COVID-19 Business Update: January 20th, 2021

January 20, 2021 | Daily Update

Government of Ontario expands workplace enforcement campaigns

Following last week’s big-box store blitz, provincial offences officers will be now be visiting an expanded range of workplaces across Ontario to educate and ticket businesses that are not complying with COVID-19 health and safety requirements. Starting today, more than 300 officers will be supporting these blitzes, and will be visiting a variety of workplaces that are allowed to be open during the provincial shutdown such as retail establishments, including big-box stores; restaurants providing take-out meals; essential service-sector establishments (such as gas stations); and farming operations.

Corporations can be now be fined $1,000 for failing to comply with the orders under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act and the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. All individuals, including employees and patrons, can also be fined $750 for failing to comply with orders under the acts. If a violation is more serious, a person can be charged with failing to comply with an order under the acts. If convicted, the court can impose fines as high as $100,000 for individuals, and directors and officers of a corporation can be fined up to $500,000. Both could also receive terms of imprisonment of up to one year. The maximum fine for a corporation on conviction of an offence is up to $10,000,000.

The GNCC urges all businesses to follow provincial regulations, not to endanger public health, and not to risk substantial fines and prison sentences.

Tourism Adaption and Recovery Fund launched to support Niagara tourism operators

Niagara’s Tourism Adaption and Recovery Fund Grant will provide tourism-dependent businesses with up to $20,000 in non-repayable contributions to support costs associated with adapting and re-opening. These include projects such as space renovations and retrofits, the purchase of equipment and fixtures, personal protective equipment, and support for technology and digitization. In order to be eligible, the business must currently be operating in the Niagara region and be tourism-dependent. This grant was previously administered separately to Niagara-on-the-lake and is therefore not available for businesses in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Project costs must be incurred between June 1, 2020 and Dec. 31, 2021. Priority will be given to projects that retain/create jobs, have a high jobs/dollar invested ratio and increase the competitiveness and sustainability of the business post-COVID-19. Applications for the first round of funding close on Jan. 31, 2021. Businesses can apply for the fund through the ERRT’s website.

Government of Canada drafts adjustments to Employment Insurance and COVID-19 benefits

Under the current tax rules, EI and CERB income are treated differently when determining tax relief under the Child Care Expense Deduction and the Disability Supports Deduction. EI recipients are not able to deduct eligible expenses against their EI income, whereas CERB and other COVID-19 emergency income recipients can. The proposed changes introduced today would amend the Income Tax Act to temporarily allow Canadians receiving EI benefits to make the same claims for the Child Care Expense Deduction and Disability Supports Deduction as COVID-19 income support recipients. This change applies to income for 2020 and 2021. The Child Care Expense Deduction allows child care expenses to be deducted from income, subject to some limitations, when those expenses are incurred in order to earn employment or business income, pursue education, or perform research. The Disability Supports Deduction provides tax relief for individual taxpayers who have paid for certain disability-related supports in order to earn employment or business income, pursue education, or perform research.

Ontario Business Community Launches the COVID-19 Ontario Vaccination Support Council

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) announced today the establishment of the Ontario Vaccination Support Council, founded by close to 100 businesses, organizations, and the Ontario Chamber Network. The Council will leverage the businesses and organizations involved, representing hundreds of thousands of employees from across the Province, to provide support for Ontario’s historic COVID-19 vaccination effort with the ultimate goal of ending the pandemic.

The Council will bring together a diverse group of OCC members, representing a range of sectors, to share pertinent information and provide government with timely and evidence-based recommendations. The Council will:

Provide Ontario’s business community with a window into the Ontario Vaccine Distribution Task Force to share public health information; updates on logistics and distribution plans and seek input on non-health-related issues.
Consolidate a directory of capabilities and services within the Chamber Network that could be utilized and procured by government, hospitals and public health in the distribution of vaccinations.
Share policies, best practices and approaches with government to ensure the maximum participation of employers and their employees in vaccination efforts with a specific focus on being proactive and removing barriers.

Further changes to Niagara’s vaccination plan

The provincial government has provided direction today to all hospitals and public health units in Ontario to pause administration of all first doses of vaccine, except for residents of long-term care homes and high-risk retirement homes. This interim direction is in response to this week’s news of reductions in supply of the Pfizer vaccine. The provincial government is directing that scheduled second dose vaccinations proceed at this time. The change in scheduling of first doses will take place effective end of day today (Wednesday, Jan. 20). This means appointments scheduled for Thursday and Friday of this week will be postponed and rebooked on a priority basis.

Niagara Health holding virtual job fair on Feb. 4

Niagara Health is hosting its first-ever virtual job fair on Thursday, Feb. 4 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. New graduates, students, and job-seekers are invited to apply for positions including:

Registered Nurses
Registered Practical Nurses
Personal Support Workers
Occupational Therapists
Physiotherapists
Speech Language Pathologists
Clerical Medical Administration
Environmental Services, and other healthcare professionals

Interested parties should visit the virtual career fair link and create a new Job Seeker account to register. Log in on Feb. 4 anytime between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to meet with Niagara Health representatives and discuss employment opportunities.

Bank of Canada will hold current level of policy rate until inflation objective is achieved

The Bank of Canada today held its target for the overnight rate at the effective lower bound of ¼ percent, with the Bank Rate at ½ percent and the deposit rate at ¼ percent. The Bank is maintaining its extraordinary forward guidance, reinforced and supplemented by its quantitative easing (QE) program, which continues at its current pace of at least $4 billion per week.

The economic recovery has been interrupted in many countries as new waves of COVID-19 infections force governments to re-impose containment measures. However, the arrival of effective vaccines combined with further fiscal and monetary policy support have boosted the medium-term outlook for growth. In its January Monetary Policy Report (MPR), the Bank projects global growth to average just over 5 percent per year in 2021 and 2022, before slowing to just under 4 percent in 2023.

Canada’s economy had strong momentum through to late 2020, but the resurgence of cases and the reintroduction of lockdown measures are a serious setback. Growth in the first quarter of 2021 is now expected to be negative. Assuming restrictions are lifted later in the first quarter, the Bank expects a strong second-quarter rebound.

Reading recommendations

Keystone XL is ‘cooked’: Former NAFTA advisor James Moore, Stephanie Hughes, BNN Bloomberg

The controversial Keystone XL pipeline has been dealt a final blow with U.S. President Joe Biden’s confirmed plans to cancel its construction permits, according to one advisor. “I think Keystone XL is cooked, I think it’s done,” James Moore, senior business advisor at Dentons and a former member of the NAFTA Advisory Council, said in an interview on Wednesday.

Niagara COVID status tracker

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 drawn daily from 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.

Note that the Provincewide Shutdown is not the same as the Grey-Lockdown level listed in the Ontario COVID-19 Response Framework, which has been suspended for the duration of the shutdown. Additional restrictions for businesses apply during the Shutdown. Businesses should not use the Response Framework as a guide during this time, but should instead refer to the Shutdown guidelines.

	December 18	December 25	January 1	January 8	January 15	January 22	January 29
Reproductive number	1.4	1.8	1.4	1.1	1.0	0.7	0.9
New cases per 100,000	101.2	267.3	469.8	575.8	507.1	295.5	250.6
New cases per day (not including outbreaks)	60.7	178.7	311.7	376.9	325.4	182.7	145.7
Percent of hospital beds occupied	97%	95.2%	98.2%	103.2%	104.5%	103.6%	106%
Percent of intensive care beds occupied	78.8%	77.3%	87.9%	87.9%	90.9%	89.4%	93.9%
Percentage of positive tests	6.1%	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

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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COVID-19 Business Update: January 19th, 2021

January 19, 2021 | Daily Update

Information on government grants, resources, and programs, as well as policies, forms, and posters for download and use, are available here.

The Government of Canada has a support page with summaries of current programs and application portals.

Vital updates

Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, leading the logistics of the Canadian vaccine rollout, said that the country will not get any vaccine doses from Pfizer next week. Fortin, vice-president of operations at the Public Health Agency of Canada, said this week’s shipment is almost one-fifth smaller than expected. Procurement Minister Anita Anand said she has spoken to Pfizer and does not expect any more interruptions to its Canadian deliveries after mid-February. Anand says Pfizer is contractually obligated to ship four million doses to Canada by the end of March. This comes on the heels of a recent announcement by Premier Ford that the province is running out of vaccines, and news that vaccine deliveries to Niagara had been reduced. Canada’s rate of vaccination has continued to fall behind that of many peer countries; with a vaccination rate of approximately 1 per 1,000 people, Canada now trails Romania, Finland, Belgium, Austria, Slovenia, Denmark, Lithuania, Spain, Turkey, Ireland, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel, among others. The Government of Ontario did announce, however, that the first round of vaccinations had been completed ahead of schedule in all long-term care homes in Toronto, Peel, York and Windsor-Essex.
Yesterday evening, St. Catharines City Council approved measures aimed at supporting local businesses, including the return of free parking to City spaces and lots, and the extension of its temporary outdoor patio program. With the hopes of drawing more shoppers to the downtown and other commercial areas for their essential needs, parking in all City lots, garages and on-street spaces will be free until the end of April. For more information on parking visit stcatharines.ca/Parking. While parking will be free, the City will continue to enforce parking restrictions related to safety, such as fire routes, as well as restrictions for loading zones and curbside pickup spaces. Additionally, the City’s temporary outdoor patio program will continue until the end of 2021. The program, first introduced in spring 2020, allows restaurant and bar operators to expand outdoor business areas to offset limitations on indoor dining under COVID-19 emergency orders. Staff will also examine the return of temporary downtown road closures during the warmer months to allow for expanded patio operations on weekends.
Nominations are now open for the 2021 T. Roy Adams Humanitarian of the Year Award. The award honours the memory of the late Councillor T. Roy Adams and is presented annually to a current resident of Niagara who best exemplifies Roy’s values and dedication to community service; a person who sees volunteerism as an integral part of their life. You can view the criteria for the award, and nominate someone you know, on Niagara Region’s website. Nominations are open until March 31, 2021.
Wholesale sales grew for the seventh consecutive month in November—up 0.7% to an all-time high of $67.4 billion. Five of seven subsectors reported stronger sales, led by the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector and the building material and supplies subsector. Notably, the increase reflects higher domestic sales of Canadian goods, as both imports and exports of key commodities fell in November. November sales were 4.4% higher than the pre-pandemic level recorded in February 2020, with six of the seven subsectors’ sales higher than pre-COVID-19 levels. Additionally, all subsectors posted sales in November 2020 that were higher than in November 2019, as was the case for October 2020 compared with October 2019. The performance of the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector, as well as the building material and supplies subsector, has been the foundation of the recovery in the wholesale sector since the spring.
Manufacturing sales decreased for the first time in three months, declining 0.6% to $53.7 billion in November. Sales were down in 5 of 21 industries, driven mainly by the aerospace product and parts, motor vehicle, and motor vehicle parts industries.

Manufacturing sales in constant dollars decreased 0.6%, indicating that a lower volume of goods was sold in November.

Sales in the transportation equipment industry decreased 9.1% to $8.9 billion in November, following a 0.8% decline in October. Sales rose in the motor vehicle body and trailer industry (+5.9%) and declined in all of the other transportation equipment industries.

Aerospace production fell 23.8% to $1.2 billion in November, following a 5.5% decrease in October. Travel restrictions and market uncertainty attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic continued to negatively affect aerospace production in November. On a year-over-year basis, production was down 45.5%.

Following a 1.7% increase in October, motor vehicle sales decreased 5.7% to $4.3 billion in November. Sales were 10.0% below their pre-pandemic levels in February and down 16.9% year over year. Sales of motor vehicle parts declined 6.0% to $2.5 billion in November and were down 9.7% year over year. Exports of motor vehicles and parts decreased 4.1% in November. Following a 0.2% decline in October, sales in Ontario decreased 0.8% to $25.1 billion in November on lower sales of transportation equipment (-8.1%). Sales declined in most transportation equipment industries in Ontario; decreases were most pronounced in the motor vehicle (-5.4%), motor vehicle parts (-6.4%) and aerospace product and parts (-31.7%) industries. On a year-over-year basis, total manufacturing sales in Ontario were down 3.9%.

Reading recommendations

4 Digital Marketing Trends To Watch In 2021, Serenity Gibbons, Forbes

No corner of the marketing world changes faster than digital marketing. As new technology arrives and old technology is grandfathered out, it can be difficult to keep up with all of the new different trends in the industry. Digital marketing has proved itself to be unparalleled in its resilience over the past year: two-thirds of brands have seen a drop in revenue since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, and yet over a quarter of marketers are spending 90% or more of their budget on digital marketing according to a survey conducted by the Digital Marketing Institute.

Trudeau vows to push U.S. on merits of Keystone XL, Canadian Press/BNN Bloomberg

Canada won’t stop trying to convince U.S. president-elect Joe Biden of the merits of the Keystone XL pipeline expansion, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau insisted Tuesday. But even Trudeau’s full-throated defence of the controversial cross-border project, which Biden appears poised to cancel on Wednesday, betrayed a note of resignation. Asked pointedly what he planned to do to rescue the US$8-billion project, the prime minister lingered instead on what he’d done already, including his November phone call with the president-elect.

Niagara COVID status tracker

	December 18	December 25	January 1	January 8	January 15	January 22	January 29
Reproductive number	1.4	1.8	1.4	1.1	1.0	0.7	0.9
New cases per 100,000	101.2	267.3	469.8	575.8	507.1	295.5	250.6
New cases per day (not including outbreaks)	60.7	178.7	311.7	376.9	325.4	182.7	145.7
Percent of hospital beds occupied	97%	95.2%	98.2%	103.2%	104.5%	103.6%	106%
Percent of intensive care beds occupied	78.8%	77.3%	87.9%	87.9%	90.9%	89.4%	93.9%
Percentage of positive tests	6.1%	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

If you are showing symptoms, contact your health care provider, call the Public Health Info-Line at 905-688-8248, or chat to Public Health online. For testing, call 905-378-4647 ext. 42819 (4-CV19) for information on test centres in Niagara and to book an appointment.

Previous updates can be accessed here.

The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.

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COVID-19 Business Update: January 18th, 2021

January 18, 2021 | Daily Update

Information on government grants, resources, and programs, as well as policies, forms, and posters for download and use, are available here.

The Government of Canada has a support page with summaries of current programs and application portals.

Vital updates

The Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, is extending most orders currently in force under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020 (ROA) for another 30 days. Most of the orders under the ROA are extended to February 19, 2021, with the exception of O. Reg. 75/20 (Drinking Water Systems and Sewage Works) which is not being renewed. O. Reg. 82/20 (Rules for Areas in Stage One) was amended to ensure government infrastructure projects are able to continue as essential construction activities. The Provincial State of Emergency that came into effect on Thursday, January 14, 2021 supersedes the ROA where applicable.
The Ontario government has opened the 2021 Budget consultation. The first virtual consultation was held today with members of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. The discussion focused on the devastating economic impacts of COVID-19 and the need for a strong recovery fuelled by economic growth. Visit Ontario.ca/budgetconsultation to learn how to submit your ideas by email, mail or by filling out a survey. The 2021 Budget Consultations will close on February 12, 2021.
The Ontario government announced today that starting January 25, francophone non-profit organizations can begin applying for financial assistance from the $1 million COVID-19 Relief Fund. The fund, which is being administered by the Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario, will provide operational funding to eligible organizations to support them during the pandemic. Interested organizations should consult the AFO website at https://monassemblee.ca/fonds-secours-ontario/ to learn more.
Regional Chair Jim Bradley has created a Community Coordination Task Force for COVID-19 Vaccination to ensure that Niagara’s vaccine rollout is fair, equitable and ethical. This past week, Niagara began vaccinating long-term care residents, staff, essential visitors, and other high risk front-line health care workers. Niagara is off to a strong start, thanks to careful planning and execution by Niagara Health and Public Health. Already, 22 per cent of long-term care homes have had their residents vaccinated after only two days, and Niagara is expected to deliver its 1000th dose today – the third day of vaccinations.
Niagara Health has been forced to make changes to Niagara’s vaccination plan owing to supply shortages of the Pfizer vaccine. The Province has directed that, effective immediately, all first doses of vaccine are to be used to vaccinate residents, staff and essential caregivers in long-term care and high-risk retirement homes. This is being done to ensure there is sufficient supply to vaccinate these individuals by Feb. 15. As a result, there will be a pause in vaccinating Niagara Health’s staff and physicians. “It is frustrating that vaccines to Niagara are being reduced again, when we have only just started vaccinating,” said Dr. Mustafa Hirji, Acting Medical Officer of Health and Commissioner of Public Health for the Niagara Region. “We are directing what vaccine we still do have to where it will save the most lives: long-term care and retirement home residents.” Niagara’s weekly shipment of Pfizer was delivered today as planned; however the anticipated shipment for the week of January 25 will no longer occur. Based on the provincial supply schedule, Niagara’s Pfizer supply will continue for the weeks of Feb. 1 and Feb. 8. Further supply allotments are expected to continue on a weekly basis and will be confirmed by the provincial government. Thus far, there is no plan for Niagara to receive the Moderna vaccine.
Insolvencies were down by almost one-third year over year during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and were relatively stable in the third quarter. At the height of this century’s previous economic shocks, insolvencies rose by 10% or more. A new Statistics Canada study looks at insolvencies during the largest economic upheaval of our lifetime. The pandemic has posed significant challenges to the Canadian economy and the financial position of enterprises. The second quarter of 2020 saw the steepest decline in real gross domestic product (-11.3%) since quarterly data were first collected in 1961. Over the same period, businesses reported lower net income before taxes (-8.6%) and operating revenues (-13.1%). Despite the economic headwinds caused by the pandemic, insolvencies fell by almost one-third (-29.4%) year over year to 474 in the second quarter. This decline came at a time when many businesses were closed for a month or longer, and those that remained open faced a new and often more costly business reality. In the third quarter of 2020, the number of insolvencies was unchanged at 474, down 13.8% year over year. The study suggests that businesses that filed for insolvency in 2020 were already in a precarious financial situation before the COVID-19 pandemic. Even with the help of government programs, these corporations decided to file for insolvency. However, the fact that the number of insolvencies has decreased since the onset of the pandemic could indicate that businesses are waiting to see whether more government aid will be forthcoming and whether they will be able to manage their debt levels before filing for insolvency. Low borrowing costs for businesses could also partially explain this drop.

Reading recommendations

Does reopening schools cause COVID-19 to spread? It’s complicated, Scott A. Imberman, Dan Goldhaber, Katharine O. Strunk, The Conversation

We found that schools can reopen for in-person instruction without further spreading COVID-19 in nearby communities if the number of people with the disease is relatively low. But if there are more than 21 cases per 100,000 people, COVID-19 spread may increase. To reach this conclusion, we used data from September through December 2020 in Michigan and Washington states – both of which allowed districts to decide whether or not to offer in-person schooling at that time – to analyze how these different instructional decisions affect COVID-19 case rates.

Biden indicates plans to cancel Keystone XL pipeline permit on 1st day in office, sources confirm, Kyle Bakx, CBC News

U.S. president-elect Joe Biden has indicated plans to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline permit via executive action on his first day in office, sources confirmed to CBC News on Sunday. A purported briefing note from the Biden transition team mentioning the plan was widely circulated over the weekend after being shared by the incoming president’s team with U.S. stakeholders. The words “Rescind Keystone XL pipeline permit” appear on a list of executive actions supposedly scheduled for Day 1 of Biden’s presidency.

Why the Bank of Canada could be among the first to raise interest rates, Kevin Carmichael, Financial Post

The head of currencies at one of the world’s largest banks is partially responsible for the Canadian dollar’s appreciation over the past few months. Paris-based BNP Paribas SA’s currency portfolio is “overweight” loonies and Momtchil Pojarliev is advising the bank’s clients to do the same. He reckons the Canadian dollar is undervalued, since the petrocurrency’s price hasn’t fully adjusted to the likelihood of stronger oil prices as the global economy recovers from the pandemic. Pojarliev also thinks the Bank of Canada will be one of the first major central banks to raise interest rates, because stronger commodity prices and decent economic growth will force governor Tiff Macklem and his deputies to confront inflationary pressures sooner than most of their peers.

Niagara COVID status tracker

	December 18	December 25	January 1	January 8	January 15	January 22	January 29
Reproductive number	1.4	1.8	1.4	1.1	1.0	0.7	0.9
New cases per 100,000	101.2	267.3	469.8	575.8	507.1	295.5	250.6
New cases per day (not including outbreaks)	60.7	178.7	311.7	376.9	325.4	182.7	145.7
Percent of hospital beds occupied	97%	95.2%	98.2%	103.2%	104.5%	103.6%	106%
Percent of intensive care beds occupied	78.8%	77.3%	87.9%	87.9%	90.9%	89.4%	93.9%
Percentage of positive tests	6.1%	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

Previous updates can be accessed here.

The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.

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COVID-19 Business Update: January 15th, 2021

January 15, 2021 | Daily Update

Information on government grants, resources, and programs, as well as policies, forms, and posters for download and use, are available here.

The Government of Canada has a support page with summaries of current programs and application portals.

Vital updates

The Ontario government has opened applications for the new Ontario Small Business Support Grant. The grant, first announced in December, provides a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $20,000 to eligible small businesses who have had to restrict their operations due to the Provincewide Shutdown. More information about the Ontario Small Business Support Grant and other rebates is available on Ontario.ca/COVIDsupport. Eligible small businesses include those that:
- Were required to close or significantly restrict services due to the Provincewide Shutdown being imposed across the province effective 12:01 a.m. on December 26.
- Have fewer than 100 employees at the enterprise level.
- Have experienced a minimum of 20 per cent revenue decline in April 2020 compared to April 2019. New businesses established since April 2019 will also be eligible if they meet the other eligibility criteria.
The Ontario government has hired more case managers and contact tracers, building the provincial workforce to 1,600 by February 15, 2021. Along with staff who work in or have been redeployed within public health units, this support brings the total number of case and contact tracers in the province to nearly 5,600 staff.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada has launched a website to help businesses with commercial insurance. The website, accessible at https://businessinsurancehelp.ca, has resources for businesses looking for business insurance or experiencing issues with insurance. A The Business Insurance Action Team focuses on Ontario-based small businesses in the hospitality sector, specifically restaurants, bars, pubs and banquet halls, but businesses in all industries can utilize the resources and helpline. Businesses can also call 1-844-2ask-IBC (1-844-227-5422) for assistance, or email oncic@ibc.ca.
Real gross domestic product (GDP) of the natural resources sector edged up 0.3% in the third quarter, following a record 10.7% decline in the second quarter. Gains in the minerals and forestry subsectors were mostly offset by continued declines in the energy subsector, partly owing to weak international trade. In contrast, economy-wide real GDP rose 8.9% in the third quarter, following an 11.3% drop in the second quarter—the sharpest fluctuations ever recorded. A 3.0% decline in the energy subsector was attributable in large part to decreased extractions of crude oil (-3.9%) and natural gas (-6.8%) for three consecutive quarters.
Global supply issues are temporarily delaying Canada’s vaccine shipment from Pfizer-BioNTech, but Procurement Minister Anita Anand says they will be made up with accelerated deliveries in February and March. Anand said Friday that production issues in Europe will temporarily reduce promised doses to Canada, as well as all countries that receive vaccines from Pfizer’s European facility. While the company assured Canada it will still be able to deliver four million doses by the end of March, Anand admitted that is no longer guaranteed. Canada has received about 380,000 doses of the vaccine so far, and was supposed to get another 400,000 this month and almost two million doses in February.

Reading recommendations

Why Israel is leading the world in vaccinating its population, Jen Kirby, Vox

Israel leads the world in vaccination rate per capita. It’s been less than a month since its vaccination campaign began on December 19, and more than 20 percent of the country’s population of about 9 million have already gotten the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine as of January 14. In total, it’s about 2 million people. Over the past few weeks, the country delivered shots to about 150,000 people per day. Priority went to people over 60 and health workers; however, in an attempt to avoid wasting any shots that might spoil, other Israelis got the vaccine if they happened to know the right clinic or happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Canadian home sales see a record December — and a record 2020, CBC News

National home sales set an all-time record in December, the Canadian Real Estate Association reported Friday. Sales were up 47.2 per cent compared to December 2019, the largest year-over-year increase in monthly sales in 11 years. The spike in sales from November to December, 7.2 per cent, was driven by gains of more than 20 per cent in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Greater Vancouver. It was a new record for the month of December by a margin of more than 12,000 transactions.

Niagara COVID status tracker

	December 18	December 25	January 1	January 8	January 15	January 22	January 29
Reproductive number	1.4	1.8	1.4	1.1	1.0	0.7	0.9
New cases per 100,000	101.2	267.3	469.8	575.8	507.1	295.5	250.6
New cases per day (not including outbreaks)	60.7	178.7	311.7	376.9	325.4	182.7	145.7
Percent of hospital beds occupied	97%	95.2%	98.2%	103.2%	104.5%	103.6%	106%
Percent of intensive care beds occupied	78.8%	77.3%	87.9%	87.9%	90.9%	89.4%	93.9%
Percentage of positive tests	6.1%	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

Previous updates can be accessed here.

The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.

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COVID-19 Business Update: January 14th, 2021

January 14, 2021 | Daily Update

Information on government grants, resources, and programs, as well as policies, forms, and posters for download and use, are available here.

The Government of Canada has a support page with summaries of current programs and application portals.

Vital updates

As previously announced, the Ontario government has formally issued an emergency order to temporarily pause the enforcement of residential evictions during the provincial declaration of emergency and while the stay-at-home-order is in force. Changes to the Residential Tenancies Act also require the Landlord and Tenant Board to consider whether a landlord attempted to negotiate a repayment agreement, before resorting to an eviction for non-payment of rent during COVID-19.
Beginning this Saturday and Sunday, approximately 50 ministry inspectors, as well as local bylaw and police officers, will be visiting big-box stores in Toronto, Hamilton, Peel, York and Durham. The blitz will focus on ensuring workers and patrons are wearing masks, maintaining physical distance, and following every health and safety measure. Workplace health and safety inspectors will have the authority to ticket supervisors, employees and patrons who do not comply with COVID-19 safety requirements, temporarily close a premise and disperse groups of more than five people. No announcement regarding inspections in Niagara has been made, but local police and bylaw enforcement have stated that they are ready to enforce legislation. Individuals and businesses who are not following the rules can be fined. The set fines are $750 for not following the rules, and $1,000 for preventing others (including employees or other workers) from following the rules. Maximum fines can be up to $100,000 for individuals and $10 million for a corporation. Failure to follow the rules could also result in prosecution or even a year in jail.
Today, Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation, announced that Ontario is providing $375 million through the Gas Tax program to help 109 municipalities across the province operate and expand public transit. The province will flow the funding as soon as possible in 2021. Funding for the Gas Tax program is determined by the number of litres of gasoline sold in the province during the previous year. Municipalities supporting public transit services in their community receive two cents per litre of provincial gas tax revenue collected. This funding can be used to extend service hours, buy transit vehicles, add routes, improve accessibility or upgrade infrastructure. A list of all municipalities that received funding, and how much, can be viewed here.
The City of St. Catharines is pivoting its mode of service delivery due to the current State of Emergency to provide more to its residents via online and over the phone. In light of the Province-wide State of Emergency and 28-day stay-at-home order, the City will further restrict access to City Hall. Residents will still have access to all essential services provided by the City by emailing the Citizens First Customer Service team at CitizensFirst@stcatharines.ca or calling 905-688-5600. St. Catharines Farmers Market will continue for residents’ fresh, local produce needs, however, only on Saturdays with access limited to one person per vendor.
Lincoln Town Hall is now open by appointment only. Visitors are asked to contact the Town ahead of time to make an appointment for essential services. Please call 905-563-8205 or e-mail info@lincoln.ca to book appointments. For more information on facility and service impacts and to see what’s open and what’s closed in Lincoln since the provincial shutdown starting December 26, visit https://lincoln.ca/coronavirus-pandemic/facility-service-impacts.
As required by the Province, Niagara-on-the-Lake town facilities, including the Community Centre, Centennial and Meridian Credit Union Arenas, and Administration Buildings, remain closed to the public (PDF link). Town staff remain available to serve residents and businesses online, over the phone, and with arranged curbside pick-up. Click here (PDF link) for an outline to obtaining Town services.
Port Colborne City Hall will continue to serve residents by appointment. In-person appointments will be scheduled for essential and time sensitive services. Where possible, services will be provided through remote means. To access City services, please call the City’s customer service representative team at 905-835-2900.
The Township of Wainfleet will continue to operate and provide services to residents remotely (PDF link). Although the physical doors to Town hall will be closed to the public; staff will continue to offer residents, businesses and visitors services by phone, email, website and social media channels. If alternative arrangements need to be made, in-person appointments may be scheduled for critically essential and time sensitive matters only, while ensuring the health and safety of both residents and staff. Members of the public requiring services from the Township can reach out to the key contacts listed on the Township’s website.
Yesterday, Niagara Health (NH) and Niagara Region Public Health and Emergency Services (NRPH&ES) administered the first 322 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in the region. Niagara Health vaccinated 108 long-term care home workers and 70 hospital staff and physicians. Meanwhile, NRPH&ES teams were deployed to two long-term care homes, one in St. Catharines and one in Fort Erie, vaccinating 144 residents and staff.
In most large urban regions (census metropolitan areas [CMAs]) in the country, population growth slowed from July 1, 2019, to July 1, 2020, compared with the same period a year earlier (+1.3% compared with +1.7%). However, the long-term trend of urbanization continued over that period, as the other regions of the country grew at a lower rate (+0.6%). Despite lower international migration (permanent and temporary) due to travel restrictions aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19, international migration accounted for the vast majority (90.3%) of the growth in CMAs from July 1, 2019, to July 1, 2020. In comparison, it accounted for just over one-third of the population growth in other regions of the country. Excess mortality attributable to COVID-19 has had a limited impact on the slowing population growth in urban centres, despite urban centres being the epicentres of the pandemic. St. Catharines-Niagara remained one of the slowest-growing CMAs in the country.

Reading recommendations

Twitter CEO defends Trump ban, acknowledges dangerous precedent, Associated Press/CBC

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey defended his company’s ban of U.S. President Donald Trump in a philosophical Twitter thread that is his first public statement on the subject. When Trump incited his followers to storm the U.S. Capitol last week, then continued to tweet potentially ominous messages, Dorsey said the resulting risk to public safety created an “extraordinary and untenable circumstance” for the company. Having already briefly suspended Trump’s account the day of the Capitol riot, Twitter on Friday banned Trump entirely, then smacked down the president’s attempts to tweet using other accounts.

Younger Canadians are moving out of big cities at record levels, Erik Hertzberg, Bloomberg News

A record number of Canadians left major urban centres last year amid the pandemic, led by youth and young families. The nation’s three largest cities — Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver — saw a sharp jump in the number of citizens moving to suburbs, smaller towns and rural areas, according to Statistics Canada data released Thursday. A total of 87,444 people left those three cities between July 2019 and July 2020 for other parts of the same province, up from an average annual exodus of 72,686 the previous three years.

Niagara COVID status tracker

	December 18	December 25	January 1	January 8	January 15	January 22	January 29
Reproductive number	1.4	1.8	1.4	1.1	1.0	0.7	0.9
New cases per 100,000	101.2	267.3	469.8	575.8	507.1	295.5	250.6
New cases per day (not including outbreaks)	60.7	178.7	311.7	376.9	325.4	182.7	145.7
Percent of hospital beds occupied	97%	95.2%	98.2%	103.2%	104.5%	103.6%	106%
Percent of intensive care beds occupied	78.8%	77.3%	87.9%	87.9%	90.9%	89.4%	93.9%
Percentage of positive tests	6.1%	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

Previous updates can be accessed here.

The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.

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COVID-19 Business Update: January 13th, 2021

January 13, 2021 | Daily Update

Information on government grants, resources, and programs, as well as policies, forms, and posters for download and use, are available here.

The Government of Canada has a support page with summaries of current programs and application portals.

Vital updates

The Government of Ontario has issued an updated guidance document for public health and workplace safety measures (PDF link). A summary of rules and regulations for business can be viewed here. The GNCC urges all individuals and organizations to comply with these regulations, and hopes that rigorous compliance, along with more resources devoted to rapid testing, contact tracing, and vaccination will bring the pandemic under control and enable an end to restrictive measures for business as soon as possible. For more information, call the provincial Stop the Spread Business Hotline at 1-888-444-3659, or contact the GNCC.
Today, the CRTC launched a consultation on its proposed framework to address botnets, harmful networks of malware-infected computers that are under the control of a malicious actor. Botnets facilitate some of the most damaging cyber attacks, including ransomware and identity theft. These attacks cause significant harm to Canadians, businesses and organizations that provide critical services such as hospitals, schools and government bodies. Canadians are invited to submit their comments by March 15, 2021 using only one of the following methods:
- Filling out the online form
- Writing to the Secretary General, CRTC, Ottawa, Ontario K1A ON2 or
- Sending a fax to 819-994-0218.
Statistics Canada is currently hiring approximately 32,000 people for census enumerator and crew leader positions across Canada. Census information is vital for all communities for planning schools, daycare, housing, hospitals, emergency services, roads, public transportation, and employment skills training. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Statistics Canada has adapted to ensure that the 2021 Census is conducted throughout the country in the best possible way, using a safe and secure approach.
The Government of Canada, through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, is providing $1M to support a COVID-19 knowledge synthesis network to support decision and policy making in the response to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic. Led by Dr. John Lavis from McMaster University, the COVID-19 Evidence Network will:
- rapidly prepare and update evidence syntheses to support Canadian decision and policy makers;
- maintain a publicly available inventory of the best evidence syntheses for COVID-19 decisions to ensure that Canadian decision-makers have the most updated science available when needed;
- monitor emerging issues where evidence syntheses may be needed in the future; and
- work with Canadian and global partners to reduce duplication and enhance coordination in the evidence response to COVID-19.
The City of Port Colborne’s community grant program is now accepting the first-round of applications from non-profit organizations until Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. As approved at the Nov. 23, 2020 Council Meeting, the community grant program will increase by 20 per cent. This year the grant committee will distribute more than $35,000 to non-profit organizations, charitable organizations, and service organizations that benefit the citizens of Port Colborne and enhance the quality of the community, especially during a pandemic. Organizations can only apply once per fiscal year, with the first round of applications due Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. The deadline to apply for the second round of grants is Wednesday, June 30, 2021. For more information about the application process and/or grant policy committee, contact Nancy Giles, Executive Assistant to Mayor and CAO at 905-835-2900 ext. 301 or email mayoradmin@portcolborne.ca.
According to flash estimates, the Industrial Product Price Index (IPPI) increased 1.4% in December, following two months of decline. Excluding energy and petroleum products, the IPPI rose 0.9%. The gain in the IPPI was led mainly by higher prices for lumber and other wood products (+10.8%), particularly softwood lumber (+21.7%). This increase comes after two months of decline in October and November, following record and near-record increases from July to September. Prices for energy and petroleum products (+7.9%) also contributed significantly to the increase in the IPPI, particularly refined petroleum energy products (+9.2%) such as diesel and biodiesel fuels (+10.1%) and motor gasoline (+7.7%). Prices for primary non-ferrous metal products (+3.1%) also supported the IPPI‘s growth, led mainly by higher prices for unwrought aluminum and aluminum alloys (+8.1%) and unwrought copper and copper alloys (+7.6%). Prices for chemicals and chemical products (+2.2%) also posted an increase in December. Prices for meat, fish and dairy products (-3.4%) declined in December, led mainly by decreased prices for fresh and frozen beef and veal (-11.3%), as well as for fresh and frozen pork (-8.4%). Year over year, the IPPI increased 1.5%. Excluding energy and petroleum products, the IPPI rose 4.4% year over year.
Canada’s housing market may be heading for a soft landing at the end of the year after what could be a record-breaking 2021, a new report by RBC Economics said. The report published Wednesday said “supercharged” demand driven in part by low rates, high household savings and improving consumer confidence will continue to push housing market activity in Canada to record highs. The increase is set to take place after a 2020 that was likely the strongest year ever for the market despite the COVID-19 pandemic stalling activity in the spring.

Reading recommendations

In the rush for coronavirus information, unreviewed scientific papers are being publicized, Alice Fleerackers, Juan Pablo Alperin, The Conversation

COVID-19 has not only upended our personal lives, it has dramatically changed scientific research. In response to the rapid spread of the virus, scientists around the world have had to find new ways to collaborate and solve problems, all at speeds previously thought unimaginable. Indeed, until very recently, the idea that a new vaccine could be developed, tested and distributed in less than a year would have seemed impossible. The rapid pace at which science is moving is exciting. In addition to producing vaccines, scientists have found ways to prevent the virus from spreading, dispel pandemic myths and identify communities most at risk of falling ill. But the “warp speed” at which science is moving can also be dangerous, especially when inconclusive or unverified research studies gain public attention.

Stopping the next one: What could the next pandemic be? Harriet Constable, Jacob Kushner, BBC Future

The Covid-19 pandemic took much of the world by surprise. But not everyone. For years, epidemiologists and other experts have warned that we have been setting ourselves up for a global pandemic. Most of the diseases experts worry about originate in animals. In fact, 75% of newly emerging diseases are zoonotic. Covid-19 – thought to have originated in pangolins sold at wet markets in China – was no different. But like Covid-19, zoonotic diseases are becoming riskier to humans because of our own actions. Our effect on the climate, encroachment on wildlife habitats and global travel have helped circulate animal-borne diseases. Combined with urbanisation, overpopulation and global trade, we’ve set up an ideal scenario for more pandemics to come.

Niagara COVID status tracker

	December 18	December 25	January 1	January 8	January 15	January 22	January 29
Reproductive number	1.4	1.8	1.4	1.1	1.0	0.7	0.9
New cases per 100,000	101.2	267.3	469.8	575.8	507.1	295.5	250.6
New cases per day (not including outbreaks)	60.7	178.7	311.7	376.9	325.4	182.7	145.7
Percent of hospital beds occupied	97%	95.2%	98.2%	103.2%	104.5%	103.6%	106%
Percent of intensive care beds occupied	78.8%	77.3%	87.9%	87.9%	90.9%	89.4%	93.9%
Percentage of positive tests	6.1%	15.6%	28.1%	28.6%	26.6%	21.2%	16.2%

Definitions:

Weekly Incidence Rate: the number of 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

Previous updates can be accessed here.

The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.

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Ontario Public Health and Workplace Safety Measures: January 14, 2021

January 13, 2021 | Daily Update

The Government of Ontario has issued an updated guidance document for public health and workplace safety measures (PDF link). Measures for businesses that will be in effect as of January 14, 2021 are as follows:

General Public Health Measures
Businesses Permitted to Open

Restaurants, bars and other or drink establishments
Driving instruction
Retailers
Services

General Public Health Measures

Each person responsible for a business or organization that is open shall ensure that any person who performs work for the business or organization conducts their work remotely, with limited exception, for instance, where the nature of their work requires them to be on site at the workplace.
Every person in a place of business or facility that is open to the public shall maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from every other person except from their caregiver or other members of the person’s household, with limited exceptions.
Every person in the premises of a business or organization that is open shall ensure that they wear a mask or face covering that covers their mouth, nose and chin, when they are in indoor areas of the premises, with limited exemptions.
No person shall use an indoor or outdoor recreational amenity that is required to be closed.
Limit for outdoor organized public events and social gatherings, must comply with requirements on physical distancing and face coverings: 5 people outdoors

Businesses Permitted to Open

Restaurants, bars and other or drink establishments

Take out, drive through, and delivery permitted only (includes the sale of alcohol)

<h2id=”driving”>Driving instruction

No in person driving instruction permitted except:
- For instruction for drivers of commercial motor vehicles
- Where the instruction is part of the Ontario Driver Certification Program administered by the Ministry of Transportation and involves the operation of motor vehicles for which:
  - A class of driver’s licence other than Class G, G1, G2, M, M1 or M2 is required
  - An air brake endorsement is required
  - Or that is provided by a private career college, in accordance with certain conditions

Retailers

Supermarkets, convenience stores, indoor farmer’s markets and other stores that primarily sell food

Open for in person retail, subject to:

Members of the public being able to maintain two metres physical distance from every other person in the business or facility and complying with face covering rules
The number of persons occupying any room that is open to the public does not exceed 50% capacity of the particular room
Curbside pick up and delivery permitted

Pharmacies

Open for in person retail, subject to:

Members of the public being able to maintain two metres physical distance from every other person in the business or facility and complying with face covering rules
The number of persons occupying any room that is open to the public does not exceed 50% capacity of the particular room
Curbside pick up and delivery permitted

Discount retailers and big box stores that sell groceries

Open for in person retail, subject to:

Members of the public being able to maintain two metres physical distance from every other person in the business or facility
The number of persons occupying any room that is open to the public does not exceed 25% capacity of the particular room
Curbside pick up and delivery permitted

Other retailers permitted to open under the Provincewide Shutdown rules

Distancing and face covering rules apply
Operating hours of 7am to 8pm

Gas stations and other fuel suppliers

Open for in person retail, subject to:

Members of the public being able to maintain two metres physical distance from every other person in the business or facility and complying with face covering rules

Safety supply stores, businesses that sell, rent or repair assistive/mobility/medical devices, and optical stores that sell prescription eyewear to the public:

By appointment only
Limit the number of persons occupying any room that is open to the public in the business to not exceed 50% capacity of the particular room
Curbside pick up and delivery permitted
Operating hours of 7am to 8pm

Stores that sell liquor, including beer, wine and spirits:

Limit the number of persons occupying any room that is open to the public in the business does not exceed 25% of the particular room
Curbside pick up and delivery permitted
Operating hours of 9am to 8pm

Shopping malls

Closed for in person retail. Members of the public are only permitted to enter the mall to:

Access businesses and organizations permitted to be open (e.g., pharmacy, dentist); food court open for take away, or by appointment only to facilitate pick up as set out below
Access court services and government services

Shopping malls may establish:

A single designated location inside the shopping mall for order pick up by patrons. Pick up inside the shopping mall must be by appointment only
Any number of designated locations outside the shopping mall for curbside pick up by patrons

Members of the public are not permitted to loiter in any area of the shopping mall that is not related to the purpose of their visit.

Malls must open no earlier than 7 a.m. and close no later than 8 p.m., except to provide access to grocery stores/supermarkets, pharmacies, and healthcare providers that only have public entrances that face the interior of the mall.

Cannabis retail stores operating under the authority of a retail store authorization issued under the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018

Curbside pick up and delivery only; Operating hours of 7am to 8pm
An item may only be provided for curbside pickup if the patron ordered the item before arriving at the business premises

Garden centres

Curbside pick up and delivery only; Operating hours of 7am to 8pm
An item may only be provided for curbside pickup if the patron ordered the item before arriving at the business premises

Motor vehicle sales

Includes cars, trucks and motorcycles; recreational vehicles including motor homes; trailers and travel trailers; boats and other watercraft; and other motorized vehicles, including power assisted bicycles, golf carts, scooters, snowmobiles and all terrain vehicles

By appointment only
Members of the public must not be permitted where products are neither sold nor displayed for sale
Subject to certain conditions related to test drives
Operating hours of 7am to 8pm

Outdoor markets

Includes farmer’s markets and holiday markets only if they primarily sell food to the public

Must require members of the public to remain outdoors at all times, including for curbside pick up or delivery
Operating hours of 7am to 8pm

General Retail (all other retail, including hardware stores, pet food, computer stores, etc.):

Curbside pick up or delivery only (in person retail shopping not permitted)
An item may only be provided for curbside pickup if the patron ordered the item before arriving at the business premises
Sales must be exclusively made so patrons are not required to enter the indoor area of the business, including curbside pick up or delivery
Operating hours of 7am to 8pm

Services

Rental and leasing services, including automobile, commercial and light industrial machinery and equipment rental

By appointment only

Automated and self service car washes

Permitted subject to distancing, masking, and other public health requirements

Laundromats and drycleaners

Permitted subject to distancing, masking, and other public health requirements

Snow clearing and landscaping services

Permitted subject to distancing, masking, and other public health requirements

Security services for residences, businesses and other properties

Permitted subject to distancing, masking, and other public health requirements

Domestic services

Only to support children, seniors or vulnerable persons, including housekeeping, cooking, indoor and outdoor cleaning and maintenance services

Vehicle and equipment repair and essential maintenance and vehicle and equipment rental services

By appointment only

Courier, postal, shipping, moving and delivery services

Permitted subject to distancing, masking, and other public health requirements

Funeral and related services

Permitted subject to distancing, masking, and other public health requirements

Staffing services including providing temporary help

Permitted subject to distancing, masking, and other public health requirements

Veterinary services

For services that are necessary for the immediate health and welfare of the animal only, or provided through curb side pick up and drop off of the animal

Other businesses that provide for the health and welfare of animals, including farms, boarding kennels, stables, animal shelters and research facilities

Permitted subject to distancing, masking, and other public health requirements

Businesses that provide pet training exclusively for service animals

Permitted subject to distancing, masking, and other public health requirements

Hotels, motels, lodges, cabins, cottages, resorts and other shared rental accommodation, including student residences

Any indoor pools, indoor fitness centres , or other indoor recreational facilities that are part of the operation of these businesses, are closed
Pre-arranged booking for short term rentals prohibited with exceptions for housing requirements

Seasonal campgrounds

Must be made available only for trailers and recreational vehicles used by individuals in need of housing or are permitted to be there by seasonal contract
Only campsites with electricity, water service and facilities for sewage disposal may be provided for use
All recreational and other shared facilities, excluding washrooms and showers must be closed
Other areas of the seasonal campground must be closed to the general public and must only be opened for the purpose of prepar ing the seasonal campground for reopening

Community centres

Permitted to open for the operation of child care centres and authorized recreational and skill building programs within the meaning of the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014

Mental health and addictions support services (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous)

Permitted subject to distancing, masking, and other public health requirements to a maximum of 10 people

Permitted subject to distancing, masking, and other public health requirements

Cheque cashing services

Permitted subject to distancing, masking, and other public health requirements

Financial services

Capital markets and related securities trading and advisory services, Banking/credit union activities including credit intermediation, Insurance, Land registration services, Pension and benefits payment services, Financial services including payroll and payment processing and accounting and tax services

Permitted subject to distancing, masking, and other public health requirements

Real estate (including pre-sale construction)

No open houses; showing a property permitted by appointment only

Information Technology (IT) services, including online services, software products and the facilities necessary for their operation and delivery

Permitted subject to distancing, masking, and other public health requirements

Telecommunications providers and services (phone, internet, radio, cell phones etc.) and facilities necessary for their operation and delivery

Retail stores operated by a telecommunications provider or service may only permit members of the public to enter the premise s b y appointment and only for repairs or technical support

Newspapers, radio and television broadcasting

Permitted subject to distancing, masking, and other public health requirements

Maintenance

Maintenance, repair and property management services that manage and maintain the safety, security, sanitation and operation of institutional, commercial, industrial and residential properties and buildings permitted subject to distancing, masking, and other public health requirements

Transportation services

Businesses and facilities that provide transportation services, including transportation services provided by air, water, road, and rail, including taxis and other private transportation providers

Permitted subject to distancing, masking, and other public health requirements

Support services for transportation services, including logistical support, distribution services, warehousing and storage, truck stops and tow operators, and services that support the operations and safety of transportation systems including maintenance and repairs

Permitted subject to distancing, masking, and other public health requirements

Marinas, boating clubs and other organizations that maintain docking facilities for members or patrons with conditions

Permitted subject to distancing, masking, and other public health requirements

Businesses that provide and support online retail, including by providing warehousing, storage and distribution of goods that are ordered
online

Permitted subject to distancing, masking, and other public health requirements

Manufacturing

Businesses that extract, manufacture, process and distribute goods, products, equipment and materials, including businesses t hat manufacture inputs to other manufacturers (e.g. primary metal/ steel, blow molding, component manufacturers, chemicals, etc. that feed the end product manufacturer), regardless of whether those other manufacturers are inside or outside of Ontario, together with businesses that support and facilitate the movement of goods within integrated North American and global supply chains

Permitted subject to distancing, masking, and other public health requirements

Agriculture and food production

Businesses that produce food and beverages, and agricultural products including plants, including by farming, harvesting, aquaculture, hunting and fishing

Permitted subject to distancing, masking, and other public health requirements

Businesses that process, manufacture or distribute food, beverages, crops, agricultural products, animal products and by products

Permitted subject to distancing, masking, and other public health requirements

Businesses that support the food or agricultural products supply chains and the health and safety of food, animals and plants

Permitted subject to distancing, masking, and other public health requirements

Construction

Permitted construction activities or projects and related services, including land surveying and demolition services:

Construction projects and services associated with the healthcare sector and long term care, including new facilities, expansion s, renovations and conversion of spaces that could be repurposed for health care space.
Construction projects and services required to ensure safe and reliable operations of, or to provide new capacity in, provincial and municipal
infrastructure, including transit, transportation, energy, mining and justice sectors beyond the day to day maintenance.
Construction projects and services that support the operations of, and provide new capacity in schools, colleges, universities, municipal infrastructure and child care centres within the meaning of the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014.
Construction projects under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program
Construction projects and services that support the operations of Broadband internet and cellular technologies and services.
Critical industrial construction activities required for:
- the maintenance and operations of petrochemical plants and refineries,
- significant industrial petrochemical projects where preliminary work has already commenced,
- industrial construction and modifications to existing industrial structures limited solely to work necessary for the production, maintenance, and/or enhancement of Personal Protective Equipment, medical devices (such as ventilators), and other identified products directly related to combatting the COVID 19 pandemic.
Construction projects that are due to be completed before July 2021 and that would provide additional capacity in the production, processing, manufacturing or distribution of food, beverages or agricultural products.
Construction projects that were commenced before January 12, 2021 , and that would:
- provide additional capacity for businesses that provide logistical support, distribution services, warehousing, storage or shipping and delivery services, or
- provide additional capacity in the operation and delivery of Information Technology (IT) services or telecommunications services.
Residential construction projects where:
- a footing permit has been granted for single family, semi detached and townhomes
- the project is a condominium, mixed use or other residential building, or
- the project involves renovations to residential properties and construction work was started before January 12, 2021
Construction to prepare a site for an institutional, commercial, industrial or residential development, including any necessary excavation, grading, roads or utilities infrastructure.
Construction and maintenance activities necessary to temporarily close construction sites that have paused or are not active and to ensure ongoing public safety.
Below grade multi unit residential construction projects, such as apartments and condominiums.
Construction on any project intended to provide either,
- affordable housing, or
- shelter or supports for vulnerable persons,
If the project is being funded in whole or in part by, or is being undertaken by, any of the following:
- the Crown in right of Canada or in right of Ontario,
- an agency of the Crown in right of Canada or in right of Ontario,
- a municipality,
- a service manager as defined in the Housing Services Act, 2011 , or
- a registered charity and not for profit within the meaning of the Income Tax Act

Resources and Energy

Businesses that provide and ensure the domestic and global continuity of supply of resources, including, resource exploration , m ining, forestry, aggregates, petroleum, petroleum by products and chemicals

Permitted subject to distancing, masking, and other public health requirements

Electricity generation, transmission, distribution and storage and natural gas distribution, transmission and storage

Permitted subject to distancing, masking, and other public health requirements

Community Services

Businesses that deliver or support the delivery of community services including:

Sewage treatment and disposal
Collecting, transporting, storing, processing, disposing or recycling of any type of waste
Potable drinking water
Critical infrastructure repair and maintenance including roads, dams, bridges etc.
Environmental rehabilitation, management and monitoring, and spill clean up and response
Administrative authorities that regulate and inspect businesses
Professional and social services that support the legal and justice system
Government services including but not limited to policing and law enforcement, fire and emergency services, paramedics, coroner and pathology services, corrections and court services, licences and permits
Allotment gardens or community gardens

Permitted subject to distancing, masking, and other public health requirements

Facilities for indoor or outdoor sports and recreational fitness activities

Closure of all indoor and outdoor sports and recreational fitness facilities except for:

Facilities operated or for the sole use of high performance athletes , including parasport athletes, and specified professional leagues (e.g.,
NHL, CFL, MLS, NBA) and
Facilities opened solely for specified purposes (e.g. child care)

Community centres and multi purpose facilities (e.g., YMCA) allowed to be open for permitted activities (e.g., child care services, mental health and addiction support services [limited to 10 people maximum], social services)

The following outdoor recreational and fitness facilities may remain open, provided that all persons maintain a two-metre distance, that team sports are not played, and all associated showers, locker rooms, clubhouses, etc. remain closed:

Parks and recreational areas
Baseball diamonds
Batting cages
Soccer, football and sports fields
Tennis, platform tennis, table tennis and pickleball courts
Basketball courts
BMX parks
Skate parks
Frisbee golf locations
Cycling tracks and bike trails
Horse riding facilities
Shooting ranges, including those operated by rod and gun clubs
Ice rinks
Snowmobile, cross country, dogsledding, ice skating and snow shoe trails
Playgrounds
Portions of parks or recreational areas containing outdoor fitness equipment
Tobogganing hills and skating trails

Concert venues, theatres and cinemas

Closed, including drive in or drive through events.

All businesses and facilities not mentioned here will proceed with regulations as set out in the Provincewide Shutdown.

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COVID-19 Business Update: January 12th, 2021

January 12, 2021 | Daily Update

Information on government grants, resources, and programs, as well as policies, forms, and posters for download and use, are available here.

The Government of Canada has a support page with summaries of current programs and application portals.

Vital updates

At a press conference this afternoon, Premier Ford declared a state of emergency in the province of Ontario, to last no fewer than 28 days. Owing to the deteriorating COVID-19 situation in the province, a stay-at-home order will take effect on Thursday, January 14th, at 12:01 a.m. Everyone will be required to remain at home with exceptions for essential purposes, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services, for exercise or for essential work.
- Schools in some regions will remain closed longer, although Niagara schools are still scheduled to re-open on January 25th. Masks will be required for Grades 1-3 and must also be worn outdoors.
- An “inspection blitz” of big-box stores will start in the coming days, the Premier warned, with businesses found in violation of regulations to be punished under the law.
- Residential evictions will be suspended for the duration of the state of emergency.
- Outdoor organized public gatherings and social gatherings are further restricted to a limit of five people, with limited exceptions.
- All non-essential retail stores, including hardware stores, alcohol retailers, and those offering curbside pickup or delivery, must open no earlier than 7 a.m. and close no later than 8 p.m. The restricted hours of operation do not apply to stores that primarily sell food, pharmacies, gas stations, convenience stores, and restaurants for takeout or delivery.
- Non-essential construction is further restricted, including below-grade construction, exempting survey.
- Non-essential workers in offices must now work from home.
- Health care services, including dental offices, physiotherapy and chiropractors remain open.
- These restrictions are in addition to those already announced in the Provincewide Shutdown.
- Under the declaration of a provincial emergency, the province will provide authority to all enforcement and provincial offences officers, including the Ontario Provincial Police, local police forces, bylaw officers, and provincial workplace inspectors to issue tickets to individuals who do not comply with the stay-at-home-order, or those not wearing a mask or face covering indoors as well as retail operators and companies who do not enforce. Those who decide not to abide by orders will be subject to set fines and/or prosecution under both the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, (ROA) and EMCPA.
- Businesses with questions about the restrictions and their obligations under them can call the Stop the Spread Business Information line at 1-888-444-3659.
At a morning briefing, the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table revealed that the existing measures had failed to restrict mobility and contacts between people. Another 2,903 cases of COVID-19, including 246 in Niagara, and 41 more deaths of people with the illness were reported today. At the current rate of spread, the provincial healthcare system would be overwhelmed before vaccination has a chance to be effective.
The Government of Ontario has released further details of the Ontario Small Business Support Grant. The Grant will provide a minimum of $10,000 and up to $20,000 to help eligible small business owners during this challenging period. Small businesses required to close or significantly restrict services will be able to apply for this one-time grant. The business must demonstrate they experienced a revenue decline of at least 20 per cent when comparing monthly revenue in April 2019 and April 2020. This time period was selected because it reflects the impact of the public health measures in spring 2020, and as such provides a representation of the possible impact of these latest measures on small businesses. New businesses established since April 2019 will also be eligible. Each eligible small business will be able to use the support in whatever way makes the most sense for their individual business. For example, some businesses will need support paying employee wages or rent, while others will need assistance maintaining their inventory. Applications will open soon. Eligible small businesses include those that:
- Are required to close or significantly restrict services due to the Provincewide Shutdown, which began at 12:01 a.m. on December 26;
- Have fewer than 100 employees at the enterprise level; and
- Have experienced a minimum of 20 per cent revenue decline in April 2020 compared to April 2019.
Today, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Labour and Member of Parliament for Hamilton West–Ancaster–Dundas, on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario, announced that 111 businesses and organizations in the Hamilton and Niagara regions received a total of $16.4 million in combined RRRF funding, protecting more than 1,600 jobs in the area in 2020. Businesses and organizations in southern Ontario that have applied for other federal COVID-19 programs, but were unable to access sufficient relief, are encouraged to review RRRF eligibility requirements or contact FedDev Ontario for more information.
Last night, Fort Erie Town Council approved recommendations from staff to temporarily waive all business licence fees (PDF link), save and except short-term rentals, for 2021 to assist businesses during COVID-19. However, new businesses and businesses that require an annual licence renewal are still required to apply for a 2021 business licence from the Town of Fort Erie as in the past. It is estimated that waiving business licencing fees for 2021 will result in a business licencing revenue reduction of about $20,000. The Town plans to recoup this financial loss through money received in Phase 1 of the Government of Canada’s Safe Restart Agreement.
The gap between the adjusted price index and the official Consumer Price Index (CPI) widened in September, Statistics CAnada has revealed, corresponding with the increase in COVID-19 cases that marked a resurgence of the pandemic. Higher food prices, particularly for meat and vegetables, in October and November became more important in the adjusted price index, contributing to the gap between the adjusted price index and the official CPI. At the same time, transportation prices became less important in the adjusted price index, reflecting reduced air travel and low domestic and international demand for gasoline amid the tightening of public health restrictions. As a result of the food and transportation components, the adjusted price index remained higher than the official CPI in September, October and November. In November, the adjusted price index rose 1.4% on a year-over-year basis, while the official CPI increased 1.0%.
Total investment in building construction declined for a third consecutive month, edging down 0.1% to $15.3 billion in November. Slight decreases in both residential and non-residential construction led to minimal change overall. Gains in Ontario and Nova Scotia were offset in large part by declines in six provinces. Non-residential investment was mostly unchanged in November, remaining at $4.4 billion. Slight declines in six provinces were offset by small gains in Ontario (+0.4% to $1.8 billion) and British Columbia (+1.0% to $665 million). As lockdowns and working from home continued across many parts of the country, reduced investment in office buildings, hotels and restaurants led to an overall reduction in commercial building investment (-0.5%). Commercial building investment was the lone component of non-residential construction to decline in November and remained below pre-COVID-19 levels (-13.5% compared with March 2020).
The Canada-U.S. border will remain closed to non-essential travel until at least Feb. 21. Public Safety Minister Bill Blair today announced the latest extension to international travel restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Canada-U.S. agreement bars entry to most travellers who are not Canadian citizens, permanent residents or people entering from the U.S. for “essential” reasons.

Reading recommendations

Low inflation skeptics are right, just not as right as they think they are, Kevin Carmichael, Financial Post

Inflation is probably running a little hotter than the official estimate suggests, but not by so much that the Bank of Canada will be forced to rethink its plan to leave the benchmark interest rate unchanged until 2023. Statistics Canada on Jan. 12reported that its “adjusted price index” increased 1.4 per cent in November from a year earlier, compared with a one per cent gain in the official Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the same period.

New pay transparency rules now in effect, John Dujay, Canadian HR Reporter

In an effort to address the ongoing wage gap in federally regulated employers, new measures that went into effect on Jan. 1, will provide a more fulsome look at exactly how much those employees are getting paid. As a part of amendments made to the Employment Equity Act, businesses with more than 100 employees will be mandated to provide more detailed salary data that will be made public beginning in 2022, says a Toronto employment lawyer.

Niagara COVID status tracker

	December 18	December 25	January 1	January 8	January 15	January 22	January 29
Reproductive number	1.4	1.8	1.4	1.1	1.0	0.7	0.9
New cases per 100,000	101.2	267.3	469.8	575.8	507.1	295.5	250.6
New cases per day (not including outbreaks)	60.7	178.7	311.7	376.9	325.4	182.7	145.7
Percent of hospital beds occupied	97%	95.2%	98.2%	103.2%	104.5%	103.6%	106%
Percent of intensive care beds occupied	78.8%	77.3%	87.9%	87.9%	90.9%	89.4%	93.9%
Percentage of positive tests	6.1%	15.6%	28.1%	28.6%	26.6%	21.2%	16.2%

Definitions:

Weekly Incidence Rate: the number of 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

Previous updates can be accessed here.

The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.

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Rapid Update: State of Emergency

January 12, 2021 | Daily Update

At a press conference this afternoon, Premier Ford declared a state of emergency in the province of Ontario, to last no fewer than 28 days. Owing to the deteriorating COVID-19 situation in the province, a stay-at-home order will take effect on Thursday, January 14th, at 12:01 a.m. Ontarians must only leave their homes for essential trips, such as purchasing groceries or for medical treatments. Schools in some regions will remain closed longer, although Niagara schools are still scheduled to re-open on January 25th.

An “inspection blitz” of big-box stores will start in the coming days, the Premier warned, with businesses found in violation of regulations to be punished under the law.

Residential evictions will be suspended for the duration of the state of emergency.

Outdoor organized public gatherings and social gatherings are further restricted to a limit of five people, with limited exceptions.

All non-essential retail stores, including hardware stores, alcohol retailers, and those offering curbside pickup or delivery, must open no earlier than 7 a.m. and close no later than 8 p.m. The restricted hours of operation do not apply to stores that primarily sell food, pharmacies, gas stations, convenience stores, and restaurants for takeout or delivery.

Non-essential construction is further restricted, including below-grade construction, exempting survey.

Non-essential workers in offices must now work from home.

Health care services, including dental offices, physiotherapy and chiropractors remain open.

These restrictions are in addition to those already announced in the Provincewide Shutdown.

At a morning briefing, the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table revealed that the existing measures had failed to restrict mobility and contacts between people. Another 2,903 cases of COVID-19, including 246 in Niagara, and 41 more deaths of people with the illness were reported today. At the current rate of spread, the provincial healthcare system would be overwhelmed before vaccination has a chance to be effective.

Businesses with questions about the restrictions and their obligations under them can call the Stop the Spread Business Information line at 1-888-444-3659.

The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.

Share this:

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Reading recommendations

Niagara COVID status tracker

Vital updates

Reading recommendations

Niagara COVID status tracker

Vital updates

Reading recommendations

Niagara COVID status tracker

Vital updates

Reading recommendations

Niagara COVID status tracker

Vital updates

Reading recommendations

Niagara COVID status tracker

Vital updates

Reading recommendations

Niagara COVID status tracker

General Public Health Measures

Businesses Permitted to Open

Restaurants, bars and other or drink establishments

Retailers

Supermarkets, convenience stores, indoor farmer’s markets and other stores that primarily sell food

Pharmacies

Discount retailers and big box stores that sell groceries

Other retailers permitted to open under the Provincewide Shutdown rules

Gas stations and other fuel suppliers

Safety supply stores, businesses that sell, rent or repair assistive/mobility/medical devices, and optical stores that sell prescription eyewear to the public:

Stores that sell liquor, including beer, wine and spirits:

Shopping malls

Cannabis retail stores operating under the authority of a retail store authorization issued under the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018

Garden centres

Motor vehicle sales

Outdoor markets

General Retail (all other retail, including hardware stores, pet food, computer stores, etc.):

Services

Rental and leasing services, including automobile, commercial and light industrial machinery and equipment rental

Automated and self service car washes

Laundromats and drycleaners

Snow clearing and landscaping services

Security services for residences, businesses and other properties

Domestic services

Vehicle and equipment repair and essential maintenance and vehicle and equipment rental services

Courier, postal, shipping, moving and delivery services

Funeral and related services

Staffing services including providing temporary help

Veterinary services

Other businesses that provide for the health and welfare of animals, including farms, boarding kennels, stables, animal shelters and research facilities

Businesses that provide pet training exclusively for service animals

Hotels, motels, lodges, cabins, cottages, resorts and other shared rental accommodation, including student residences

Seasonal campgrounds

Community centres

Mental health and addictions support services (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous)

Social services

Cheque cashing services

Financial services

Real estate (including pre-sale construction)

Information Technology (IT) services, including online services, software products and the facilities necessary for their operation and delivery

Telecommunications providers and services (phone, internet, radio, cell phones etc.) and facilities necessary for their operation and delivery

Newspapers, radio and television broadcasting

Maintenance

Transportation services

Manufacturing

Agriculture and food production

Construction

Resources and Energy

Community Services

Facilities for indoor or outdoor sports and recreational fitness activities

Concert venues, theatres and cinemas

Vital updates

Reading recommendations

Niagara COVID status tracker