashing, staying home and getting vaccinated when you are able to do so.

Reading Recommendations

Partially vaccinated Canadians can socialize outdoors this summer, Tam says

John Paul Tasker, CBC News

Canadians who have been vaccinated with one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine can socialize with close family and friends outdoors over the summer months, Canada’s chief public health officer said today.

With the vaccine supply ramping up, virtually all Canadians will have access to at least one vaccine dose by June. Dr. Theresa Tam said that extra layer of protection will allow some of the more stringent social distancing measures to be relaxed — but Canadians must continue to avoid indoor gatherings altogether until more people are fully vaccinated.

Trudeau government begins work on reopening U.S.-Canada border

BNN Bloomberg

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has begun preliminary internal discussions about reopening the border with the U.S., even as Canada remains well behind its neighbor in vaccinations.

Senior officials have begun to formally talk about options for how to proceed, three people familiar with the matter said, speaking on the condition they not be identified. One question under consideration is whether to employ a two-track system in which quarantine and testing requirements would be relaxed for vaccinated travelers.

Featured Content

Understanding the employment impacts of COVID-19’s on women

Niagara Workforce Planning Board

One of the earliest realities of the COVID-19 pandemic was its disproportionate impact on women. As early as April 2020, NWPB’s research identified emerging trends that demonstrated how women were losing employment and leaving the labour force in greater numbers than men. During the worst months of the first wave, more than two  women lost employment for every one man. In the months since then, the number of women working in Niagara has never returned to its pre-pandemic level.

We quickly recognized that this imbalance would emerge as a significant local labour market challenge. In response, we developed a number of research collaborations and partnerships to provide clear insights on COVID-19’s employment impacts.

First, we supported Brock University’s Niagara Community Observatory on the production of a preliminary assessment of the economic impacts of COVID-19 on Niagara women in the workforce.

NWPB expanded on this work with the production of our gender-focused labour market report: Women, Men, and Work in Niagara. This report aligned with priorities identified by the Regional Municipality of Niagara, in addition to adding local context to provincial trends noted by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.

Our Post-Pandemic Scenario Planning project further examined the relationship between women’s employment and tourism employment in Niagara. This project is still producing monthly updates as part of our ongoing efforts to support Niagara’s COVID-19 recovery efforts.

As we move forward, NWPB is committed to building gender-focused measures into our data products. For additional up-to-date information please visit our website at www.nwpb.ca or email info@nwpb.ca.

Niagara COVID status tracker (May 8)

Niagara’s most up-to-date COVID statistics, measured against the targets for the various stages of the Ontario COVID-19 Response Framework, are presented below. This does not predict government policy, but is offered to give you an idea of where Niagara is situated and how likely a relaxation (or further restrictions) may be. These data are the most recent published by Niagara Region. The Grey-Lockdown level does not have its own metrics, but is triggered when the COVID-specific measurements in a Red-Control region have continued to deteriorate.

The Province of Ontario is currently under a stay-at-home order. The COVID-19 Response Framework does not apply during this order. Click here to review the restrictions currently in place.

▲: Metric has increased since last published measurement

▼: Metric has decreased since last published measurement

— : Metric has not changed since last published measurement

December 18December 25January 1January 8January 15January 22January 29
Reproductive number1.41.81.41.11.00.70.9
New cases per 100,000101.2267.3469.8575.8507.1295.5250.6
New cases per day (not including outbreaks)60.7178.7311.7376.9325.4182.7145.7
Percent of hospital beds occupied97%95.2%98.2%103.2%104.5%103.6%106%
Percent of intensive care beds occupied78.8%77.3%87.9%87.9%90.9%89.4%93.9%
Percentage of positive tests6.1%15.6%28.1%28.6%26.6%21.2%16.2%

Definitions:

  • Weekly Incidence Rate: the number of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people per week
  • Percent Positivity: the number of positive COVID-19 tests as a percentage of all COVID-19 tests performed
  • Rt: the reproductive rate, or the number of people infected by each case of the virus

Niagara COVID vaccination tracker (May 14)

Niagara’s most up-to-date vaccination numbers are presented below, along with comparison data from Ontario, Canada, and G7 countries.

Total doses administered in Niagara: 215,642

Total doses administered in Niagara since yesterday: 3,400

Percentage of population with one dosePercentage of population fully vaccinated
Niagara82.7%78.2%
Ontario84.6%79.1%
Canada84.7%78.6%
United States75%64%
United Kingdom78%72%
Germany76%74%
France80%77%
Italy83%76%
Japan80%79%
World63%53%

Data are drawn from Niagara Region, the Government of Ontario, and Oxford University’s Our World in Data project.

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.
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Daily Update: May 13th, 2021

May 13, 2021 | Daily Update

Ontario has extended the Stay-at-Home Order until at least June 2. The provincewide emergency brake will also remain in effect.

Government of Ontario extends stay-at-home order to June 2nd

The Ontario government has extended the Stay-at-Home Order (O. Reg. 265/21) until at least June 2, 2021. All public health and workplace safety measures under the provincewide emergency brake will also remain in effect. During this time, the government will prepare to administer the Pfizer vaccine to youth between the ages of 12 and 17, beginning the week May 31, 2021, as the province also finalizes plans to gradually and safely re-open the province.

Despite improvements, key indicators remain high and more time is required before the province can safely lift the Stay-at-Home Order. From May 3 to 9, the provincial cases rate remained very high at 134.9 cases per 100,000 people, and per cent positivity was above the high alert threshold of 2.5 per cent. Hospitalization and ICU admissions also remain too high and well above the peak of wave two.

Province launches new Ontario Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant

The Ontario government is providing one‐time payments of $10,000 to $20,000 to support eligible small tourism and travel businesses struggling to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic through the new $100-million Ontario Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant. The launch of the program was announced today by Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries.

This grant will support eligible small tourism and travel businesses that did not receive the Ontario Small Business Support Grant (OSBSG), such as travel agents, hotels, motels, resorts, and bed and breakfasts. To qualify, businesses must have fewer than 100 employees and demonstrate they have experienced a minimum 20 per cent revenue decline between 2019 and 2020.

For information on eligibilty and how to apply: www.ontario.ca/covidsupport.

Ontario Chamber calls for evidence-based metrics for reopening & clarity around AstraZeneca

The provincial Chamber of Commerce is calling on the Province to help restore public and business confidence in the government’s management of the COVID-19 crisis by providing Ontarians with clarity on:

  • Evidence-based metrics for reopening, namely thresholds related to daily case counts, capacity within our healthcare system, and how rapidly the virus is spreading. For instance, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer said he would like to see the number of new daily COVID-19 cases for Ontario “well below” 1,000 before easing public health restrictions. Will this be the threshold for reopening?
  • When and how Ontarians who received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine will receive their second dose, or at least when that decision will be made and what information it will be based on.
  • How public health measures will adapt when the majority of Ontarians will have received their first vaccine dose. For instance, other jurisdictions like Saskatchewan have provided a clear plan and roadmap for what can open and when, accompanied by an expected timeline.

Niagara Medical Officer of Health offers COVID-19 update

Dr. Hirji, Niagara’s Acting Medical Officer of Health, will also join the GNCC for a live webinar and take questions on May 18.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrDikl6408I

Auditor General of Ontario finds inconsistent and late reporting of actual spending on initial COVID-19 emergency relief programs

Most of the province’s early health-related COVID-19 expenditures were properly authorized by Treasury Board, but better processes to track, monitor and report on the proper use of funds and the timely distribution of payments were needed for mainly Ministry of Health initiatives, Ontario Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk states in her latest chapter of the Special Report on COVID-19 Preparedness and Management (PDF link).

Reading Recommendations

WE Charity: Trudeau cleared of ethics wrongdoing in political scandal

BBC News

Canada’s ethics watchdog has cleared Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of wrongdoing in the WE Charity scandal. The charity had been tapped by his government last year to oversee a volunteer programme for students during the pandemic. Mr Trudeau later faced scrutiny when it was revealed he had personal ties to the organisation. But the report found former finance minister Bill Morneau had breached federal ethics rules in the scandal. Mr Morneau resigned in August, although he denied it was because of this case.

Greyhound Canada to cut all routes, end operations

Brett Bundale, Canadian Press/Bloomberg News

Greyhound Canada is permanently cutting all bus routes across the country, shutting down the intercity bus carrier’s operations in Canada after nearly a century of service. The motor coach company said its remaining routes in Ontario and Quebec will cease permanently on Thursday.

Its American affiliate, Greyhound Lines, Inc., will continue to operate cross-border routes to Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver once the border reopens. The decision comes a year after Greyhound Canada temporarily suspended all service due to a sharp decline in passengers and mounting travel restrictions amid the first wave of COVID-19.

The global chip shortage is starting to have major real-world consequences

Sam Shead, CNBC

The severity of the global chip shortage has gone up a notch over the last few weeks and it’s now looking as though millions of people will be impacted.

As technology has advanced, semiconductor chips have spread from computers and cars to toothbrushes and tumble dryers — they now lurk beneath the hood of a surprising number of products.

But demand for chips is continuing to outstrip supply, and car makers are no longer the only companies feeling the pinch.

Niagara COVID status tracker (May 8)

Niagara’s most up-to-date COVID statistics, measured against the targets for the various stages of the Ontario COVID-19 Response Framework, are presented below. This does not predict government policy, but is offered to give you an idea of where Niagara is situated and how likely a relaxation (or further restrictions) may be. These data are the most recent published by Niagara Region. The Grey-Lockdown level does not have its own metrics, but is triggered when the COVID-specific measurements in a Red-Control region have continued to deteriorate.

The Province of Ontario is currently under a stay-at-home order. The COVID-19 Response Framework does not apply during this order. Click here to review the restrictions currently in place.

▲: Metric has increased since last published measurement

▼: Metric has decreased since last published measurement

— : Metric has not changed since last published measurement

December 18December 25January 1January 8January 15January 22January 29
Reproductive number1.41.81.41.11.00.70.9
New cases per 100,000101.2267.3469.8575.8507.1295.5250.6
New cases per day (not including outbreaks)60.7178.7311.7376.9325.4182.7145.7
Percent of hospital beds occupied97%95.2%98.2%103.2%104.5%103.6%106%
Percent of intensive care beds occupied78.8%77.3%87.9%87.9%90.9%89.4%93.9%
Percentage of positive tests6.1%15.6%28.1%28.6%26.6%21.2%16.2%

Definitions:

  • Weekly Incidence Rate: the number of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people per week
  • Percent Positivity: the number of positive COVID-19 tests as a percentage of all COVID-19 tests performed
  • Rt: the reproductive rate, or the number of people infected by each case of the virus

Niagara COVID vaccination tracker (May 13)

Niagara’s most up-to-date vaccination numbers are presented below, along with comparison data from Ontario, Canada, and G7 countries.

Total doses administered in Niagara: 212,414

Total doses administered in Niagara since yesterday: 3,212

Percentage of population with one dosePercentage of population fully vaccinated
Niagara82.7%78.2%
Ontario84.6%79.1%
Canada84.7%78.6%
United States75%64%
United Kingdom78%72%
Germany76%74%
France80%77%
Italy83%76%
Japan80%79%
World63%53%

Data are drawn from Niagara Region, the Government of Ontario, and Oxford University’s Our World in Data project.

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.
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Daily Update: May 12th, 2021

May 12, 2021 | Daily Update

Ontario has now administered first doses of the COVID-19 vaccines to over 50 per cent of Ontarians aged 18 and over.

Ontario delivers first COVID-19 vaccine dose to half of adults in province

Ontario has administered first doses of the COVID-19 vaccines to over 50 per cent of Ontarians aged 18 and over. Over one million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Ontario since the start of May, and the province remains on track to have administered first doses to 65 per cent of Ontarians aged 18 and over by the end of May.

Third survey provides updated picture of COVID-19 impact on Niagara’s businesses

Niagara’s Economic Rapid Response Team (ERRT) now has up-to-date information on the state of recovery of Niagara’s businesses, thanks to a recently completed Niagara COVID-19 Business Impact Survey – Part 3.

  • 81 per cent of businesses reported a loss of revenue in 2020. 354 businesses reported a combined loss of $388.5 million in revenue, an average of $1.1 million per business
  • Businesses expect a prolonged recovery process, with 30 per cent expecting a recovery within one year, 22 per cent within two years, 24 per cent within three years, and 18 per cent in over three years
  • The top obstacles facing businesses included a slow return of customers, cash flow/increased debt loads, and hiring/training staff, among others
  • Business indicated their immediate needs for the next six months included marketing and promotion, financial assistance, employee training, sourcing critical supplies, and hiring staff
  • The top five factors reported that are negatively affecting workforces during the pandemic include employee mental health, ownership mental health, overall business stability, uncertainty regarding employment stability and demand for products and services

You can download the full report online.

Canadian Chamber of Commerce launches Women in Business Summit

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Salesforce announced, today, the launch of the Women in Business Summit: Empowering an Inclusive Recovery. The one-day event on June 23, 2021 will focus on ensuring an inclusive economic recovery is a reality.

By bringing together influencers, business and community leaders, the Women in Business Summit aims to mobilize the business community to take immediate action to keep women in the workforce and build their success as entrepreneurs through the pandemic’s recovery.

Investment in building construction increased again in March

Total investment in building construction increased 5.9% to $18.6 billion in March, led by the residential sector, Statistics Canada has reported. On a constant dollar basis (2012=100), investment in building construction was up 5.2% to $14.3 billion in March.

Residential construction investment increased for the eleventh consecutive month, up 7.6% to $14.0 billion in March.

Investment in single units jumped 10.7% to $7.8 billion. Quebec led the way with an increase of 30.4%, bringing investment in single homes to $1.9 billion for the province. Investment in Ontario was up 9.8% to $3.3 billion, driven by renovations to single family homes in the census metropolitan area of Toronto.

Book Depot named one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies

Book Depot was recognized for overall business performance and sustained growth with the prestigious Canada’s Best Managed Companies designation. The 2021 Best Managed program award winners are amongst the best-in-class of Canadian owned and managed companies with revenues over $25 million demonstrating leadership in the areas of strategy, capabilities and innovation, culture and commitment, and financials to achieve sustainable growth.

Thorold-based Book Depot is the largest bargain book wholesaler and retailer in North America.

Reading Recommendations

These people were vaccine hesitant. Here’s why they changed their minds

Angelina King, CBC News

Vaccine hesitancy is decreasing in Canada, according to those who work on the issue and two recent surveys. Health-care workers say it’s due to a combination between more information being communicated to the public, people seeing others get their shots and on-the-ground work addressing hesitancy in various communities.

Ontario not ready to lift stay-at-home order and should extend lockdown, OMA says

Sean Davidson, CTV News

Ontario is not ready to lift the stay-at-home order and should extend the current lockdown measures past May 20, the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) says.

The OMA said the number of new COVID-19 cases daily, along with the current number of people in hospital, makes it unsafe to lift restrictions at this time.

The organization does believe though that some restrictions on outdoor recreational activities, like golf, tennis and basketball, should be lifted to improve people’s mental and physical health.

Niagara COVID status tracker (May 8)

Niagara’s most up-to-date COVID statistics, measured against the targets for the various stages of the Ontario COVID-19 Response Framework, are presented below. This does not predict government policy, but is offered to give you an idea of where Niagara is situated and how likely a relaxation (or further restrictions) may be. These data are the most recent published by Niagara Region. The Grey-Lockdown level does not have its own metrics, but is triggered when the COVID-specific measurements in a Red-Control region have continued to deteriorate.

The Province of Ontario is currently under a stay-at-home order. The COVID-19 Response Framework does not apply during this order. Click here to review the restrictions currently in place.

▲: Metric has increased since last published measurement

▼: Metric has decreased since last published measurement

— : Metric has not changed since last published measurement

December 18December 25January 1January 8January 15January 22January 29
Reproductive number1.41.81.41.11.00.70.9
New cases per 100,000101.2267.3469.8575.8507.1295.5250.6
New cases per day (not including outbreaks)60.7178.7311.7376.9325.4182.7145.7
Percent of hospital beds occupied97%95.2%98.2%103.2%104.5%103.6%106%
Percent of intensive care beds occupied78.8%77.3%87.9%87.9%90.9%89.4%93.9%
Percentage of positive tests6.1%15.6%28.1%28.6%26.6%21.2%16.2%

Definitions:

  • Weekly Incidence Rate: the number of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people per week
  • Percent Positivity: the number of positive COVID-19 tests as a percentage of all COVID-19 tests performed
  • Rt: the reproductive rate, or the number of people infected by each case of the virus

Niagara COVID vaccination tracker (May 12)

Niagara’s most up-to-date vaccination numbers are presented below, along with comparison data from Ontario, Canada, and G7 countries.

Total doses administered in Niagara: 208,854

Total doses administered in Niagara since yesterday: 3,264

Percentage of population with one dosePercentage of population fully vaccinated
Niagara82.7%78.2%
Ontario84.6%79.1%
Canada84.7%78.6%
United States75%64%
United Kingdom78%72%
Germany76%74%
France80%77%
Italy83%76%
Japan80%79%
World63%53%

Data are drawn from Niagara Region, the Government of Ontario, and Oxford University’s Our World in Data project.

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.
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Daily Update: May 11th, 2021

May 11, 2021 | Daily Update

Ontario is updating income eligibility thresholds for the Ontario Seniors Dental Care and the Seniors Co-Payment programs from August 1st.

Ontario government updates eligibility for Ontario Seniors Dental Care and Co-Payments

The Ontario government is updating the income eligibility thresholds for the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program and the Seniors Co-Payment Program. Starting August 1st, 2021, eligibility thresholds for both programs will be updated to reflect cost of living increases in Ontario and align with income support programs for seniors. Income thresholds will be updated for single Ontarians aged 65 and over, from $19,300 to $22,200, and for couples with a combined annual income, from $32,300 to $37,100. This will allow approximately 7,000 more seniors to access the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program and 17,000 more seniors to access the Seniors Co-Payment Program in 2021-2022.

Ontario Chamber of Commerce pleased to see federal and provincial governments partnering on transit

Today, Rocco Rossi, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), released a statement in response to the federal government’s major investment to support the province’s transit plan, remarking that “as Ontario’s indispensable partner of business, we’re pleased to see the provincial and federal governments work together to expand important transit projects in Ontario. Together, these projects will help spur job growth, which will be critical to supporting economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. These projects will also help reduce traffic congestion, improve productivity, and pollution.”

Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival postponed until 2022

With the health and safety of residents, staff, and the community a top priority in Port Colborne, the annual Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival has been postponed for another year due to COVID-19.

At yesterday’s Council meeting, the Canal Days Advisory Committee presented a report with recommendations for postponing the much-loved annual event which was scheduled to take place July 30 to Aug. 2, 2021. This decision, although difficult to make, was based on current provincial legislation and public health guidelines.

“We want the community to know this wasn’t an easy decision,” said Scott Luey, CAO.

Reading Recommendations

Placing employees on IDEL constitutes constructive dismissal

Brittany Taylor, Canadian HR Reporter

On April 27, 2021, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice released its decision in Coutinho v Ocular Health Centre Ltd, which confirmed, for the first time, that an employee who was unilaterally placed on a layoff as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic had been constructively dismissed from their employment.

This is a groundbreaking case with massive ramifications for employers everywhere that placed staff on temporary layoff, reduced their wages or implemented other significant changes in order to try and weather the pandemic.

Trudeau says pandemic restrictions shouldn’t be eased until case counts are ‘way down’

John Paul Tasker, CBC News

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged provinces today to maintain strict public health measures until COVID-19 case counts are much lower than they are now — so that Canadians can enjoy a “one-dose summer.”

Speaking to reporters at a COVID-19 briefing, Trudeau said that with the steady supply of vaccines now streaming into the country, there will be enough shots to immunize every eligible Canadian with at least one dose by the end of June.

But vaccinations alone will not crush the third wave stretching the country’s health care system to its limits, he added.

Posthaste: The Big Tech rally is fading — is it time to cash in your chips?

Yadullah Hussein, Financial Post

Tech stocks around the world have been swooning lately after reaching giddy heights over the past year.

Chinese tech heavyweights Baidu Inc., Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd. and Tencent Ltd., also known as BATs, fell more than 3 per cent each this morning, while Facebook Inc., Amazon, Netflix Inc. and Alphabet Inc. (Google), also known as FANG stocks, had collectively slumped 3.6 per cent on Monday; electric car maker Tesla Inc. had reversed 6.4 per cent yesterday.

The market is not off to a great start today either, with Nasdaq futures down 1 per cent this morning.

But analysts are cautioning against a mad dash for the exits, given the strong market fundamentals. The global 12-month forward earnings per share estimate has risen by almost 20 per cent over the past six months, which is the fastest pace since the aftermath of the global financial crisis in 2010, according to Oxford Economics.

Niagara COVID status tracker (May 1)

Niagara’s most up-to-date COVID statistics, measured against the targets for the various stages of the Ontario COVID-19 Response Framework, are presented below. This does not predict government policy, but is offered to give you an idea of where Niagara is situated and how likely a relaxation (or further restrictions) may be. These data are the most recent published by Niagara Region. The Grey-Lockdown level does not have its own metrics, but is triggered when the COVID-specific measurements in a Red-Control region have continued to deteriorate.

The Province of Ontario is currently under a stay-at-home order. The COVID-19 Response Framework does not apply during this order. Click here to review the restrictions currently in place.

▲: Metric has increased since last published measurement

▼: Metric has decreased since last published measurement

— : Metric has not changed since last published measurement

December 18December 25January 1January 8January 15January 22January 29
Reproductive number1.41.81.41.11.00.70.9
New cases per 100,000101.2267.3469.8575.8507.1295.5250.6
New cases per day (not including outbreaks)60.7178.7311.7376.9325.4182.7145.7
Percent of hospital beds occupied97%95.2%98.2%103.2%104.5%103.6%106%
Percent of intensive care beds occupied78.8%77.3%87.9%87.9%90.9%89.4%93.9%
Percentage of positive tests6.1%15.6%28.1%28.6%26.6%21.2%16.2%

Definitions:

  • Weekly Incidence Rate: the number of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people per week
  • Percent Positivity: the number of positive COVID-19 tests as a percentage of all COVID-19 tests performed
  • Rt: the reproductive rate, or the number of people infected by each case of the virus

Niagara COVID vaccination tracker (May 11)

Niagara’s most up-to-date vaccination numbers are presented below, along with comparison data from Ontario, Canada, and G7 countries.

Total doses administered in Niagara: 205,640

Total doses administered in Niagara since yesterday: 3,357

Percentage of population with one dosePercentage of population fully vaccinated
Niagara82.7%78.2%
Ontario84.6%79.1%
Canada84.7%78.6%
United States75%64%
United Kingdom78%72%
Germany76%74%
France80%77%
Italy83%76%
Japan80%79%
World63%53%

Data are drawn from Niagara Region, the Government of Ontario, and Oxford University’s Our World in Data project.

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.
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Daily Update: May 10th, 2021

May 10, 2021 | Daily Update

On May 11 and May 13, vaccine booking will open to people with health conditions, those who cannot work from home, and those aged over 40.

Ontario expands vaccine booking eligibility

As of Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 8:00 a.m., individuals with at-risk health conditions such as dementia, diabetes and sickle cell disease, as well as Group Two of people who cannot work from home including grocery store, restaurant and transportation workers will be eligible to book an appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

In addition, effective Thursday, May 13, 2021, at 8:00 a.m., individuals turning 40 and over in 2021 in non-hot spot communities will also be eligible to book an appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at a mass immunization clinic. Eligible individuals can schedule an appointment through the provincial booking system, or directly through public health units that use their own booking system. This builds upon the eligibility of those aged 18 and over in hot spot areas and is aligned with the rollout announced on May 2, 2021.

High-risk health care workers will be eligible to receive their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine earlier than the extended four-month interval.

Niagara Region offers new business directory

A new online business directory, available at www.niagaracanada.com, allows Niagara businesses to quickly and easily identify local partner companies that can help them streamline their supply chain, lower costs, and speed up production.
Businesses can search for connections by sector, municipality, business size and other variables that allow them to do a targeted search among the hundreds of businesses listed on the site. The site also allows customers to find and connect with businesses in their area, encouraging them to shop local and support Niagara’s business community.

Niagara Health’s COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic reaches milestone of 100,000 doses administered

On May 8th, Niagara Health’s COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic at Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre in St.  Catharines surpassed 100,000 vaccine doses administered since opening earlier this year. Niagara Health opened the first mass immunization clinic in Niagara. Approximately 75 people work at the clinic daily including staff and physicians from Niagara Health, community physicians and others. Based on vaccine supply, Niagara Health can continue to vaccinate approximately 1,650 people per day.

Government of Canada plans to issue US-dollar global bond

Today, the Government of Canada announced its plan to issue a US-dollar-denominated global bond later this week, subject to market conditions. Issuing a global bond provides funds to supplement and diversify Canada’s liquid foreign reserves. Canada holds its liquid foreign reserves in the Exchange Fund Account (EFA). Foreign exchange reserves provide a general source of prudential liquidity and promote orderly conditions for the Canadian dollar in foreign exchange markets. Funds for the EFA can be raised through cross-currency swaps of Canadian-dollar borrowings, foreign-currency-denominated debt issues, and outright purchases of foreign currency.

Reading Recommendations

Global herd immunity is still out of reach

The Economist

More than 5m Americans who have received a first dose of the covid-19 vaccine are skipping appointments for their second, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Some mistakenly think they are sufficiently protected with a single shot; others fear side effects. Such hesitation is common around the world, according to a new poll by Gallup. In a survey of 300,000 people across 117 countries, the pollster found that only 68% of adults would agree to be vaccinated if a free jab were available to them; 29% said they would refuse.

How to set up a remote employee for success on Day One

James M. Citrin, Darleen DeRosa, Harvard Business Review

Most managers know that onboarding new employees virtually is just plain hard, and many recognize the long-term impact a poor onboarding experience could have on their employees. Onboarding is more than logistics, such as making sure your new employee has a computer. The more critical, make-or-break parts of onboarding include:

  • Getting off to a fast start to give your new colleague early comfort and confidence — making him or her feel welcome.

  • Establishing a foundation for strong relationships across the organization.

  • Building an understanding of the culture and how work gets done.

  • Setting clear expectations and connecting the individual’s work to the broader organizational mission, vision, and goals.

Niagara COVID status tracker (May 1)

Niagara’s most up-to-date COVID statistics, measured against the targets for the various stages of the Ontario COVID-19 Response Framework, are presented below. This does not predict government policy, but is offered to give you an idea of where Niagara is situated and how likely a relaxation (or further restrictions) may be. These data are the most recent published by Niagara Region. The Grey-Lockdown level does not have its own metrics, but is triggered when the COVID-specific measurements in a Red-Control region have continued to deteriorate.

The Province of Ontario is currently under a stay-at-home order. The COVID-19 Response Framework does not apply during this order. Click here to review the restrictions currently in place.

▲: Metric has increased since last published measurement

▼: Metric has decreased since last published measurement

— : Metric has not changed since last published measurement

December 18December 25January 1January 8January 15January 22January 29
Reproductive number1.41.81.41.11.00.70.9
New cases per 100,000101.2267.3469.8575.8507.1295.5250.6
New cases per day (not including outbreaks)60.7178.7311.7376.9325.4182.7145.7
Percent of hospital beds occupied97%95.2%98.2%103.2%104.5%103.6%106%
Percent of intensive care beds occupied78.8%77.3%87.9%87.9%90.9%89.4%93.9%
Percentage of positive tests6.1%15.6%28.1%28.6%26.6%21.2%16.2%

Definitions:

  • Weekly Incidence Rate: the number of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people per week
  • Percent Positivity: the number of positive COVID-19 tests as a percentage of all COVID-19 tests performed
  • Rt: the reproductive rate, or the number of people infected by each case of the virus

Niagara COVID vaccination tracker (May 10)

Niagara’s most up-to-date vaccination numbers are presented below, along with comparison data from Ontario, Canada, and G7 countries.

Total doses administered in Niagara: 202,294

Total doses administered in Niagara since yesterday: 2,363

Percentage of population with one dosePercentage of population fully vaccinated
Niagara82.7%78.2%
Ontario84.6%79.1%
Canada84.7%78.6%
United States75%64%
United Kingdom78%72%
Germany76%74%
France80%77%
Italy83%76%
Japan80%79%
World63%53%

Data are drawn from Niagara Region, the Government of Ontario, and Oxford University’s Our World in Data project.

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.
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Daily Update: May 7th, 2021

May 7, 2021 | Daily Update

The COVID-19 Rapid Screening Initiative for small and medium-sized businesses has launched across the province.

COVID-19 rapid testing for businesses

The Ontario government, in partnership with the federal government and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, has launched the COVID-19 Rapid Screening Initiative for small and medium-sized businesses across the province.

The COVID-19 Rapid Screening Initiative will provide free rapid antigen tests for employees of small and medium-sized businesses through participating local chambers of commerce and other organizations. Businesses (including non-chamber members) with 150 employees or less are welcome to participate in this program. The goal of the program is to identify asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 in the workplace that might otherwise be missed, helping to curb the spread in the workplace, at home and around the community.

The GNCC is pleased to be a partner in this initiative and more information on the distribution of these kits will be available on our site and in our Daily Updates early next week. Questions can be directed to rapidtesting@gncc.ca.

Niagara sees full-time employment gains in April

April 2021 saw 5,300 more people in employment compared to March 2021, reports Niagara Workforce Planning Board. These gains were the result of 5,700 more people in full-time employment and 300 fewer people in part-time employment.

Niagara’s unemployment rate decreased from 13.0% to 12.5%. At the same time, the employment rate increased from 48.7% to 50.1%.

The employment rate rising as unemployment falls is generally an ideal pairing of labour market indicators. Given how past lockdowns impacted local employment trends, these are unexpected outcomes that are not aligned to provincial and national trends that reported overall employment declines, fewer average hours worked, an increase in people working from home, and employment declines in the accommodations and food services sector – which is the sector where Niagara saw its largest month-over-month employment gains.

If these data hold steady in next month’s Labour Force Survey release, it will be an indicator that Niagara has managed to weather the third wave of COVID-19 with an unexpected level of success. However, it is also quite possible that the full impact of the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is not captured in April’s employment data. As such, the May Labour Force Survey data, scheduled to be released on June 4, 2021, will offer essential insights on the state of Niagara’s employment landscape.

Labour force characteristicsMarch 2020April 20202020 AnnualFeb 2021March 2021April 2021
Labour force211,200204,100211,200206,400208,900213,600
Employment192,800182,000190,600179,900181,600186,900
Full-time employment149,500142,200147,200137,500142,500148,200
Part-time employment43,30039,80043,40042,40039,10038,800
Unemployment18,40022,10020,60026,50027,20026,600
Unemployment rate8.7%10.8%9.8%12.8%13.0%12.5%
Participation rate57.0%55.1%56.9%55.4%56.1%57.3%
Employment rate52.1%49.1%51.3%48.3%48.7%50.1%

Reading Recommendations

Amazon postpones Prime Day in Canada due to COVID-19 outbreaks

The Canadian Press/CBC News

Amazon’s annual Prime Day marketing event in Canada has been put on hold this year amid ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks at its facilities in Ontario’s Peel Region.

The postponement of the event was put in place to protect the health and safety of employees and customers, Amazon said in a notice to sellers obtained by The Canadian Press.

“As we continued to monitor the impact of COVID-19 in Canada, we have decided to pause plans for Prime Day 2021 in Canada,” said the company.

Air Canada pleads with Trudeau for plan to ease travel rules

Sandrine Rastello, Bloomberg News

Flush with bailout funds, Air Canada called on the government of its home country to lay out a plan for reopening borders as vaccination progresses.

Canada’s biggest air carrier is in a position to ramp up operations after reaching a deal for nearly $5.9 billion (US$4.8 billion) in debt and equity with the federal government last month. Chief Executive Officer Michael Rousseau said it’s now “essential” for officials to follow the U.S. in easing rules that have stopped most air travel.

Niagara COVID status tracker (May 1)

Niagara’s most up-to-date COVID statistics, measured against the targets for the various stages of the Ontario COVID-19 Response Framework, are presented below. This does not predict government policy, but is offered to give you an idea of where Niagara is situated and how likely a relaxation (or further restrictions) may be. These data are the most recent published by Niagara Region. The Grey-Lockdown level does not have its own metrics, but is triggered when the COVID-specific measurements in a Red-Control region have continued to deteriorate.

The Province of Ontario is currently under a stay-at-home order. The COVID-19 Response Framework does not apply during this order. Click here to review the restrictions currently in place.

▲: Metric has increased since last published measurement

▼: Metric has decreased since last published measurement

— : Metric has not changed since last published measurement

December 18December 25January 1January 8January 15January 22January 29
Reproductive number1.41.81.41.11.00.70.9
New cases per 100,000101.2267.3469.8575.8507.1295.5250.6
New cases per day (not including outbreaks)60.7178.7311.7376.9325.4182.7145.7
Percent of hospital beds occupied97%95.2%98.2%103.2%104.5%103.6%106%
Percent of intensive care beds occupied78.8%77.3%87.9%87.9%90.9%89.4%93.9%
Percentage of positive tests6.1%15.6%28.1%28.6%26.6%21.2%16.2%

Definitions:

  • Weekly Incidence Rate: the number of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people per week
  • Percent Positivity: the number of positive COVID-19 tests as a percentage of all COVID-19 tests performed
  • Rt: the reproductive rate, or the number of people infected by each case of the virus

Niagara COVID vaccination tracker (May 7)

Niagara’s most up-to-date vaccination numbers are presented below, along with comparison data from Ontario, Canada, and G7 countries.

Total doses administered in Niagara: 195,738

Total doses administered in Niagara since yesterday: 2,295

Percentage of population with one dosePercentage of population fully vaccinated
Niagara82.7%78.2%
Ontario84.6%79.1%
Canada84.7%78.6%
United States75%64%
United Kingdom78%72%
Germany76%74%
France80%77%
Italy83%76%
Japan80%79%
World63%53%

Data are drawn from Niagara Region, the Government of Ontario, and Oxford University’s Our World in Data project.

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.
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Daily Update: May 6th, 2021

May 6, 2021 | Daily Update

The Ontario government is introducing a new Crown agency, Skilled Trades Ontario, that would replace the Ontario College of Trades (OCOT).

Ontario to replace College of Trades with new Crown agency

The Ontario government is introducing new measures to help tradespeople get their certification from one destination through a new Crown agency, Skilled Trades Ontario, that would replace the Ontario College of Trades (OCOT). Under the proposed legislation, Skilled Trades Ontario would become the province’s industry-informed training authority to lead the promotion, research and development of the latest apprenticeship training and curriculum standards. It will also provide a seamless one window experience for client-facing services including apprentice registration, issuance of certificates and renewals, and conduct equivalency assessments all in one place with many services offered digitally.

Data suggests that the need to replace retiring workers is greater for skilled trades workers than for other occupations. In 2016, nearly one in three journeypersons were aged 55 years or older. There are 144 recognized skilled trades in Ontario.

Appointments available at Niagara Region Public Health vaccination clinics as eligibility expands

This morning, the provincial booking portal and call centre opened to the following groups:
  • Individuals turning age 50 in 2021 or older
  • Individuals with high-risk health conditions. For details on who is included in this group, visit niagararegion.ca/covid-vaccine. One essential caregiver can also be immunized if the individual requires regular and sustained assistance with personal care and/or activities of daily living.
  • People who cannot work from home who are in Group One (including remaining elementary and secondary school workers)
  • First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals (in addition to the other channels previously available to book their appointment)
Others already able to book an appointment through the provincial portal and call centre include
  • Those age 18+ with a postal code starting with ‘L2G’
  • Pregnant individuals and an essential caregiver
  • Highest-risk individuals with health conditions and an essential caregiver. For details on who is included in these groups, visit niagararegion.ca/covid-vaccine.

Reading Recommendations

Real estate frenzy to crest in 2021, CMHC says

Ari Altstedter, Bloomberg News

Activity in Canada’s residential real estate market will moderate from the “unsustainable” levels seen so far this year, though sales will remain at an elevated pace and prices will continue to climb for years to come, according to the latest forecast from the national housing agency.

The number of homes to change hands could climb as high as 602,300 this year from about 550,000 sales seen last year, according to a report released Thursday from Canada Mortgage & Housing Corp. That could push the average price for a home in Canada as high as $649,400 (about US$533,000), a 14 per cent rise from last year.

Designing Customer Journeys for the Post-Pandemic World

Gene Cornfield, Harvard Business Review

As vaccinated millions step tentatively back into an in-person economy poised for growth, the relationships they had with companies they preferred before will resume — but on a trial basis. Spending loyalties will be cemented (or potentially lost to others) based on how well companies understand customers’ new priorities that were forged by the degree of uncertainty, fear, strife, or loss each individual experienced. These considerations will influence not only what customers choose but also how they go about choosing. Your customer journeys must change to reflect your customers’ new preferences and behaviors.

Featured Content

Leaders Today Need Vulnerability, Not Ego

Nick Pollice, Pollice Consulting Group

Vulnerability is defined as a willingness to show emotions or to allow one’s weakness to be seen or known; the willingness to risk being hurt or attacked. Contrary to some beliefs, the omnipotent leaders are not always the one’s that can guide their organizations through turbulent and uncertain times. Rather, the most effective leader may be the person(s) who are ready, willing and able to show their vulnerabilities.

Vulnerability has quickly become a crucial leadership quality, one a leader must have in order to succeed in todays business world. When leaders show their vulnerability they open themselves up to be judged by others which places them at risk for feeling shame and embarrassment and both are powerful emotions. However, the more a leader knows of themselves to be worthy, regardless of their flaws, the less power shame and embarrassment has over them. Vulnerable leaders are aware that they make mistakes and in doing so they will be judged and be a topic of conversation.

Niagara COVID status tracker (May 1)

Niagara’s most up-to-date COVID statistics, measured against the targets for the various stages of the Ontario COVID-19 Response Framework, are presented below. This does not predict government policy, but is offered to give you an idea of where Niagara is situated and how likely a relaxation (or further restrictions) may be. These data are the most recent published by Niagara Region. The Grey-Lockdown level does not have its own metrics, but is triggered when the COVID-specific measurements in a Red-Control region have continued to deteriorate.

The Province of Ontario is currently under a stay-at-home order. The COVID-19 Response Framework does not apply during this order. Click here to review the restrictions currently in place.

▲: Metric has increased since last published measurement

▼: Metric has decreased since last published measurement

— : Metric has not changed since last published measurement

December 18December 25January 1January 8January 15January 22January 29
Reproductive number1.41.81.41.11.00.70.9
New cases per 100,000101.2267.3469.8575.8507.1295.5250.6
New cases per day (not including outbreaks)60.7178.7311.7376.9325.4182.7145.7
Percent of hospital beds occupied97%95.2%98.2%103.2%104.5%103.6%106%
Percent of intensive care beds occupied78.8%77.3%87.9%87.9%90.9%89.4%93.9%
Percentage of positive tests6.1%15.6%28.1%28.6%26.6%21.2%16.2%

Definitions:

  • Weekly Incidence Rate: the number of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people per week
  • Percent Positivity: the number of positive COVID-19 tests as a percentage of all COVID-19 tests performed
  • Rt: the reproductive rate, or the number of people infected by each case of the virus

Niagara COVID vaccination tracker (May 6)

Niagara’s most up-to-date vaccination numbers are presented below, along with comparison data from Ontario, Canada, and G7 countries.

Total doses administered in Niagara: 193,402

Total doses administered in Niagara since yesterday: 2,261

Percentage of population with one dosePercentage of population fully vaccinated
Niagara82.7%78.2%
Ontario84.6%79.1%
Canada84.7%78.6%
United States75%64%
United Kingdom78%72%
Germany76%74%
France80%77%
Italy83%76%
Japan80%79%
World63%53%

Data are drawn from Niagara Region, the Government of Ontario, and Oxford University’s Our World in Data project.

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.
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