COVID-19 Business Update: October 23rd, 2020

October 23, 2020 | 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 part of its continued response to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Niagara Regional Council passed a by-law to amend Niagara’s temporary Face-Covering By-law to include common areas of residential apartment buildings and condominium buildings, including lobbies, elevators and other common-use facilities. Niagara’s temporary Face-Covering By-law (2020-46) requires residents to wear face-coverings in all enclosed public places and on Regional and municipal transit. On Sept. 17, the by-law was extended to remain in effect until April 1, 2021 in recognition of the ongoing threat posed by the pandemic. Residents and businesses are reminded that the by-law includes a number of exemptions. Not everyone can wear a mask and many disabilities are invisible. There’s no requirement for people to prove they are exempt.
  • The deadline to apply for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) to receive the one-time payment has been extended from September 25, 2020, to December 31, 2020. The one-time payment will help persons with disabilities deal with the expenses incurred during the pandemic, such as:
    • expenses related to hiring personal support workers and accessing other disability supports;
    • paying for increased costs for medical supplies and medication;
    • the purchase of personal protective equipment;
    • higher costs associated with physical distancing and working from home; and,
    • the increased use of transportation and home delivery services to obtain groceries and prescriptions.
  • The Government of Canada and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) have finalized an agreement to compensate current and former employees who may have been impacted by the Phoenix pay system and the late implementation of the 2014 collective agreements.
  • The Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce, Literacy Link Niagara, and the Niagara Workforce Planning Board are conducting a survey on the local impacts of COVID-19 on the retail trade sector, focusing on the dynamic between e-commerce and physical retail with regard to how local businesses are trying to sustain operations through this pandemic. All responses will be anonymous. The survey can be completed here.
  • St. Catharines City Council has approved the launch of a new waste management strategy that includes a waste reduction pilot project being rolled out at City facilities. In the coming weeks, residents and staff of the City of St. Catharines will notice new garbage, recycling and organic waste bins at City Hall, St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre and Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre. These bins will offer new options for recycling different types of material, as well as organics.
  • The City of Thorold is seeking members for the following Council Committees & Boards. Interested parties can apply here; the deadline for applications is November 13, 2020 at 4:30 p.m:
    • Lake Gibson Preservation Task Group – 1 agricultural rep.
    • Thorold Active Transportation Advisory Committee – 5 at-large
    • Thorold Tourism Advisory Committee – 1 at-large
    • Thorold Business Business Improvement Area (BIA) – 1 at-large
  • Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, released a statement regarding the urgent need for legislation on CEWS, rent subsidy, and other important changes. The Chamber is calling for updates to the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy program so it can be fairly accessed by all struggling businesses, and ensuring CEWS supports provided to businesses during this second lockdown are consistent with those provided during the first.

Reading recommendations:

  • Banking watchdog says no plans to bring back special treatment for deferred loans despite second wave, Geoff Zochodne, Financial Post
    • Canada might be in the middle of a second wave of COVID-19, but that doesn’t mean a federal banking regulator is about to enable a second wave of deferred mortgage payments.
  • An expert in nonverbal communication watched the Trump-Biden debate with the sound turned down – here’s what he saw, Patrick Stewart, The Conversation
    • President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden met on Oct. 22 for the final debate in the 2020 election and, like the first debate, it was unusual. COVID-19 forced social distancing and largely took the studio audience, with their laughter, cheering and booing out of the equation. What’s more, with norm-breaking interruptions and stealing of speaking time an inherent part of Donald Trump’s debate strategy, the contentious crosstalk between the two candidates and the moderator made long sections of the candidates’ first debate nearly impossible to hear or follow. The threat of having the microphone cut off effectively muted this aggression. But is what they say as important as we think?

 

Niagara Economic Summit Series 2020

Where are we now, how did we get here, and where do we go? This year’s summit, taking place between November 10 and November 24, brings experts and leaders together from across the country to identify where we are economically, what our future opportunities are, and how we can seize them. Find out more and get a calendar save-the-date here.

 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.

Share this:

COVID-19 Business Update: October 22nd, 2020

October 22, 2020 | Daily Update

The Ontario government is introducing a package of legislative and policy measures intended to accelerate the building of key infrastructure projects.
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 is introducing a package of legislative and policy measures intended to accelerate the building of key infrastructure projects. The Ontario Rebuilding and Recovery Act, 2020 would support the construction of better-connected highways and public transit networks, transit-oriented communities, and affordable housing.
  • The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) is seeking, through proposed legislative changes, to:
    • Amend the Building Transit Faster Act, 2020 (BTFA) to enable the extension of measures to other major provincial transit projects, which would be specified in regulation.
      • The BTFA includes measures that streamline project delivery and support the accelerated completion of the four priority transit projects.
    • Amend the Public Service Works on Highways Act to include the court order for utility relocation provision in the BTFA. Inclusion would allow for stronger measures to enforce provisions related to the relocation of utilities for highway projects.
    • Extend authorities under the Transit-Oriented Communities Act, 2020 (TOC Act) to other provincial transit projects, such as GO Heavy Rail and light rail transit which would be specified in regulation.
      • Amend the TOC Act to extend authority to provide exemptions from the Hearings of Necessity provisions in the Expropriations Act to other provincial transit projects for TOC.
      • Amend the TOC Act to provide authority to enter into new types of commercial arrangements for other provincial transit projects for TOC to the Minister of Transportation and provide the Minister of Transportation with the ability to delegate this authority by regulation to Metrolinx or other government agencies.
  • The Ministry of Long-Term Care (MLTC) and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) are proposing to help address zoning and site plan approval concerns to expedite long-term care home development by leveraging support from the Provincial Land and Development Facilitator and by recognizing that the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing has existing authority to make Minister’s Zoning Orders under the Planning Act.
  • The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD) is proposing to leverage recently announced investments in the apprenticeship system aimed at building the skilled trades and professional workforce pipeline.
  • The Ministry of Infrastructure (MOI) is funding the expansion of broadband in unserved and underserved communities across the province and continues to help incentivize increased private sector investment to potentially accelerate broadband expansion.
  • The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) will consult with municipalities to identify what additional authorities or tools they may need to be granted/delegated to expedite the delivery of critical local infrastructure projects.
  • NWIC Inc. has completed the acquisition of internet service provider Last Mile Wireless Internet Inc. Established in 2003, Last Mile Wireless Internet Inc. (LMWI) is a Niagara-based internet service provider (ISP), with their primary office located in Fort Erie, Ontario. This acquisition makes NWIC the largest rural internet service provider in the Niagara Region.
  • The Town of Grimsby, in partnership with the Grimsby Downtown Improvement Association (DIA), has received grant funding from Digital Main Street Ontario to establish a Digital Service Squad (DSS) to help Grimsby main street small businesses use digital technologies to adapt to a rapidly changing environment. Funding for the grant is provided by FedDev Ontario, a federal program. The Digital Service Squad is a free resource for qualifying local business. The main role of a Digital Service Squad team member is to assess business’s online presence and then recommend how to enhance their digital capabilities. Grimsby’s Digital Service Squad member will be available from the end of October 2020 until the end of February 2021 and will, beyond the advisory services provided, encourage and position applications for Digital Transformation Grant funding – a Digital Main Street grant initiative through which businesses can receive $2,500 to help implement their digital transformation. Business owners are encouraged to apply to the Digital Transformation Grant (digitalmainstreet.ca/marketing-new-economy) program immediately as intake for the grant program closes at the end of November.
  • Welland Transit is joining more than 200 other cities in connecting riders to bus routes through the transit app (PDF link). By downloading the free  mobile application, riders have access to real-time bus schedules and other useful rider information at their fingertips. The app uses GPS software to display routes in the user’s immediate area and indicates arrival times, allowing riders to better manage their schedules. Transit is available for Android and iOS devices here.
  • The Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s National Cannabis Working Group (the Working Group) is launching an industry-led review of the Cannabis Act (the Act). The goal of the industry review is to provide recommendations on how the federal government should improve Canada’s legislative and regulatory frameworks for cannabis. The Act, which came into force on October 17, 2018, requires that the Minister of Health initiate a review of the Act three years following the legalization of recreational cannabis for adult use. The Working Group will begin its work immediately in order to provide comprehensive input into the federal government’s review of the Act, which must be launched no later than October 17, 2021. Virtual consultations with stakeholders (link to registration) will be held on the following dates:
    • Health Canada service standards, licensing and regulatory burden – Wednesday, November 11, 2020
    • Retail, Economic development, retail and environmental sustainability – Wednesday, November 25, 2020
    • Marketing, promotions and labelling – Wednesday, December 9, 2020
    • Medical Cannabis and Cannabis Health Products – Wednesday, January 20, 2021
    • Illicit market and anti-money laundering – Wednesday, February 3, 2021
    • Ancillary businesses – Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Reading recommendations:

  • Countering the tyranny of the clock: How flexible working is changing workers’ relationship with time, The Economist
    • Two hundred years ago, a device began to dominate the world of work. No, not the steam engine—the gadget was the clock. With the arrival of the factory, people were paid on the basis of how many hours they worked, rather than their material output. The clock’s authoritarian rule may at last be weakening. Flexible working existed well before the pandemic. But it only offered employees the ability to choose when in the day they worked their allotted hours. Remote working has brought a greater degree of freedom.
  • Get your gifts in the mail early this holiday season, Canada Post warns, CBC News/The Canadian Press
    • Canada Post is urging Canadians to shop early this holiday season to avoid the late arrival of gifts caused by a pandemic-induced shift to online shopping. The postal service says it is scaling up operations to handle an expected surge in parcel volumes by adding more than 4,000 seasonal employees, more than 1,000 vehicles and extra equipment. Canada Post will also deliver on weekends in many communities, add more pickup locations and extend hours at many post offices.
  • How a tiny peanut butter company grew to $500k per month in sales, Zachary Crockett, The Hustle
    • In August 2020, Craig Mount and Erika Peterson found themselves in an enviable position. Nerdy Nuts — the D2C peanut butter company they’d founded just 18 months earlier — had gone viral on TikTok. In the span of a few days, the couple had watched their sales multiply by 20x. But they didn’t have time to celebrate. They faced a backlog of $500k+ worth of orders, a depletion of inventory, and thousands of emails from cranky customers. What began as a tiny side hustle at a farmers market in South Dakota had ballooned into a monster.

 

Niagara Economic Summit Series 2020

Where are we now, how did we get here, and where do we go? This year’s summit, taking place between November 10 and November 24, brings experts and leaders together from across the country to identify where we are economically, what our future opportunities are, and how we can seize them. Find out more and get a calendar save-the-date here.

 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.

Share this:

COVID-19 Business Update: October 21st, 2020

October 21, 2020 | Daily Update

The European Union is removing Canada from its list of countries whose residents should be allowed to visit the bloc amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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 European Union is removing Canada from its list of countries whose residents should be allowed to visit the bloc amid the coronavirus pandemic. The EU’s recommended travel “white list” now includes only Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Uruguay.
  • The retail sales recovery in Canada has stalled, the latest figures from Statistics Canada show, with sales numbers labelled as “fizzling” at a mere gain of 0.4% for August after four months of growth which saw sales recovering to pre-pandemic levels in all major categories except cars, gasoline and clothing. A preliminary estimate from Statistics Canada showed receipts were flat in September.
  • Canada’s headline inflation measure went up in September by 0.5 per cent compared with a year ago, a better-than-expected increase, but one that experts say won’t sway the Bank of Canada’s stimulus measures. Economists had, on average, expected a year-over-year increase of 0.4 per cent, according to financial data firm Refinitiv, following readings of 0.1 per cent increases in August and July.
  • Sleep Cheap Charities Reap will take place for a full week in 2020, from Sunday November 15th up to and including Saturday November 21st. Many charities are facing challenges to meet their fundraising targets this year due to cancelled initiatives and events, set against increases in demand for their services. Promotional rooms will be restricted to Niagara region residents only. More information and participating hotels can be found at sleepcheapcharitiesreap.com.
  • On October 28, KPMG will host a webinar on government employer relief and support programs. Registration is available here. The webcast will cover:
    • Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) legislative updates
    • CEWS revenue concepts
    • CEWS audit activity
    • Home office expense support for employees
    • Automating the completion of Form T2200/TP-64.3-V for employees
    • The new Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy
  • Welland City Council would like to hear from residents, business owners, and stakeholders regarding their preference for the number of councillors and wards in the city. Staff will be launching a public input campaign and organizing virtual public meetings to gather public feedback for council’s consideration. The survey can be completed on the city’s public engagement platform, YourChannel, or by calling 905-735-1700, ext. 2153, Mon. to Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Access to the survey is also posted on the city’s website, www.welland.ca. The deadline to provide input is November 30, 2020. Further information can be found here (PDF link).
  • Bridges Community Health Centre and Niagara South Family Medicine will hold community flu shot clinics in Port Colborne on November 6th and 7th, and in Fort Erie on November 13th and 14th. Appointments are required, and can be made by calling 905-871-7621 ext. 2227. The GNCC recommends that employers encourage their staff to get a flu shot to reduce workplace sickness and absenteeism.
  • The City of Thorold wishes to advise that the Port Robinson Ferry will close for the 2020 season as of dusk on November 1, 2020. Details on the 2021 season will be released in the spring.

Reading recommendations:

  • A local food diet can make you and your community healthier during COVID-19, Kimberly Hill-Tout, William Tyler Hartwig, The Conversation
    • This past summer, many students were not able to fill the suggested 700 farming jobs funded by the federal government due to geographical or transportation barriers, limited positions or career irrelevance. At the same time, there was a larger demand for food grown locally in response to initial concerns about international imports during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. This turn to local food, a more plant-based diet and home-based food production has been recommended by health professionals, climate scientists and community resilience builders alike.
  • American trustbusters take on Google, The Economist
    • On October 20th the Department of Justice (DoJ) at last launched a federal antitrust lawsuit against Google. It is the first time American trustbusters have gone after big tech since their protracted battle against Microsoft 20 years ago. Eleven states signed on to the suit, in which the DoJ accuses the technology giant of abusing its online-search monopoly. Others are likely to bring their own cases against the firm. William Barr, the attorney-general, called it “monumental”. He is both right and wrong.

 

Niagara Economic Summit Series 2020

Where are we now, how did we get here, and where do we go? This year’s summit, taking place between November 10 and November 24, brings experts and leaders together from across the country to identify where we are economically, what our future opportunities are, and how we can seize them. Find out more and get a calendar save-the-date here.

 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.

Share this:

COVID-19 Business Update: October 20th, 2020

October 20, 2020 | 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). This extension will be in effect until November 21, 2020. The list of orders under the ROA that have been extended can be found online on the Government of Ontario’s website. Orders in effect under the ROA have been extended by 30 days with the following exceptions:
  • The Ontario government is introducing the Supporting Ontario’s Recovery Act, 2020, that if passed, will provide liability protection for workers, volunteers and organizations that make an honest effort to follow public health guidelines and laws relating to exposure to COVID-19. Legal action against intentional misconduct and gross negligence will still be allowed. The proposed legislation also includes changes to the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 that would remove the option to use ranked ballots for municipal council elections. If passed, the Supporting Ontario’s Recovery Act, 2020 will provide targeted protection for those who are making an honest effort to follow public health guidelines and laws, including:
    • Healthcare workers and institutions;
    • Frontline workers who serve the public everywhere from grocery stores to restaurants and retail stores;
    • Businesses and their employees;
    • Charities, non-profit organizations; and
    • Coaches, volunteers and minor sports associations.
  • Today, during Small Business Week, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, announced an investment of $12 million to support the Canada United Small Business Relief Fund. Through the Canada United Small Business Relief Fund, grants up to $5,000 are available to small businesses so they can cover the costs of physical modifications to their businesses to meet local health and safety requirements. The grant can also be used to help firms with the cost of Personal Protection Equipment and enhance their e-commerce capabilities so they can do more business online. Canadian small businesses can learn more and apply for the grant online.
  • The United States Justice Department has filed suit against Google for antitrust violations, alleging that it abused its dominance in online search and advertising to stifle competition and harm consumers. The lawsuit marks the U.S. government’s most significant act to protect competition since its groundbreaking case against Microsoft more than 20 years ago. It could be an opening salvo ahead of other major government antitrust actions, given ongoing investigations of major tech companies including Apple, Amazon and Facebook at both the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission. Google controls about 90 per cent of global web searches.
  • Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings (S&P) has reaffirmed Niagara Region’s “AA” credit rating and stable outlook. The rating agency noted that the Region benefits from manageable debt levels and very ample liquidity, despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, S&P also forecasts an economic recovery in Niagara that will be slower than in other regions. Niagara Region’s focus on long-term strategic and financial planning is well documented and based on realistic assumptions, while disclosure and transparency in financial reporting are also good, the report adds, with debt and liquidity management practices considered prudent. In S&P’s opinion, the Region’s rating could improve with significant and sustained economic and demographic improvement through healthier growth in population and household incomes.
  • Due to the continued health risk presented by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is postponing the reopening of rental bookings at the Community Centre and extending the closure of Town Administrative buildings to the public until further notice (PDF link).
  • The Town of Lincoln and Spark Niagara’s 2020 AgriTech Hackathon registration deadline is quickly approaching. The AgriTech Hackathon is an event that identifies current challenges in the agricultural and value-added agricultural sectors, for which tech solutions are developed and proposed. Over a 48-hour period, multiple teams are asked to hack probable solutions to a series of given challenges for the agriculture, horticulture and eco-tourism sectors. A total of $10,000 in cash prizes may be won, with additional prizes throughout the weekend. Due to COVID-19, the 2020 AgriTech Hackathon will be held virtually.
  • Pelham’s annual holiday event, Christmas in Pelham, will have an expanded event footprint, putting physical distancing requirements, controlling the number of participants, and modeling similar to the successful 2020 Pelham Farmers Market layout and protocols in place. Niagara-on-the-Lake recently opted to cancel its Christmas parade entirely (PDF link).

Reading recommendations:

  • What it’s like to pull the plug on your business during the pandemic, Kyle Bakx, CBC News
    • The numbers are still coming about how many businesses have been shuttered as a result of COVID-19, and considering the financial pain many firms are experiencing, a true tally won’t be known for quite a while. But evidence of the tens of thousands of businesses that have closed can be found in shopping malls and on main streets across Canada. Behind the figures and boarded-up businesses is the human toll the closures had on the entrepreneurs who saw their passions, dreams and financial lifeblood disappear.
  • The next economic crisis: Empty retail space, Katy O’Donnell, Politico
    • Commercial real estate is in trouble, and turbulence in the $15 trillion market is threatening to bleed over into the broader financial system just as the U.S. struggles to emerge from a recession. The longer the pandemic paralyzes hotels, retailers and office buildings, the more difficult it is for property owners to meet their mortgage payments — raising the specter of widespread downgrades, defaults and eventual foreclosures. As companies like J.C. Penney, Neiman Marcus and Pier 1 file for bankruptcy, retail properties are losing major tenants with no clear plan to replace them, while hotels are running below 50 percent occupancy.
  • 4 Ways to Reconfigure Your Sales Strategy During the Pandemic, Scott Edinger, Harvard Business Review
    • It has become clear that we won’t be back to “business as usual” anytime soon. A few months ago, the changes to the workplace brought on by Covid-19 were viewed as a temporary adjustment — something we needed to endure for a few months before the inevitable return to commuting, offices, and face-to-face meetings. But as companies settle into the reality that the current state of things might be the new normal, they need to shift their focus from temporary fixes to a fresh approach to your organizational strategy. For any business that relies on direct sales to drive revenue, it’s time to systematically update your sales organization for the world we’re living in now.

 

Niagara Economic Summit Series 2020

Where are we now, how did we get here, and where do we go? This year’s summit, taking place between November 10 and November 24, brings experts and leaders together from across the country to identify where we are economically, what our future opportunities are, and how we can seize them. Find out more and get a calendar save-the-date here.

 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.

Share this:

COVID-19 Business Update: October 19th, 2020

October 19, 2020 | Daily Update

The Ontario government released an action plan to make government services simpler, easier to use, and more convenient and accessible during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Ontario Onwards: Ontario’s COVID-19 Action Plan for a People-Focused Government includes more than 30 projects that aim to improve the way people and businesses interact with government, saving them both time and money.
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 released an action plan to make government services simpler, easier to use, and more convenient and accessible during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Ontario Onwards: Ontario’s COVID-19 Action Plan for a People-Focused Government includes more than 30 projects that aim to improve the way people and businesses interact with government, saving them both time and money. The government is focusing on:
    • Making government services more digitally accessible, such as providing new and improved digital health solutions to frontline care personnel, so they can rapidly and securely access a patient’s health records from anywhere and from any device.
    • Reducing red tape and simplifying policies while protecting public health and safety, such as reducing barriers to development and construction approval by allowing a digital application process to get shovels in the ground faster on transit and housing projects.
    • Improving government purchasing by leveraging the combined bulk-buying power of the province, while taking advantage of the world-class capabilities of local Ontario businesses, to transform how the government purchases goods and services, so the province can have the supplies it needs.
    • Creating more responsible and flexible public services, such as re-designing core internal processes or permit applications, so citizens can get what they need faster and easier, such as driver’s licences and health cards.
  • The Government of Ontario has offered the following guidance for a safe and happy Halloween:
    • Avoid gatherings with people outside of your household;
    • Stay home if you are feeling ill, even if you have mild symptoms, or if you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19;
    • If you live outside the modified Stage 2 public health unit regions and are going to go out to trick or treat:
      • Only go out with members of your household;
      • Only trick or treat outside;
      • Both trick or treaters and people handing out candy should wear a face covering. A costume mask is not a substitute for a face covering and should not be worn over a face covering as it may make it difficult to breathe;
      • Do not congregate or linger at doorsteps and remember to line up two metres apart if waiting. Avoid high-touch surfaces and objects;
      • Whether collecting or handing out treats, wash your hands often and thoroughly, or use hand sanitizer; and
      • Do not leave treats in a bucket or bowl for children to grab and consider using tongs or other similar tools to hand out treats.
  • The Government of Canada has extended the closure of the U.S. border until November 21st. It was originally set to re-open on October 21st, and the closure has now been extended several times. However, the White House has intimated that the border should be opened “pretty soon” and has claimed that the Prime Minister was also in favour of a quicker re-opening, indicating that a breakdown in negotiations or communications may have occurred between the two governments. Spokespeople for both national governments gave conflicting clarifying statements. Additionally, the U.S. is welcoming Canadian air travelers, while the Government of Canada urges Canadians not to travel to the United States by air.
  • Food delivery services like Uber Eats and Skip the Dishes are adjusting the fees they charge restaurants to process and handle orders, after pressure from politicians to do more to help an industry that has been devastated by COVID-19. Fees charged by the delivery services can often be up to 30 per cent of the bill. Uber Eats has lowered its “delivery-only” fee, for restaurants that process the order themselves but simply need a delivery service, to 7.5 per cent. That service was only launched last month, but the rate will be in effect until the end of the year or later, at which point that rate will increase to 15 per cent. The company has also added an option to charge zero per cent commission for pickup orders when the order is processed by Uber but the food itself is picked up by the customer.

Reading recommendations:

  • Companies wary of hiring and expanding because of COVID uncertainty, Bank of Canada survey finds, CBC News
    • The Bank of Canada says companies are hedging hiring plans and wage growth expectations in the coming months over heightened uncertainty from the COVID-19 pandemic. The central bank’s business outlook survey finds hiring intentions remain below their historical averages, suggesting modest hiring plans even as the overall outlook on employment edges up. Almost one-third of businesses told the bank they expect their workforce numbers to remain below pre-pandemic levels for at least the next 12 months, or to never fully recover.
  • The maps that show life is slowly getting better, Robert Muggah, The Guardian
    • Maps are not just informative, they are empowering. They can help provide a new perspective to age-old problems. But maps are not necessarily fixed – they often need renewing. As Albert Einstein said, “You can’t use old maps to explore a new world.” While there are reasons to be uneasy about the future, maps can also inspire optimism. They not only reveal incredible progress, but also signal how a combination of political leadership, smart incentives and regulatory pressure can improve our human condition.

 

Niagara Economic Summit Series 2020

Where are we now, how did we get here, and where do we go? This year’s summit, taking place between November 10 and November 24, brings experts and leaders together from across the country to identify where we are economically, what our future opportunities are, and how we can seize them. Find out more and get a calendar save-the-date here.

 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.

Share this:

COVID-19 Business Update: October 16th, 2020

October 16, 2020 | 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:

  • In consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Public Health Measures Table, local medical officers of health and other health experts, the Ontario government is introducing additional health measures for York Region. This public health region will be subject to modified Stage 2 restrictions for a minimum of 28 days and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Effective Monday, October 19, 2020 at 12:01 a.m., York Region will join Ottawa, Peel and Toronto public health regions in a modified Stage 2, as a result of their trends in public health indicators, including higher than average rates of COVID-19 transmission.
  • The Bank of Canada is winding down three emergency programs it set up to provide support to financial institutions during the early days of the pandemic, as demand for all three programs is falling, indicating a return to normality in the banking sector. The Bankers’ Acceptance Purchase Facility, or BAPF, and the Canada Mortgage Bond Purchase Program, or CMBPP, will be closed as of Oct. 26. The bank will reduce the frequency of another program, known as the Term Repo operations, from once a week to every two weeks, starting on Oct. 21. Approximately a month ago, the central bank announced it was scaling back two other emergency programs, one of which bought provincial money market securities and another that bought up federal government treasury bills, both aimed at backstopping liquidity.
  • At a Special Council Meeting, Niagara-on-the-Lake Town Council repealed By-law 5248-20 (PDF link), which provided temporary regulations to require the wearing of masks, face shields, or face coverings in enclosed public spaces in the town. The Town will defer to the requirements of the Provincial Regulation (O.Reg. 364/20: Rules for Areas in Stage 3), which requires the wearing of masks or face coverings that cover the nose, mouth and chin with no gap when in enclosed spaces. Face shields are no longer considered adequate coverage in Niagara-on-the-Lake and businesses displaying old signage are encouraged to remove it and replace it with new signage downloadable here, or the Regional signs downloadable here.
  • The Canadian dollar edged higher against its U.S. counterpart, recouping some of this week’s decline, as investors cheered prospects for a COVID-19 vaccine and domestic data showed factory shipments falling in line with expectations.
  • Niagara Region waste collection changes take effect on October 19. Collection services inside designated business areas may be different between local municipalities, depending on the level of service selected and paid for by each municipality. Find your collection services. Businesses outside a designated business area will now have garbage collection every-other-week with a limit of eight containers. Blue & Grey Boxes and Green Bins will continue to be collected every week. Industrial, Commercial and Institutional properties located outside designated business areas will have a combined limit of eight Blue and Grey Carts and a limit of eight Green Carts.
  • The City of Welland’s 2021 Budget Talks campaign is underway, and the Budget Review Committee (BRC) is anticipating a challenging budget process. The BRC has outlined a detailed timetable for the next nine weeks, including a full agenda of budget deliberations, board presentations, and virtual public input meetings. Budget-related information and citizen engagement tools can be found on the city’s public engagement platform, YourChannel.
  • St. Catharines City Council and City staff will be calling out to residents to gather opinions and ideas about the 2021 operating and capital budgets. Mayor Walter Sendzik, Councillor Mat Siscoe, the chair of the City’s Budget Standing Committee, and City staff will answer questions about the 2021 draft City budget during the annual Telephone Town Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 7 to 8 p.m. Residents will be randomly called. Anyone who wants to register in advance to participate in the call, or to request not to be called, can do so at stcatharines.ca/BudgetTalk or by calling Citizens First at 905.688.5600. Those wishing to have their number added or deleted from the call list must do so before Tuesday, Oct. 27 at noon. The City also has a budget engagement tool on www.EngageSTC.ca. Budget meetings, being conducted as General Committee this year, are also open to the public. They will be streamed live on the City’s YouTube, and residents are welcome to submit correspondence or delegation requests regarding items on the General Committee agenda.

Reading recommendations:

  • When Should Your Company Speak Up About a Social Issue? Paul A. Argenti, Harvard Business Review
    • Black Lives Matter. Trade policy. Immigration. Over the last four years, companies have been under pressure from their constituencies — employees, customers, investors, and the communities in which they operate — to take a public stand on high-profile political and social movements. According to research from the Edelman Trust Barometer, 54% of employees globally believe that CEOs should speak publicly on controversial political and social issues they care about. Similarly, 53% of consumers agree that every brand has a responsibility to get involved in at least one social issue that does not directly impact its business.
  • Meet the Excel warriors saving the world from spreadsheet disaster, Nicole Kobie, Wired UK
    • Research suggests more than 90 per cent of spreadsheets have errors, and half of spreadsheet models used in large businesses have “material defects”. Given some 750 million people use Excel globally, there are plenty of errors needing attention. One prominent researcher calls spreadsheets the dark matter of corporate IT.
  • Analysis: For Canada, keeping triple-A rating may not be the focus it once was, Fergal Smith, Reuters
    • Preserving Canada’s triple-A credit rating could be less of a priority for Ottawa than in years gone by, with the focus on digging the economy out of a hole rather than staying in a shrinking group of top-rated sovereign borrowers, analysts say. To maintain its top rating, Canada would likely need to convince credit rating agencies it has a tenable plan to restore fiscal health once the coronavirus pandemic recedes.

 

Niagara Economic Summit Series 2020

Where are we now, how did we get here, and where do we go? This year’s summit, taking place between November 10 and November 24, brings experts and leaders together from across the country to identify where we are economically, what our future opportunities are, and how we can seize them. Find out more and get a calendar save-the-date here.

 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: October 15th, 2020

October 15, 2020 | Daily Update

The Government of Canada confirmed its intention to extend the wage subsidy until June 2021. Enhancements are being proposed to the program.
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 Canada confirmed its intention to extend the wage subsidy until June 2021 and is providing details on the parameters of the wage subsidy that are proposed to apply until December 19, 2020. In addition, other enhancements are being proposed to the program to ensure that it provides continued support to employers and responds to the health and economic situation as it evolves. These changes complement the new Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy. The wage subsidy consists of a base subsidy for all employers whose revenues have been impacted by the pandemic, as well as a top-up subsidy for employers that are hardest hit. There is a separate rate structure for furloughed workers. It is proposed that the base subsidy rate for September 27 to October 24, 2020 continue to apply from October 25 to December 19, 2020. As such, the maximum base subsidy rate would be set at 40 per cent for this period, and the maximum top-up subsidy rate would remain at 25 per cent.
  • After experiencing a brief decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic, investment in residential and commercial construction in Niagara has largely recovered and is on the rebound, according to new figures from Statistics Canada. On Oct. 14, Niagara Region’s Planning and Economic Development Committee received a report from Economic Development staff illustrating how commercial, residential, industrial, and government and institutional construction investment was affected by the initial stages of the pandemic. The data covers the period of January to July 2020 (the most recent month of available data). The full downloadable report can be found on the Niagara Economic Rapid Response Team’s (ERRT) website​ (PDF link).
    • Commercial and residential investment and construction activity were significantly affected in April 2020, but rebounded quickly and have remained stable.
    • Industrial, institutional and government construction projects, which are typically larger, fewer and take longer to complete, remained relatively stable throughout the same period.
    • 2020 is still on track to be a very strong year with investment and building permit values expected to surpass 2019, which was a record year.
  • The City of Port Colborne has made an operational decision to close the Farmers’ Market early. The final day for residents and visitors to enjoy the Farmers’ Market is Friday, Oct. 30, 2020 from 6 a.m. – 1 p.m. The Farmers’ Market normally runs year-round, but this year, the need to protect the health of residents during the COVID-19 pandemic has led city staff to close the market at the end of the month. Anyone interested in participating as a market vendor next year can contact the Market Clerk by email at marketclerk@portcolborne.ca.
  • Those who are using Zoom as part of their virtual working environment will be able to use apps, including third-party apps, through the company’s new Zapps integration platform. Zapps are third-party applications that integrate into Zoom’s existing workflow so users can more easily access information and collaborate while on video calls. Simultaneously, Zoom is also launching OnZoom, an integrated online events platform. The company plans to launch with some 35 Zapps partners later this year, including Atlassian, Dropbox, HubSpot, Salesforce, and Slack.

Reading recommendations:

  • Central banks must move faster on digital currencies amid COVID-19, Bank of Canada says, CBC News
    • A Bank of Canada official says pandemic-related shifts in how people shop means central banks must speed up work on creating their own digital currencies. COVID-19 has meant more people are shopping online, and foot traffic for brick-and-mortar storefronts hasn’t caught up to pre-pandemic levels for many small and medium-sized businesses.
  • Health of Canadian economy hinges on helping startups protect intellectual property, scale up: report, Barbara Schecter, Financial Post
    • The global pandemic is forcing many small businesses to choose between survival and preparing for a technology-driven future, a situation that should prompt policymakers to create incentives for innovators to protect their intellectual property and scale up, according to new research from the Information and Communications Technology Council.
  • What happens when companies devolve power, The Economist
    • Many commentators paint a bleak picture of the future of work. Automation will spread from manufacturing to services, eliminating well-paid white-collar jobs. The workforce will be divided into a narrow technocratic elite and a mass of low-skilled, insecure jobs in the “precariat”. But it does not need to be this way, according to Gary Hamel and Michele Zanini, two management consultants whose new book, “Humanocracy”, is as optimistic as its title is off-putting. They envisage a world in which low-skilled jobs can be enhanced—if only employees are given the chance to use their initiative and change the way they operate.

 

Niagara Economic Summit Series 2020

Where are we now, how did we get here, and where do we go? This year’s summit, taking place between November 10 and November 24, brings experts and leaders together from across the country to identify where we are economically, what our future opportunities are, and how we can seize them. Find out more and get a calendar save-the-date here.

 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.

Share this:

COVID-19 Business Update: October 14th, 2020

October 14, 2020 | Daily Update

The Ontario government has hired 100 new contact tracers, many of whom are starting work this week, with up to 500 more recruits expected to be hired by mid-November
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 hired 100 new contact tracers, many of whom are starting work this week, with up to 500 more recruits expected to be hired by mid-November. Ontario Public Service (OPS) staff are also volunteering for redeployment to provide surge support for contact tracing this fall and winter, and over 600 Statistics Canada employees have been onboarded since July to assist with contact follow-up. There are currently more than 2,750 case and contact management staff active across all public health units, tracing and managing COVID-19 cases ― up from approximately 1,500 staff in the spring. These 600 new recruits and 600 personnel from Statistics Canada will bring the total number of case and contact management staff to nearly 4,000.
  • Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, has appealed to all Canadians to get their flu shot, which provides protection against infection with influenza A and B viruses. Although the flu shot doesn’t provide protection against infection with the virus that causes COVID-19, it will help reduce the risk of contracting the flu before, during or after a possible COVID-19 infection. Having both illnesses close together in time, or at the same time, could put patients at higher risk for severe illness. The GNCC asks all employers to encourage their employees to get the flu shot as a means to reduce workforce absenteeism during the flu season, which is particularly important during a pandemic that is already impacting the workforce. More information on the flu shot, including where to get it, is available at Niagara Region Public Health.
  • The Niagara Community Observatory is inviting the Niagara community to an upcoming presentation held in partnership with the Women in Leadership series at Brock University. On Friday, Oct. 30 from 1-2 pm, Dr. Joanne Heritz, assistant professor of political science, will present NCO policy brief #48, Looking Ahead and Looking Up: Affordable Housing in Niagara,  in which she provides an analytical overview of the affordable housing situation in Niagara. Dr. Heritz will present her research followed by a panel discussion including Lori Beech (executive director of Bethlehem Housing) and Elisabeth Zimmermann (executive director of the YWCA Niagara Region). The event will be held virtually using Microsoft Teams. Interested parties are invited to RSVP by emailing Dr. Carol Phillips at cphillips3@brocku.ca.
  • The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, following the recommendation of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Christmas Parade Committee and in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, has decided to officially cancel the 2020 edition of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Christmas Parade. Holding the standard parade would put the health of residents and visitors at risk. The media release is available here (PDF link).

Reading recommendations:

  • COVID-19 masks FAQs: How can cloth stop a tiny virus? What’s the best fabric? Do they protect the wearer? Catherine Clase, Edouard Fu, Juan Jesus Carrero, The Conversation
    • Face masks reduce the spread of viruses passed on from respiratory secretions. While cloth masks are imperfect, widespread use of an imperfect mask has the potential to make a big difference in transmission of the virus. We started reading the research on cloth masks and face coverings at the start of the pandemic, looking for ways to protect our vulnerable dialysis patients and our dialysis staff. We found a total of 25 studies, advocated for mask use and summarized our findings in a peer-reviewed publication.
  • How Employee Assistance Programs Can Help Your Whole Company Address Racism at Work, Jodi Jacobson Frey, Harvard Business Review
    • It may surprise some employers to know that when employees experience racism and/or other forms of discrimination and oppression, one of the places they can turn for help is their Employee Assistance Program or EAP. EAPs are in a unique position to help employees work through the trauma of racism and to provide workplace leaders with an invaluable insider view of complex workplace problems, including racism.

 

Niagara Economic Summit Series 2020

Where are we now, how did we get here, and where do we go? This year’s summit, taking place between November 10 and November 24, brings experts and leaders together from across the country to identify where we are economically, what our future opportunities are, and how we can seize them. Find out more and get a calendar save-the-date here.

 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.

Remember that a COVID-19 test is only a snapshot of your health on the specific date and time the swab was taken. No testing is perfect and a negative result doesn’t mean you haven’t been exposed to COVID-19. You can still develop symptoms days after your test was taken.

It is important that everyone practice physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Maintain a 2-metre distance from other people. When maintaining distance is impossible, wear a mask or face covering. Wash hands frequently and thoroughly. Avoid touching the face. If you have recently traveled outside the country, you are legally required to self-isolate for 14 days.

Previous updates can be accessed here.

Stay safe and be vigilant. The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.

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