Daily Update: July 6, 2023

July 6, 2023 | Daily Update

New provincial regulations coming into effect July 1, GDP holds steady while public sector posts first decline since January 2022, and more.

In this edition:

  • New Deloitte report proposes wine industry policies to bring billions in growth
  • New deal for Windsor EV battery plant worth $15B in tax breaks, Ontario minister says
  • Lincoln businesses encouraged to apply for 2023 Niagara Benchlands Destination Development Fund
  • Infrastructure work to impact weekend GO train service between Niagara and Toronto
  • Meta launches Threads, a social media platform to rival Twitter
  • Quebecor to pull ads from Facebook, Instagram after news access halted
  • Canadian trade balance goes from surplus to largest deficit since 2020

New Deloitte report proposes wine industry policies to bring billions in growth

In a first-time partnership, Ontario Craft Wineries, Tourism Partnership of Niagara and Wine Growers Ontario have come together to commission a Deloitte report that reveals the Ontario wine sector is well positioned to drive sustainable economic growth for the region, the province and the country.

It starts by looking at and learning from the world’s leading tourism destinations. Premium wine industries are at the centre of so many of these vibrant, world-class travel hot spots. Wine is a vital catalyst for their economic growth, reaching far beyond the vast vineyards to help: grow a flourishing tourism sector; advance sustainable farming practices; drive transportation and manufacturing; kickstart new construction and infrastructure projects; stimulate and inspire exciting food, hospitality, and cultural experiences.

Click here to read more.

New deal for Windsor EV battery plant worth $15B in tax breaks, Ontario minister says

The deal between Stellantis and LG Energy Solutions to continue construction on the NextStar electric vehicle (EV) battery plant could be worth up to $15 billion in tax breaks for the project, the province said Wednesday night.

Victor Fedeli, minister of economic development, job creation and trade, told CBC News the province would provide up to $5 billion in tax breaks based on production over a 10-year term. He said the other $10-billion in tax breaks would come from the federal government.

“It’s not like the incentive money that the province and the feds delivered to the battery company,” he said. “We invested $500 million in capital. This is like a performance incentive or a tax break. It’s not a cheque per se.”

Click here to read more.

Lincoln businesses encouraged to apply for 2023 Niagara Benchlands Destination Development Fund

The Niagara Benchlands Destination Development Fund has opened for the 2023 season to support tourism-based businesses and organizations in Lincoln with much-needed financial aid to assist in the development, enhancement and expansion of tourism product and offerings in the destination. The Fund was launched in 2022 and aligns with the Town’s goals of fostering the growth and economic prosperity of Lincoln’s tourism sector.

Tourism-based businesses and organizations located within the municipal boundaries of the Town of Lincoln are eligible for funding. These include for-profit businesses, not-for-profit businesses, public sector agencies, and private sector agencies whose business operations support Lincoln’s diverse tourism economic value chain.

Click here to read more.

In order to accommodate infrastructure work on the Lakeshore West corridor, buses will be replacing GO trains between Oakville station and West Harbour station in Hamilton. This means that anyone travelling from Niagara to Toronto on the train will have to depart and hop on a bus at Burlington GO.

The disruption will begin on Friday, July 7 at 9 p.m. and continue until the end of the service on Sunday, July 9.

Click here to read more.

Meta launches Threads, a social media platform to rival Twitter

Meta launched its microblogging app Threads on Thursday, the latest among several platforms that have been designed to rival Twitter as users jump ship from the beleaguered social media site.

The company behind Instagram and Facebook pitched Threads as an app that will do for text and dialogue what Instagram did for photos and video.

“There should be a public conversations app with 1 billion+ people on it. Twitter has had the opportunity to do this but hasn’t nailed it. Hopefully we will,” Meta CEO Zuckerberg said on Threads, where he now has a million followers.

Click here to read more.

Quebecor to pull ads from Facebook, Instagram after news access halted

Telecom and media firm Quebecor said on Wednesday it will pull its ads from Facebook and Instagram following Meta Platforms’ decision to stop access to news on both social media platforms in Canada over a law requiring payments to local news publishers.

The Online News Act, or Bill C-18, was introduced in April last year and lays out rules to force companies such as Meta and Alphabet-owned Google to negotiate commercial deals and pay news publishers for their content.

Google and Meta previously said they would block access to news articles in Canada if the legislation was passed. It was passed last month.

Click here to read more.

Canadian trade balance goes from surplus to largest deficit since 2020

In May, Canada’s merchandise imports rose 3.0%, while exports decreased 3.8%, Statistics Canada reported today. With imports and exports posting strong variations in opposite directions, Canada’s merchandise trade balance went from a $894 million surplus in April to a $3.4 billion deficit in May, the largest deficit since October 2020. In proportion of total trade, comparable changes in the trade balance have been observed in the past.

Exports of energy products and farm, fishing and intermediate food products were responsible for more than two-thirds of the retreat. In real (or volume) terms, exports decreased 2.5% in May. Exports of energy products fell 7.3% in May, in large part because of lower prices. Since the record reached in June 2022, export values for these products have been generally trending downward. Following an increase of 3.6% in April 2023, crude oil exports fell 8.3% and contributed the most to the decline in exports of energy products in May.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

Vaseline was invented by American chemist Robert Chesebrough, who ate a spoonful of it every day. He lived to be 96. 

Focus on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

What is the pay gap between persons with and without disabilities?

Employment and income experiences for persons with disabilities often differ from persons without disabilities. Barriers to accessibility within these areas often lead to lower employment rates and decreased income levels for persons with disabilities, in relation to persons without disabilities, which aligns with the study titled “A demographic, employment and income profile of Canadians with disabilities aged 15 years and over, 2017.” Examples of barriers include inaccessible technology, lack of materials in alternate formats, physically inaccessible spaces, and discriminatory attitudes towards persons with disabilities. The Accessible Canada Act (ACA) aims to eliminate the barriers in seven priority areas in Canada by 2040; one of the priority areas is employment. Eliminating barriers within employment leads to increased employment opportunities, resulting in increased income, reduced labour shortage, and helps economic prosperity.

Click here to read more.

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

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Daily Update: July 5, 2023

July 5, 2023 | Daily Update

New provincial regulations coming into effect July 1, GDP holds steady while public sector posts first decline since January 2022, and more.

In this edition:

  • Ontario to require temp agencies and recruiters to be licensed in 2024
  • Negotiations stall as retailers warn of continent-wide impact from strike at B.C. ports
  • Province appoints team to oversee dissolution of Peel Region
  • Gap between rich and poor widens at fastest pace on record
  • Ottawa suspends advertising on Facebook, Instagram as Meta promises to block news
  • Government delivers new Grocery Rebate to 11 million low- and modest-income Canadians

Ontario to require temp agencies and recruiters to be licensed in 2024

The Ontario government will require temporary help agencies (THAs) and recruiters to have a licence to operate in the province as of January 1, 2024. Inspections by Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development officers have shown that multiple temporary help agencies in Ontario are illegally paying people below the minimum wage and denying other basic employment rights to gain an unfair competitive advantage over law-abiding agencies by undercutting rates, the government said in a statement issued today.

The government touted a possible benefit to employers, stating that many businesses and jobseekers in Ontario are often unaware if an agency or recruiter they are working with is meeting their employment standards obligations or has a history of violations. Employers will now be able to check the ministry’s online database before working with one, to see if they have met the province’s stringent licensing requirements.

Click here to read more.

Negotiations stall as retailers warn of continent-wide impact from strike at B.C. ports

As the port workers’ strike in British Columbia goes into its third day, retail associations and mayors alike are issuing warnings about the likely impact across the country — and even the continent.

Greg Wilson, the Retail Council of Canada’s director of government relations for B.C., says the strike affects supply chains across the continent — a concern for retailers and consumers alike.

“There will be impacts North American-wide,” Wilson said in an interview with CBC News.

Click here to read more.

Province appoints team to oversee dissolution of Peel Region

Ontario is appointing five members to a transition board that will make recommendations to the government on a range of restructuring matters related to the dissolution of the Regional Municipality of Peel in order to make Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon independent municipalities by January 1, 2025.

The five members who have been appointed to the board bring a range of experience across the public and private sectors, including municipal government and administration, policing, business law and business management, infrastructure delivery and the provincial and federal governments.

Click here to read more.

The gap in net worth between the most and least wealthy increased by 1.1 percentage points in the first quarter of 2023 relative to the same quarter a year earlier, new Statistics Canada data has revealed. This was the fastest increase on record for these estimates, which date back to 2010. In contrast, the wealth gap declined by 1.6 percentage points over the two-year period from the first quarter of 2020 to the first quarter of 2022. Despite recent increases in the wealth gap, it remained lower in the first quarter of 2023 (65.1 percentage points) relative to the first quarter of 2020 (65.6 percentage points).

The least wealthy were affected more by recent economic pressures, as they decreased their net worth by 13.8% in the first quarter of 2023 relative to the same quarter a year earlier. This reduction represented more than triple the rate of decrease for the wealthiest (-3.8%).

Click here to read more.

Ottawa suspends advertising on Facebook, Instagram as Meta promises to block news

Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez says the federal government will stop advertising on Facebook and Instagram.

The decision comes after both Meta Platforms Inc. promised to block Canadian news content on its Facebook and Instagram platforms in response to Canada’s recently passed Online News Act.

The new law will require tech giants pay media outlets for content they share or otherwise repurpose on their platforms.

Rodriguez says the decision from Meta, which is already blocking content for some users as part of a test that began before the bill passed, is “unreasonable” and “irresponsible” and as a result Canada will stop advertising on their platforms.

Click here to read more.

Government delivers new Grocery Rebate to 11 million low- and modest-income Canadians

Today, the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance announced that 11 million low- and modest-income Canadians and families will begin receiving their new, one-time Grocery Rebate.

This targeted inflation relief for vulnerable Canadians provides eligible couples with two children up to an extra $467; single Canadians without children up to an extra $234; and seniors with an extra $225, on average. By targeting the Grocery Rebate to the Canadians who need it most, the government aims to deliver important relief while maintaining Canada’s AAA credit rating and strong track record of fiscal responsibility.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

Half of working Africans work in agriculture.

Focus on Climate

How Indigenous economic development corporations can support a just, low-carbon energy transition

There are over 50,000 Indigenous businesses in Canada today. According to the 2020 census, the Indigenous economy generated a gross domestic product of $48.9 billion dollars. A growing number of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities are establishing economic development corporations (EDCs), of which many are involved in the renewable energy sector.

Indigenous EDCs exist across a range of industries such as retail, forestry, fisheries, energy, mining, construction and hospitality. They have the potential to be major drivers for economic growth in Indigenous communities.

The role of Indigenous EDCs in the renewable energy sector has so far been unclear. Canada’s energy industry is responsible for 80 per cent of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. Increasing renewable energy production is an important part of reducing emissions.

Click here to read more.

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

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Do your managers know how to create a psychologically safe workplace?

June 30, 2023 | WSPS

If you’re a supervisor or manager, you know that employees expect you to do more than set targets and organize the work. They also expect you to be an ally, a protector, and sometimes a confidant. They expect you to support their well-being.

Frontline supervisors and managers must balance the needs of the organization with the needs of employees. Sometimes these demands are in sync, but sometimes they are at odds. Effective managers must navigate it all. “Managers feel the natural messy humanness that exists in our organizations the most,” says Shelley Pacheco, VP of People and Culture at WSPS. “Becoming a strong, confident manager who can wade through this, feel inspired and continue to inspire and motivate others is a journey.”

Because of these competing pressures, managers and team leaders are more likely to develop common mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, and burnout. As a manager, it is difficult to empathize with and address the stressors employees are facing if you are not experiencing positive mental health yourself. In August 2022, Benefits Canada reported that they conducted a survey of 1100 leaders from 11 companies. According to the results, 96% of respondents reported feeling exhausted and indicated that their mental health had declined. The desire to provide adequate support for the well-being of employees was among their top stressors.

Get the tools you need in Psychological Safety in Practice: A Guidebook for Managers

Amy Edmonson, the author of The Fearless Organization, defines psychological safety as “a belief that one will not be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns or mistakes.” Managers and supervisors are extremely influential within an organization when it comes to creating a psychologically safe workplace. However, they need to feel this level of safety themselves from their peers and senior management before they can create this environment for others. But where to start?

That’s why Psychological Safety in Practice: A Guidebook for Managers was created. This free download provides the tools and strategies to help managers and team leaders create a psychologically safe workplace—for themselves and for their team members.

This practical guidebook includes expert insights and tips, exercises, and real-life scenarios. It is divided into five sections, outlined below, to give managers the information and skills they need to connect with employees and support their mental well-being.

  1. Embrace psychological safety—This section describes the manager’s role in creating a psychologically safe workplace and includes a simple exercise to assess the degree of psychological safety that exists in the workplace.
  2. Become an authentic and inclusive leader—This section explains what inclusive leadership looks like and provides information on managing emotions and building healthy connections.
  3. Foster resilience and mental well-being—This section highlights the reality that employees can’t always ignore the problems they face at home while they are at work. It provides tips on how to recognize and manage warning signs.
  4. Nurture learning and growth—This section challenges our natural tendency to view people and situations with a fixed mindset, which is critical to learning and growth.
  5. Learn from the experts—In this section, Dr. Bill Howatt and Milena Braticevic, Ph.D. discuss some real-life scenarios.

How WSPS can help

Resources

Training

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

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Daily Update: June 29, 2023

June 29, 2023 | Daily Update

Tourism spending bounces back to 86.7% of pre-pandemic levels, Google to remove Canadian content from news, search, and discover products, and more.

In this edition:

Tourism spending bounces back to 86.7% of pre-pandemic levels

Tourism spending in Canada grew 2.6% in the first quarter, Statistics Canada reported today, due to an increase of 3.5% in domestic tourism spending by Canadian residents. Tourism gross domestic product (GDP) (+2.3%) and jobs attributable to tourism (+2.7%) also rose in the first quarter.

Passenger air transport (+2.9%) contributed the most to the growth in tourism spending in the first quarter, followed by food and beverage (+4.7%) and accommodation (+2.2%) services. As a result of this continued overall growth, tourism spending rose to 86.7% of its level in the fourth quarter of 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Click here to read more.

Interested in hearing more on the Government of Canada’s tourism policies and strategies? Join us on July 4th for a luncheon with the Canadian Minister of Tourism, Randy Boissonnault. Space is limited – get your tickets here.

Google to remove Canadian content from news, search, and discover products

Google said Thursday it will remove Canadian news content from its search, news and discover products after a new law meant to compensate media outlets comes into force.

The move to pull news from the world’s most popular search engine could have a devastating impact on Canadian media outlets, which often depend on third parties like Google to get content into the hands of readers.

The decision comes after the government’s contentious C-18 legislation passed Parliament last week. The bill has been criticized by tech giants like Meta and Google who say it’s unfair to impose what amounts to a tax on links.

Click here to read more.

New restrictions on advertising to children come into effect

Following its introduction in June 2021, the Code and Guide for the Responsible Advertising of Food and Beverage Products to Children is effective from June 28.

Developed over two years by the Association of Canadian Advertisers (ACA), Food, Health and Consumer Products Canada (FHCP), Canadian Beverage Association (CBA) and Restaurants Canada, together with government and a diverse group of stakeholders, the Code and Guide fulfils the objectives of government in restricting advertising of food and beverage product to children.

The Code and Guide sets rules for advertisers of food and beverage products, requiring a responsible approach to child audiences.

Under this new standard, only food and beverages that meet specified nutrition criteria may be advertised in a manner that is primarily directed to children under the age of 13.

Click here to read more.

The number of employees receiving pay or benefits from their employer—measured as “payroll employees” in the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours—decreased by 25,100 (-0.1%) in April, excluding federal government public administration.

The federal government public administration recorded a decline of 115,200 (-30.5%), which was associated with the strike action in April. Most of this decline is expected to be temporary.

Meanwhile, job vacancies edged down to 790,900 in April. Since January 2023, the overall number of job vacancies has fallen by 72,700 (-8.4%).

Click here to read more.

Inflation has hidden costs that go beyond higher prices, says Bank of Canada

High inflation is imposing additional costs on businesses and households, which must allocate more time and energy to navigate changing prices, the deputy governor of the Bank of Canada told a central banking conference in Europe this week.

Discussing a recent study on inflation and the misallocation of resources, Bank deputy governor Sharon Kozicki said these additional costs show how price stability is important and “a key ingredient to a prosperous economy.”

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

The three countries with the largest oil reserves in the world are Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, and Canada.

Focus on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Understanding and supporting neurodivergent workers: CCOHS Corner

Our collective understanding of what it means to be neurodivergent is growing. Employers are recognizing that a neurodiverse workforce can improve workplace productivity and profitability if they take the time to address specific needs and set workers up for success.

The term neurodiversity was coined in 1998 by Judy Singer, an Australian sociologist, to reflect that being neuro-atypical is simply a reflection of the natural variations of the human genome. These variations should be understood and accommodated.

Despite these challenges, neurodiverse workers have unique talents that may give their organizations a competitive advantage. Workers with ADHD may struggle with organization but are often creative and collegial, coming up with innovative ideas and bringing positive energy to a brainstorm session. Many can hyperfocus on projects they’re passionate about but need explicit deadlines for when each aspect of the work should be completed. Workers on the autism spectrum sometimes struggle with eye contact or communication but may be meticulous with details.

Click here to read more.

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

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Daily Update: June 28, 2023

June 28, 2023 | Daily Update

In this edition:

Government of Canada invests in first-in-Ontario digital tools to support tourism sector

Today, James Maloney, Member of Parliament for Etobicoke−Lakeshore, on behalf of the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), announced an investment of over $715,000 for Tourism Technology Co. (TTC), backed by its parent company The New Business (TNB), to provide digital solutions for businesses in the tourism sector.

Currently, tourist attractions, particularly in smaller and rural communities, face challenges drawing visitors as their offerings are not showcased on larger, international booking sites. Through this investment, TTC has developed two tools: Booker, a digital travel reservation system and Tripper, a new itinerary planner, to help close that gap.

Click here to read more.

Interested in hearing more on the Government of Canada’s tourism policies and strategies? Join us on July 4th for a luncheon with the Canadian Minister of Tourism, Randy Boissonnault. Space is limited – get your tickets here.

St. Catharines councillors propose rebate for taxpayers hit with 10.5% hike

A pair of St. Catharines councillors are proposing the city halt hirings and use the money to give homeowners rebates after being hit with a 10.51 per cent increase on property tax bills.

The tax increase — a combination of city, Niagara Region and school board taxes — was approved by councillors in May by a 7-6 vote.

Since then, councillors have been getting quite a few phone calls from upset residents, said St. Andrew’s Coun. Joe Kushner.

Click here to read more.

Port Colborne City Hall

Port Colborne council adopts new strategic plan

At their meeting last night, Port Colborne City Council adopted a new strategic plan for 2023-2026 that reflects the city’s ambitions toward climate change adaptation, environmental protection, public infrastructure, health and livability, and economic stability.

The development of this strategic plan drew significantly on the challenges facing the community.

“We engaged with hundreds of residents, businesses and other key stakeholders to learn about their dreams and desires for the future of Port Colborne,” said Mayor Bill Steele. “The feedback we gathered has thoroughly shaped the new strategic plan and has helped us to identify our priorities over the next three years.”

Click here to read more.

St. Catharines City Council has granted an investment of $319,185 to support arts and culture through the St. Catharines Cultural Investment Program (SCCIP).

“We are so happy to see that council has approved this investment in our City’s arts and culture,” said Director of Community, Recreation and Culture Services Phil Cristi. “This is another step towards making St. Catharines the most dynamic, innovative, sustainable and livable city in North America.”

Click here to read more.

Welland offers $1 million in physician recruitment incentives to address doctor shortage

The City of Welland approved a budget of $1M for a physician recruitment incentive program; the Economic Development Reserve Fund will provide the funds.

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has deemed Welland an area of high physician need, and as of February 2023, documented the city is 17 family physicians short. This shortage is anticipated to increase, given the projected population growth and slate of family physicians retiring.

Click here to read more.

Niagara Health releases annual report

Yesterday, Niagara Health held its first in-person Annual Meeting since the COVID-19 pandemic and released its 2022-23 Annual Report.

“This was an opportunity to mark our progress recovering from challenges resulting from the pandemic, profile significant achievements and investments in both our people and in innovation and recommit to our core mission as an acute and emergency care organization,” a statement issued today reported.

Click here to read more.

Niagara College to significantly expand on-campus housing

Driven by strategic commitments to student experience and success, and to address a growing shortage of housing in the communities that it serves, Niagara College will triple its on-campus housing over the next four years, adding new living spaces for approximately 1,000 students at its campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Enhancement and expansion of on-campus housing is a key element of the college’s newly adopted master plan, which will see transformational capital investments and developments at its Niagara-based campuses over the next decade or more. In addition to new residence buildings, the plan also includes renovations and improvements of existing on-campus residences to expand capacity and enhance student experience.

Click here to read more.

Indigenous leader offers an education about Treaty Lands

When people, groups or municipalities approach the Mississaugas of the Credit Nation for any collaboration, they will likely first get schooling from Darin Wybenga.

“We are treaty holders for about four million acres at the western end of Lake Ontario. So I just let people know that we are here, we are treaty partners, and to get to know us because First Nations are often forgotten.”

Not being forgotten has been the life work of Wybenga, who started his career as a history teacher. Then he worked at the New Credit Public Library, fielding inquiries from community members and the public about First Nations history.

Click here to read more.

Governance reform in Niagara should focus on service and efficiency: GNCC CEO

After the Government of Ontario announced its decision to break up Peel Region, all eyes are watching the Ministry of Municipal Affairs for an announcement on Niagara’s fate. A facilitator to review the two-tiered government structure is about to be appointed, and Niagara region may be in for some changes the like of which it hasn’t seen in over 50 years.

Niagara’s political classes are wondering what it will mean. Will Niagara Region be abolished? Will there be a single City of Niagara? Will the province break up the region into three or four municipalities?

All of these questions miss the mark.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

The Shaw Festival held its first season in 1962, with eight performances in June, July, and August in the non-airconditioned Court House Theatre.

Focus on Climate

Enserva reports that Canada will play an important role in meeting renewable energy demand

On Jun. 14, Enserva released its Spring 2023 State of the Industry Report providing an outlook for the sector in 2023 and sets the stage for a more detailed 2024 drilling forecast to be released in the fall of 2023.

The Report’s findings state that the 2023 outlook for the Canadian oil and gas industry is encouraging: global energy demand is strong, oil and gas prices are favourable, inflation and labour shortages are on the decline, and capital investment is on the rise. In addition, the industry is aptly positioned to take advantage of opportunities to participate in the evolving global energy mix.

Click here to read more.

Faster approvals for major projects will be key to achieving climate goals: Report

Canada has no hope of reaching its 2050 climate goals unless it can find a way to speed up the approvals process for major projects in this country, a new report states.

The report, from the Business Council of Alberta, says Canada’s current regulatory system for large-scale infrastructure projects is “complex, fractured and frustrating.”

It warns that massive investments in everything from mines for critical minerals to renewable power generation to hydrogen technology will be required in the coming years if Canada is to achieve its greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.

Click here to read more.

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

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Daily Update: June 27, 2023

June 27, 2023 | Daily Update

In this edition:

Inflation rate slows to 3.4%, lowest since June 2021

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 3.4% year over year in May, following a 4.4% increase in April. This is the smallest increase since June 2021. The slowdown was largely driven by lower year-over-year prices for gasoline (-18.3%) resulting from a base-year effect. Excluding gasoline, the CPI rose 4.4% in May following a 4.9% increase in April.

The mortgage interest cost index (+29.9%) remained the largest contributor to the year-over-year CPI increase. Excluding mortgage interest cost, the CPI rose 2.5% in May, following a 3.7% increase in April.

Click here to read more.

Competition Bureau makes recommendations to promote competition in Canada’s grocery industry

Grocery prices have increased at their fastest rate in more than 40 years, and Canadians are feeling the pinch, the Competition Bureau said in a statement released today.

Today, the Competition Bureau has published its market study report, Canada Needs More Grocery Competition, which recommends that all levels of Canadian government act to increase competition in the grocery industry.

The report makes four recommendations to governments to meaningfully improve competition in the grocery industry:

  1. Create a whole-of-government strategy to support the emergence of new types of grocery businesses;
  2. Encourage the growth of independent grocers and the entry of international grocers;
  3. Introduce accessible and harmonized unit pricing requirements to empower consumer choice; and
  4. Limit the use of property controls that make it difficult for new grocery stores to open.

Click here to read more.

Study authorization extended for work permit holders

Today, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced a new temporary measure that removes the limit on the length of the study programs that temporary foreign workers can enrol in without a study permit.

Starting immediately, foreign workers will have the opportunity to seek additional training and education that can help them in their careers. This measure will also help foreign workers expand their future job prospects and increase their opportunities to transition to permanent residence. Prior to this change, foreign workers could study while working, but only in programs of 6 months or less.

Click here to read more.

Today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, announced that the Government of Canada has banned the cruel and unnecessary testing of cosmetic products on animals in Canada, representing a major step forward in supporting animal welfare by reducing our reliance on animal testing, while ensuring health and safety.

With the passing of Bill C-47, Budget Implementation Act, 2023, No. 1, the Food and Drugs Act (FDA) has been amended to ban cosmetic animal testing. The new legislative changes mean that in Canada, companies will no longer be allowed to test cosmetic products on animals or sell their cosmetics that rely on animal testing data to establish safety.

Click here to read more.

Olivia Chow elected mayor of Toronto

Olivia Chow has been elected mayor of Toronto, ending almost 13 years of right-leaning rule at Toronto City Hall and becoming the first woman and the first visible minority person to lead post-amalgamation Toronto.

Chow, 66, was the favourite to win the race from the moment she entered and managed to command a decisive lead in the polls, though the race on election night ended up being a photo finish between her and Ana Bailão.

Click here to read more.

Brad Steeves named United Way Niagara 2023 Campaign Chair

United Way Niagara has named their 2023 Campaign Chair.

Brad Steeves has been appointed to the role.

Steeves is the President of Beatties office supplies and says he is honoured to serve as chair, “I have been involved with the United Way campaign for many years and I am really excited to now have the opportunity to lead it. It has never been more critical to support our community. It’s what we strive to do at Beatties every day, and it’s what I personally believe in. I’m looking forward to a very successful campaign.”

Click here to read more.

Meridian partners with TruShield Insurance to bridge commercial insurance coverage gap among small businesses

Meridian, Ontario’s largest credit union, is proud to announce a new partnership with TruShield Insurance, Canada’s first direct-to-consumer small business insurance provider. The partnership allows Meridian Members to access TruShield’s commercial insurance policies at a preferred rate.

According to a November 2022 study conducted by TruShield Insurance with Leger, 27 per cent of businesses with revenues less than $250K don’t have any type of business insurance. The survey of over 400 Canadian small and medium-sized businesses points to a serious gap in commercial insurance coverage among small businesses. This could leave owners at risk and, in the event of a major loss, susceptible to bankruptcy.

Click here to read more.

Ontario Craft Cider Association launches new industry growth strategy

The Ontario Craft Cider Association (OCCA) is launching a new industry growth strategy that aims to multiply its impact. OCCA has slated the goal of increasing production from six to 30 million liters per year by 2030.

“We believe that this strategic plan represents a major milestone in the growth and development of the craft cider industry,” said Association chair, Matt Dixon. “Through sector and consumer research we are poised for innovative and transformational expansion that will significantly increase the footprint of our impact on the Ontario economy.”

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

McDonald’s was inspired to create their first Drive-Thru by a licensee near Fort Huachuca Army Base, which was suffering a loss of sales from soldiers who weren’t allowed to get out of their cars while in uniform. The restaurant served them through a window.

Focus on Finance & Economy

‘A hike still looks likely’: What economists are saying about the latest inflation numbers

Inflation in Canada slowed in May to 3.4 per cent, matching economist estimates, but many don’t think that will be enough to convince the Bank of Canada to back away from another interest rate hike at its next meeting on July 12.

May’s consumer price index (CPI) increase was the smallest since June 2021, Statistics Canada said in a release. It slowed a full percentage point from an unexpected acceleration in April of 4.4 per cent. Monthly inflation grew 0.4 per cent in May, or 0.1 per cent on a seasonally adjusted basis.

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

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Daily Update: June 23, 2023

June 23, 2023 | Daily Update

In this edition:

Niagara Falls councillors “inundated” with tax complaints

Niagara Falls city councillors say they’ve been “inundated” with calls from unhappy residents about the significant increases they’re seeing on their tax bills.

And the city’s staff and councillors pointed to Niagara Region as the culprit, indicating rising costs for transit and waste management are behind the hikes.

The city’s own budget has increased by over seven per cent despite $8.1 million in transit costs being removed from the local books and taken over by the Region.

During Tuesday’s council meeting, Coun. Lori Lococo took aim at regional transit, which she said represents the “highest portion increase on the tax bill.”

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Pot stores in Ontario may have to cover up all cannabis from their windows

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario is considering amending regulations that require cannabis stores to ensure pot can’t be seen from the exterior of their shop.

The provincial body that oversees the licensing of pot shops says it is collecting feedback on the visibility of cannabis to respond to safety concerns.

A significant rise in robberies prompted Alberta’s cannabis regulator to allow stores to take down window coverings last summer.

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More nurses working in Ontario, but more also leaving, report shows

New figures show the number of nurses active in Ontario is increasing, but more nurses are also leaving the province for work or taking leaves.

A report from the College of Nurses of Ontario said that this year more than 178,000 nurses renewed their registration with the college, aside from those registered as non-practising, and about 158,000 of them are working as nurses in Ontario.

That’s up from about 140,000 working nurses in Ontario in 2016.

But the report said the percentage of nurses working in the province has declined.

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The federal budget has become law after passing third reading in the Senate without amendments this evening.

The Liberal government revealed its fiscal plan in late March, promising to create a national dental care program and spend billions on clean energy incentives.

The budget gives lower-income people a larger GST rebate, dubbed a grocery rebate by the government, and enhances the Canada workers benefit.

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Government of Canada approves 8 collective agreements representing 138,000 public service employees

The Government of Canada has approved renewed collective agreements with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), the Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE), the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 104, and the Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO). These agreements have been ratified by employees with the unions all reporting strong membership support for the negotiated settlements.

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Food inflation beginning to moderate, Empire executives say

Empire Company Ltd. president and chief executive Michael Medline says cost increase requests from the grocer’s suppliers appear to have peaked in the third quarter of fiscal 2023.

The parent company of Sobeys, FreshCo, IGA and other retail banners held its fourth quarter earnings call Thursday (June 22).

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Cosy comes to Grimsby: Local pair opening used bookstore

The prologue’s not even over and chapter 1 is only about to begin, but two Grimsby women may already have a winner on their hands.

Taylor Brown and Caitlin Bailey are set to open Grimsby Books on July 1 in the downtown. Distant friends from their time in school, they became close when they each became parents around the same time.

As they prepare to open, Bailey said they’re still looking for some science fiction and adult fantasy to round out their collection. Anyone who has used books still in close-to-new shape can email grimsbybookstore@gmail.com.

The July 1 grand opening runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and includes a wheel where visitors can win prizes, discounts for the early customers, and refreshments.

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Did you know?

The world’s first container ship sailed on April 26, 1956. Today, an average of 20 million containers are at sea on any given day. 

Focus on Human Resources

Is an organization legally liable for workplace violence?

What constitutes violence at work? And when can an organization be held legally accountable? The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) reports that three out of 10 workers have experienced some form of workplace harassment or violence, with women and those with disabilities being more at risk.

What’s more, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there were 20,790 cases of serious workplace violence (resulting in days away from work), with healthcare and social assistance workers being at the highest risk.

It falls on employers to provide a safe space for both employees and customers – ensuring that occupational health and safety is maintained at all times. So, if an employee engages in violence at work how should HR react?

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

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GNCC Bill 39 position statement 

June 21, 2023 | Advocacy, In The News, Media Releases, Municipal Advocacy, Network News, Provincial Advocacy, Uncategorised

The Government of Ontario has announced its intent to review the two-tier government relationship in a number of municipalities, including Niagara.

Background

The Government of Ontario has announced its intent to review the two-tier government relationship in a number of municipalities, including Niagara.

Of all Ontario census divisions with populations over 250,000, Niagara has the highest number of municipal politicians per capita. The average is 10 elected officials per 100,000 residents; Niagara has 28. The number of Niagara regional councillors per 25,000 residents varies from 1.1 to 3.9 in Niagara. This effectively creates a democratic deficit for certain municipalities.

The large number of elected officials in Niagara, many representing small communities, necessitates that almost all of them serve part-time. Complex and difficult decisions are less likely to be well-made where the decision-makers lack time, resources, and staff to assist them. This also has the effect of increasing the influence of the unelected bureaucracy.

A recent FAO report showed the significant impact that the climate crisis will have on municipal infrastructure maintenance alone. This is a strong example of how resources need to be marshalled and decision-making ability improved to cope.

Previous efforts at locally defined governance reform have been abortive. No action was taken following a consultation in 2000, and “dual-direct” elections proposed in St. Catharines and Thorold failed in 2017. A Provincial offer of funds to study means of improving efficiency in 2019 was used to audit internal processes and government departments, which is welcome, but did not address the question of governance. Niagara Region recently announced the creation of dedicated offices for attainable housing and shared services, which will hopefully produce efficiencies at the local level.

Niagara has a mixed composition, with three urban centres and nine rural municipalities. This creates a disparity in levies and service delivery. Rural municipalities, lacking an industrial base for revenue and representing a large geographical area, may struggle to deliver services if the government structure is rearranged.

Concerns regarding preserving the ‘character’ of a municipality in the event of a merger have been raised, but it should be noted that many municipalities are already the product of past mergers, and this has had little impact on the ‘character’ of neighbourhoods. It is common, for example, for St. Catharines residents to identify as being from Port Dalhousie or Merritton, or for Lincoln residents to identify as being from Jordan or Beamsville. That these communities no longer exist legally has not prevented a sense of community identity and spirit.

From a business perspective, the two-tier government of Niagara can sometimes pose problems, most significantly when responsibilities overlap. While individually effective, municipal government inefficiency tends to arise at the point of liaison between the tiers.

Recommendations

Governance reform in Niagara must be seen as a means to an end, which will allow greater effectiveness in tackling local issues such as housing or the infrastructure backlog, improved future resilience, and tax savings and/or better service delivery for local residents, businesses, and non-profits. Therefore, we recommend the following:

  1. Notable recent examples of cooperation and service sharing exist, such as the regional transit system and some fire and library service mergers. However, continuing this process of shared services and finding efficiencies under the present structure depends upon the will of local municipal governments, which could change. A structural revision of the number of municipalities and/or elected officials represents an opportunity to permanently address the following:
    1. Improve cooperation and coordination
    2. Reduction in the overlap of service delivery
    3. Consistent long-term strategies
    4. Address municipal inequities and realize economies of scale
    5. More consistent and balanced access to municipal skill sets and talent
  2. Regardless of the political structure, overlap and duplication of government services and jurisdictions should be eliminated, and a clear delineation of powers created. We suggest that some roles, such as economic development or public procurement, may be more effective under a single tier of government.
  3. In light of the Government of Ontario’s prioritization of the province as a place to do business and of red tape reduction, that Niagara’s business community be well-represented in consultations on the governance structure of Niagara and the processes of any further reform.
  4. The status of the 2019 report by Michael Fenn and Ken Seiling as secret under the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act, 1990 should be reversed, and the report made public. This report represents a broad survey of municipal performance in southern Ontario, along with 8,500 public submissions, and is a key document for informed decision-making.
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Daily Update: June 20, 2023

June 20, 2023 | Daily Update

In this edition:

Job vacancies and job vacancy rate continue to fall in the first quarter

The number of job vacancies decreased by 33,500 (-3.8%) in the first quarter, falling to 843,200 and marking the third straight quarterly decline from the record high reached in the second quarter of 2022 (984,600).

Meanwhile, payroll employment increased by 89,200 (+0.5%) in the first quarter of 2023, the eighth consecutive quarterly increase. The quarter-over-quarter growth rate in total labour demand (the sum of filled and vacant positions) was 0.3% in the first quarter, down from 1.0% in the first quarter of 2022.

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Ontario to offer free training for electricians

The Ontario government is investing $2.7 million to support an innovative project to help 65 electrical workers upgrade their skills and meet the demand for qualified electricians in eastern Ontario. Led by KE Electrical, the free program will provide participants with the training needed to progress from labourer to apprentice, apprentice to journeyman, and journeyman to foreman. This will help electrical workers earn more take-home pay for themselves and their families, while tackling the critical shortage of skilled trades workers the province faces.

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Niagara Falls Craft Distillers and United Craft Inc. form partnership

Two Ontario craft beverage manufacturers are teaming up to bring new products to Ontario consumers and eventually across Canada. Niagara Falls Craft Distillers (NFCD) and United Craft Inc. (UC) have entered into a strategic partnership to pursue an accelerated path for products, manufacturing, selling and distribution of made-in-Ontario craft beverages with the formation of United Niagara Beverages (UNB).

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Wainfleet CAO Announces Retirement

The Township of Wainfleet’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), William Kolasa, has announced his upcoming retirement. Wainfleet Council is pleased to announce their unanimous appointment of the Township’s current Treasurer, Mallory Luey, as the new Chief Administrative Officer as the fruition of the Township’s succession planning efforts.

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Tawse Winery founder creates scholarship in memory of winemaker Paul Pender

Award-winning winemaker and Niagara College alumnus Paul Pender, who passed away suddenly in February 2022 at the age of 54, is being honoured through a scholarship that will help the next generation of diverse winemakers.

Moray Tawse, founder of Tawse Winery in Vineland where Pender was the Director of Viticulture and Winemaking at the time of his passing, has made an endowed gift of close to $200,000 to create “The Tawse Winery Paul Pender Memorial BIPOC Student Award.”

The donation will fund annual $10,000 scholarships for BIPOC students in NC’s Winery and Viticulture Technician program, which Pender graduated from in 2006.

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Did you know?

Samsung was founded in 1938 and traded in groceries.

Focus on Finance & Economy

High government spending doesn’t necessarily fuel inflation: economists

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s attempt to block the federal government’s budget bill from passing earlier this month is the latest example of government spending coming under scrutiny amid high inflation.

And while most fiscal experts agree that government spending can fuel inflation, economic research suggests the link between the two is more complex.

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

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