Daily Update: June 16, 2023

June 16, 2023 | Daily Update

In this edition:

Twenty-six Ontario mayors granted “strong mayor” powers, including St. Catharines and Niagara Falls

The Ontario government is expanding strong mayor powers to the mayors of 26 large and fast-growing municipalities that have committed to a housing pledge as part of the province’s work to build 1.5 million homes by 2031.

The 26 designated municipalities are single- or lower-tier municipalities with a population over 100,000, or growing to 100,000 by 2031, and have submitted a housing pledge to the province.

Strong mayor powers and duties include:

  • Choosing to appoint the municipality’s chief administrative officer
  • Hiring certain municipal department heads, and establishing and re-organizing departments
  • Creating committees of council, assigning their functions and appointing the chairs and vice-chairs of committees of council
  • Proposing the municipal budget, which would be subject to council amendments and a separate head of council veto and council override process
  • Vetoing certain by-laws if the head of council is of the opinion that all or part of the by-law could potentially interfere with a provincial priority
  • Bringing forward matters for council consideration if the head of council is of the opinion that considering the matter could potentially advance a provincial priority

Click here for a list of affected municipalities

Federal government tables the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act to try and create a resilient labour force

On Jun. 15, Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, advanced one of the 10 key action areas outlined in the plan by introducing a bill entitled “An Act respecting accountability, transparency and engagement to support the creation of sustainable jobs for workers and economic growth in a net-zero economy” (Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act).

The Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act includes several measures, all of which were outlined in the Interim Sustainable Jobs Plan earlier this year. The legislation will put workers and communities at the centre of policy and decision-making by establishing a federal framework for accountability, a governance structure and engagement mechanisms — all guided by the principles of equity, fairness and inclusion.

Click here to read more.

Food, beverage and tobacco sales tumble in wholesale trade decline

Wholesale sales (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain) fell 1.4% to $80.9 billion in April. Sales fell in four of the seven subsectors. The decrease in sales was mainly led by the miscellaneous and the food, beverage and tobacco product subsectors. Despite the monthly decrease in the sector, wholesale sales (excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain) were higher (+1.4%) than in April 2022.

Click here to read more.


Town of Fort Erie receives and endorses Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Policy for Town Staff and Council

On Monday, June 12, 2023, Town Council approved an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy (EDI) developed in collaboration with the Fort Erie Diversity and Inclusion Coalition, which is comprised of members representing various community organizations.

The essence of the policy came down to fostering an environment of openness and unity to diversity through an approach focused on learning, understanding and awareness.

Click here to read more.


Niagara Falls to hold Building Permit Fee Review

A review has been conducted of the building permit fees for the City of Niagara Falls. The 2023 Building Permit Fees Review Report will be presented at the council meeting on July 11, 2023. At the following council meeting on August 15, 2023, Council will consider amendments to the current building permit fees and a by-law for adoption and implementation.

The July 11, 2023, meeting will take place at 1 pm in Council Chambers at City Hall, 4310 Queen Street, Niagara Falls, Ontario. The meeting will include a presentation by Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. Upon conclusion of the presentation, any person in attendance will have an opportunity to comment.

Click here to read more.

Temporary foreign workers need more paths to immigration, experts say

As hotel and restaurant owners increasingly turn to temporary foreign workers to fill labour gaps, there are growing calls to give those workers more paths to permanent residency.

“If there are particular occupations where there’s a real need and we’ve become dependent on temporary foreign workers … we should include them in a permanent system,” said Naomi Alboim, a senior policy fellow at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

When the CEO of Japan Airlines was forced to cut salaries, he also cut his own to $90,000 a year – less than his pilots. 

Focus on Sustainability

A Short Guide for Small Business Sustainability

Running a small business successfully is challenging at the best of times, but it’s made more difficult by the ever-changing demands of consumerism. For example, more people are choosing to support sustainable businesses, and they’re willing to put time into researching companies to find out their policies. Therefore, successfully running a small business in 2023 involves having a clear sustainability plan.

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: May 31, 2023

May 31, 2023 | Daily Update

Economy grew 0.8% in Q1, fuelling rate hike fears, Canadian manufacturing industry risks falling behind on world stage, study reports, and more.

In this edition:


Economy grew 0.8% in Q1, fuelling rate hike fears

Real gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.8% in the first quarter, after posting no change in the previous quarter. Favourable international trade and growth in household spending were moderated by slower inventory accumulations as well as declines in housing investment and business investment in machinery and equipment. Final domestic demand increased 0.7% in the first quarter of 2023 after remaining flat in the fourth quarter of 2022.

After two quarters of minimal growth, household spending rose for both goods (+1.5%) and services (+1.3%) in the first quarter of 2023. Meanwhile, coinciding with higher borrowing costs and slowing mortgage borrowing, housing investment fell 3.9% in the first quarter of 2023, the fourth consecutive quarterly decrease.

“Overall, the headline reading, composition of growth and handoff to Q2 were all slightly stronger than we had expected, raising the odds of another Bank of Canada rate hike,” CIBC Capital Markets senior economist Andrew Grantham wrote in a note on Wednesday.

Click here to read more.


Canadian manufacturing industry risks falling behind on world stage, study reports

A shortage of skilled workers is threatening Canadian manufacturers’ ability to adopt necessary technologies to scale and compete globally, according to a national survey by Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME).

As the business landscape becomes more complex and competitive, manufacturers are looking to technology to improve profits, but are thwarted by ongoing skills shortages, high purchase costs, and the ability to finance these new innovations.

Click here to read more.


Canada to become first country in the world to require health warnings on individual cigarettes

The new Tobacco Products Appearance, Packaging and Labelling Regulations will be part of the Government of Canada’s continued efforts to help adults who smoke to quit, to protect youth and non-tobacco users from nicotine addiction, and to further reduce the appeal of tobacco. Labelling the tipping paper of individual cigarettes, little cigars, tubes, and other tobacco products will make it virtually impossible to avoid health warnings altogether. In addition, the regulations will support Canada’s Tobacco Strategy and its target of reaching less than 5% tobacco use by 2035.

Click here to read more.


Ontario Chamber CEO: Government and industry must work together to address mental health action gap

As Mental Health Awareness Month draws to a close, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has issued a call for ongoing collaboration between government and industry to bridge the gap between the number of businesses that believe investing in mental health is important and those that take concrete action.

“Our 2023 Ontario Economic Report shows that close to 80 per cent of businesses consider employee mental health as essential to their organizational success,” said Rocco Rossi, President and CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “At the same time, there remains a mental health action gap, with only 37 per cent of organizations saying they have a formal strategy to support employee mental health and well-being.”

Click here to read more.


Niagara Health reduces hours at Urgent Care Centres in Fort Erie and Port Colborne

Niagara Health has announced that two Urgent Care Centres (UCCs) in Port Colborne and Fort Erie will operate exclusively from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. These changes will come into effect on July 5. In a statement, Niagara Health said the decision was not easy, but was made by their Board of Directors in response to a staff recommendation made in order to ensure staffing levels were adequate at regional emergency departments.

The Town of Fort Erie said that it was “deeply concerned” by the announcement, and called on the Government of Ontario to take action and avoid further consequences and failures of our provincial health care system.

“The Provincial government and Niagara Health need to step up and meet the needs of residents,” said Port Colborne Mayor Bill Steele. While Mayors Steele and Redekop expressed sympathy for the difficulties Niagara Health was experiencing, both stressed the need that their residents had for these services and that long-term solutions needed to be found.

Click here to read more.

St. Catharines takes step towards creation of municipal development corporation

St. Catharines city council has approved in principle the creation of a municipal development corporation to handle city real estate, though some councillors balked at the estimated $400,000 to $900,000 annual price tag.

The corporation concept, used in Oakville, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary and other cities, would see a dedicated body look at underutilized city land and the best ways to maximize its potential.

Click here to read more.

Regional Councillor Diana Huson reappointed to FCM board of directors

At their Annual General Meeting on May 28, 2023, Pelham Regional Councillor Diana Huson was reappointed for a third term to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Board of Directors.

FCM has been the voice of local government across Canada for over 120 years and plays an important role in advocating for municipalities. FCM works to ensure the needs of the nation’s cities and towns are reflected in federal policies and programs.

As part of the board, Councillor Huson contributes to setting policy priorities that reflect the concerns of municipal governments around the country.

Click here to read more.

St. Catharines property taxes going up $400 on average

After debating who’s at fault for a 10.51 per cent increase about to hit St. Catharines property tax bills, city council narrowly voted to approve the 2023 tax rates Monday night.

Mayor Mat Siscoe cast the deciding 7-6 vote on the issue that saw some councillors trying to reopen the operating budget approved in January to cut more out of it.

Council was finalizing property tax rates — which include all city, school board and Niagara Region taxes — following regional council’s approval of its 2023 tax rates and related bylaws on May 18.

Click here to read more.

E.S. Fox partners with Aecon to help build first grid-scale small modular reactor

Niagara Falls-based fabricator and constructor E.S. Fox is partnering with Aecon to assist in building North America’s first grid-scale small modular reactor.

The Ontario-based supply chain partnership was announced Tuesday at E.S. Fox’s Port Robinson facility.

Alongside Energy Minister Todd Smith and Ontario Power Generation (OPG) officials, Aecon Group said it reached an agreement with E.S. Fox to jointly construct steel components at its fabrication facility in Cambridge and at E.S. Fox’s Port Robinson site.

Click here to read more.

Apple Hill Apothecary bringing a medicinal herb farm and apothecary to Niagara-on-the-Lake

Apple Hill Apothecary, owned by sisters Melissa and Jennifer Schooley, officially opened their doors on Saturday, May 27. The apothecary sells natural health products, natural skin care products and culinary products.

The apothecary has a “carefully curated selection of sustainably sourced Canadian-made products for home, body, wellness, and joy,” she added.

“Every single thing in our store is sourced from a Canadian company. The majority of those companies are women-owned,” noted Melissa.

She said opening the store was the first phase of their plans — the next step is to install a medicinal herb garden.

Click here to read more.

Educational resources developed to support Anishinaabe Giizhigad held every June 6

The Kinoomaadziwin Education Body and Anishinabek Nation have jointly developed lesson plans surrounding Anishinaabe Giizhigad on June 6 and the preamble to the Anishinaabe Chi-Naaknigewin (Constitution), Ngo Dwe Waangizid Anishinaabe (One Anishinaabe Family), which are culturally relevant and connect to the Ontario Curriculum.

The three Ontario curriculum connections will help support teachers who are also learning about Anishinaabe Giizhigad.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

Only 0.007 percent of Earth’s water is available for drinking.

Focus on Climate

Earth’s health failing in seven out of eight key measures, say scientists

Human activity has pushed the world into the danger zone in seven out of eight newly demarcated indicators of planetary safety and justice, according to a groundbreaking analysis of the Earth’s wellbeing.

Going beyond climate disruption, the report by the Earth Commission group of scientists presents disturbing evidence that our planet faces growing crises of water availability, nutrient loading, ecosystem maintenance and aerosol pollution. These pose threats to the stability of life-support systems and worsen social equality.

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: May 30, 2023

May 30, 2023 | Daily Update

In this edition:


Competition Bureau publishes wage-fixing and no-poaching enforcement guidelines

Today, the Competition Bureau published its wage-fixing and no-poaching enforcement guidelines.

The guidelines provide businesses transparency and clarity on the Bureau’s enforcement approach to the new criminal provisions coming into force on June 23, 2023.

With the 2022 amendments to the conspiracy provision (section 45) of the Competition Act, as of June 23, 2023, it is a criminal offence for employers to agree:

  • to fix, maintain, decrease or control wages or other terms of employment; or
  • to refrain from hiring or trying to hire one another’s employees.

In addition, beginning on June 23, 2023, all fines for offences under the conspiracy provision—including agreements to fix prices, allocate markets, restrict supply, fix wages or refrain from hiring—will be determined at the court’s discretion.

Click here to read more.


Ontario abandons proposal to sever farmland lots in response to farmer opposition

Ontario has backed off a housing proposal that farmers say would have had a “catastrophic” impact on farmland and livestock operations.

Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark proposed a series of regulations along with a bill that would allow for more housing to be built beyond urban boundaries and in rural areas, including allowing up to three new lots on parcels of farmland.

But more than a dozen farming organizations, including the National Farmers Union — Ontario, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, the Beef Farmers of Ontario and the Dairy Farmers of Ontario, issued a joint letter urging the government to abandon the proposal.

Click here to read more.


Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business launches Indigenous Business Defence Sector Accelerator

Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) today announced the launch of the Indigenous Business Defence Sector Accelerator for Indigenous Business program, a new initiative developed to create opportunities for Indigenous businesses in Canada to engage with defence suppliers.

Indigenous businesses will be paired with organizational sponsors through the program to learn about regulatory requirements, acquire knowledge and skills to work within the industry and leverage opportunities within their sponsors’ global supply chains. General Dynamics is the inaugural sponsor of this new initiative.

Click here to read more.


Niagara-on-the-Lake celebrates Pride Month with Rainbow Crosswalk Installation

At the July 25, 2022, Council Meeting, Town Council approved the locations of one rainbow crosswalk and five rainbow benches in Niagara-on-the-Lake. A public engagement survey, open from June 1 to June 15, 2022, allowed for community feedback about the proposed locations and informed Council’s decision.

The Town utilized the same Progressive Pride design as the Niagara Region to promote the continuity of rainbow crosswalks throughout Niagara. The design consists of the traditional rainbow flag with the addition of black, brown, light blue, pink and white stripes.

Click here to read more.


New Grocery Code of Conduct should benefit both Canadians and the food industry: supply chain academic

The cost of filling your grocery cart in Canada increased by 10.3 per cent in 2022 and is projected to increase by an additional five to seven per cent this year.

What is particularly troubling about the food crisis is that the high prices seem to be impacting all food product categories, suggesting the problem is affecting the entire food supply chain rather than specific items or sub-sectors.

In response to this and other concerns, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food initiated studies on Food Price Inflation and Global Food Insecurity, which included two separate meetings with the heads of four of the five major Canadian grocery retailers.

A result of the meetings — and a cause for cautious optimism — is the decision to develop a grocery code of conduct to address issues in the food supply chain.

Click here to read more.

Barton Street in Hamilton once again named CAA’s Worst Road

Its persistent issues with potholes and severe alligator cracking in the pavement have landed Barton Street East in Hamilton, Ont. at the top of the CAA Worst Roads list for 2023 for the second year in a row.

The road first appeared on the top 10 list in 2019 and has steadily climbed its way to the top.

Eglinton Avenue West in Toronto and County Road 49 in Prince Edward County took the second and third place spots respectively. Both roads have been at the top of the list.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

The world’s largest employer is the Indian Ministry of Defence, with 2.99 million people on its payroll. The U.S. Department of Defense comes second with 2.91 million.

Focus on Finance & Economy

Canadian dollar dips as oil prices fall more than 4%

The Canadian dollar edged lower against its U.S. counterpart on Tuesday as a drop in oil prices offset optimism that a deal to raise the U.S. debt ceiling would be passed by Congress.

The loonie was trading 0.1% lower at 1.36 to the greenback, or 73.53 U.S. cents, after moving in a range of 1.3568 to 1.3613.

Click here to read more.

How money managers are using AI to invest

The use of artificial intelligence in finance is fundamentally changing the way money managers build investment strategies and at great speed — but it comes with it’s own set of risks, experts warn.

While the integration of technology in trading has long been established, AI now gives money managers the ability to create codes themselves through data that would have otherwise taken months to gather.

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: May 11, 2023

May 11, 2023 | Daily Update

In this edition:

Latest Economic Update shows good economic performance in Niagara

Niagara Economic Development released its newest Niagara Economic Update report yesterday, which shows that Niagara has shown good economic performance coming out of the pandemic with substantial improvements in gross domestic product, household disposable income, business counts, labour force and employment.

In the first quarter of 2021, Niagara’s gross domestic product was $16.3 billion; however, gross domestic product grew rapidly to $17.6 billion (about eight per cent) by the end of 2022. In addition, Niagara’s household disposable income per capita grew by about nine per cent from the first quarter of 2021 compared to the last quarter of 2022.

Business counts is another example of how Niagara is showing good economic performance. From 2022 to 2023, Niagara gained a net 1,066 new businesses totalling 44,429 overall.

Click here to read more.

Next step in Ontario EV auto strategy is a lithium hydroxide plant: minister

Ontario Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli calls it the “sleeper story” of the province’s massive auto industry transition.

Now that his quest to establish end-to-end electric vehicle production in the province has landed two battery plants, he’s setting his sights on lithium hydroxide, a critical component of those batteries.

There are two or three “very good prospects” for bringing a lithium hydroxide facility to the province, with a particular eye on northern Ontario, Fedeli said in an interview.

Click here to read more.

Welland becomes home to new giga casting factory

The City of Welland is now home to Linamar’s new, state-of-the-art giga casting factory, producing significant structural components of electric vehicles.

The facility will be located at 59 Canal Bank Street, a redevelopment of an industrial site comprised of a portion of the former Union Carbide lands and Page Hersey/Energex lands, creating approximately 200 new jobs.

The start of operation is expected to commence in February 2025.

Click here to read more.

Grocery Rebate bill receives Royal Assent

Today, Bill C-46, the Cost of Living Act, No. 3, received Royal Assent. This legislation delivers the new Grocery Rebate, and strengthens public health care with a $2 billion Canada Health Transfer (CHT) top-up to help reduce backlogs and wait times, and support pediatric hospitals and emergency rooms.

The new one-time Grocery Rebate will deliver targeted inflation relief for 11 million low- and modest-income Canadians and families who need it most, with up to an extra $467 for eligible couples with two children; up to an extra $234 for single Canadians without children; and an extra $225 for seniors, on average. The Grocery Rebate will be delivered to eligible Canadians on July 5, 2023, by direct deposit or cheque through the Canada Revenue Agency.

Click here to read more.

Niagara Falls receives funds as part of Canadian asset management investment package

Today, Jennifer O’Connell, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities, and Scott Pearce, Acting President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), announced a federal investment of more than $800,000 to help 18 Ontario communities put in place innovative asset management strategies.

The City of Niagara Falls will receive $50,000 to undertake condition assessment activities at 22 of the City’s stormwater management ponds and to use the results to build a multi-year operating and capital budget forecast. The planned work and schedule will allow the City to inform the budget and forecast and provide the City with a solid baseline to develop its asset management plan for its stormwater management assets.

Click here to read more.

St. Catharines Farmers’ Market to expand outdoors on May 13

The St. Catharines Farmers Market is ready for the 2023 harvest season. Offering a variety of easily accessible goods including baking, cured meats, flowers and gifts, the Market will be expanding outside on May 13.

The St. Catharines Farmers Market is open for the season on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturdays year-round from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, please visit stcatharines.ca/market.

Click here to read more.

CABN launches manufactured homes to assist with the housing crisis

On May 11, Canadian housing technology company CABN unveiled its 752 sq ft showhome, one of four models that can be assembled in days, a product that repoortedly uses 20% the energy of a traditional home. The showhome, located in Eastern Ontario, comes as CABN announces its consultation with Augusta Township to create a 67-unit off-grid, net-zero CABN Community.

“At CABN, we recognized the need for housing outstrips the traditional model’s ability to produce – rising issues, such as skilled labour shortages and supply chain upheavals, forced us to rethink both the solutions and the problem of housing,” shares Jackson Wyatt, CABN founder and CEO.

Click here to read more.

Groups partner and complete first 3D printed homes in Canada

Huntsman Building Solutions (HBS), Nidus3D, Great Northern Insulation (GNI) and Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex recently joined forces and completed the first 3D printed homes in Canada, a project that is expected to provide affordable housing to those at risk of homelessness through The Bridge Youth Resource Centre.

Four units have been built and certified, with designs focused on accessibility and net-zero emissions. The four-plex housing offers a kitchen and living space, a bathroom with mechanicals and a bedroom.

The project began in 2021, when Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex partnered with the University of Windsor, GNI, HBS and Nidus3D, among others, to research and develop the first 3D printed homes for residential use in Canada.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

Nintendo launched the original Nintendo Entertainment System in the middle of the 1983-85 video game crash.
By 1988, the demand for Nintendo cartridges was greater than the entire home computer software market.

Focus on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

ESG compliance liability risk is coming to construction industry directors

Although some may feel ESGs are a symptom of increased “woke capitalism” in today’s culture, construction companies of all sizes should not be lulled by the well-publicized backlash to ESGs.

Action is coming to Canada.

Chell, Roberts and Douglas say the Competition Bureau has confirmed its investigation into a greenwashing complaint launched not only against the Royal Bank of Canada, but also against the Canadian Gas Association over its claim natural gas is clean.

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: May 10, 2023

May 10, 2023 | Daily Update

In this edition:

Three ways smaller businesses make a bigger impact

There’s power in numbers. And to say that Canada’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have numbers is an understatement. These businesses:

  • Employ 70% of Canada’s workforce.
  • Represent 98% of all businesses in the country.

That’s power. SMEs touch more lives and employ more people than big businesses as a group. You, and entrepreneurs like you, have an opportunity to combat climate change, promote diversity, and make plans for a cleaner, greener economy that benefits everyone. Whether you’re a team of four or 400, you’re part of something big.

Discover how small businesses will drive the future of a sustainable economy.

Sponsored content from Meridian Credit Union

Non-residential building up 32% in March

The total monthly value of building permits in Canada advanced 11.3% in March to $11.8 billion. The total monthly value of non-residential permits sharply increased 32.0% to a record-high $5.2 billion, with 10 individual non-residential projects valued at over $100 million each.

The largest project of the month was the $570 million new General Motors and POSCO Chemical cathode active materials facility in Bécancour, Quebec, which led the value of building permits in the industrial component to sharply increase by 16.7% nationally.

Following a promising February, March saw the value of new residential permits taper off (-0.9%) to $6.6 billion. Nationally, permits for 21,400 new dwellings were issued in the month.

Click here to read more.

Number of Ontario homelessness support workers increased almost 80% in last 5 years

Nationally, nine provinces saw the homelessness support sector grow in 2021. Ontario (4,000 workers) and British Columbia (2,270 workers) accounted for the largest number of workers in the sector, which is mainly driven by the size of the population and number of large cities where services for homeless individuals and families are most commonly available. While accounting for more than half of the workers in the sector, the number of workers in Ontario (+79.0%) and British Columbia (+63.9%) also grew faster than the overall growth rate (+60.7%) of the sector.

Homelessness support sector workers were more likely to be in poverty (6.7%) than all workers in all sectors (6.0%) in 2020. This gap was also present in 2015 where 11.6% of homelessness support sector workers were in poverty compared with 10.7% of all workers in all sectors.

Click here to read more.

Coalition of Concerned Manufacturers and Businesses of Canada release statement against Electricity Advisory Council

On May 5, Natural Resources Minister Wilkinson launched the Canada Electricity Advisory Council to help build Canada’s “clean electricity future”, with a net-zero emissions goal for 2035.

The Coalition of Concerned Manufacturers and Businesses Canada (CCMBC) President Catherine Swift says that “Canadians should pay close attention to this development as they will be paying dearly for the results of this exercise in future. A 30 to 50 per cent increase in hydro bills for both consumers and businesses is not only likely, but may be an underestimate of the impact.”

They say that billions of tax dollars will also be spent to subsidize businesses involved and the many consultants, advisors and others involved in the “green” revolution.

Click here to read more.

Niagara emergency managers release joint short film

Emergency Managers from all 12 municipalities in Niagara and the Niagara Region proudly launch an emergency preparedness short film this year in celebration of Emergency Preparedness Week.

Emergency Preparedness Week is a national awareness campaign that has taken place every year, during the first full week of May, since 1996. It is an opportunity to educate the community about steps individuals can take to prepare for an emergency. The short film highlights three different types of hazards that residents of Niagara could be faced with and demonstrates the importance of being prepared in advance to stay safe.

Click here to read more.

St. John Ambulance Niagara Falls honoured for training leadership

St. John Ambulance Niagara Falls has been recognized for its leadership in promoting first aid training.

The agency, which offers a wide variety of training programs, was honoured at the St. John Ambulance Ontario annual conference in Richmond Hill on March 31 with the First Aid Trophy for a branch serving a population of under 300,000 people. The award goes to the branch that has sold more first aid training than any other branch in the same population category in the last year.

Click here to read more.

Niagara celebrates European Union Day

Niagara Region Economic Development was proud to host a delegation of 16 Consuls General from the European Union, Ukraine as well as a representative from the European Union Delegation (Embassy in Ottawa) yesterday to celebrate European Union Day.

To commemorate the occasion, a flag-raising ceremony was held at the International Plaza of the Niagara Region Headquarters. The ceremony was attended by various dignitaries and partners from Niagara’s business community, highlighting the strong ties between the European Union and Niagara.

Click here to read more.

Canada Labour Code to ensure access to menstrual products at work starting December 15

Today, Minister of Labour Seamus O’Regan Jr. announced that, as of December 15, 2023, federally regulated employers will be required to make menstrual products available to workers at no cost while they are in the workplace. That means putting pads and tampons in washrooms (or another space controlled by the employer) so that any worker who needs them while on the job has access.

This initiative is inclusive of all workers who menstruate, and it will improve the well-being of nearly half a million workers who may require menstrual products during their workdays, including cisgender women, non-binary individuals, transgender men, and intersex individuals.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard flipped a coin to decide whether their company would be called Hewlett-Packard or Packard-Hewlett.

Focus on Climate

How shading crops with solar panels can improve farming, lower food costs and reduce emissions

If you have lived in a home with a trampoline in the backyard, you may have observed the unreasonably tall grass growing under it. This is because many crops, including these grasses, actually grow better when protected from the sun, to an extent.

And while the grass under your trampoline grows by itself, researchers in the field of solar photovoltaic technology — made up of solar cells that convert sunlight directly into electricity — have been working on shading large crop lands with solar panels — on purpose.

This practice of growing crops in the protected shadows of solar panels is called agrivoltaic farming. And it is happening right here in Canada.

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: May 8, 2023

May 8, 2023 | Daily Update

In this edition:

Bank of Canada launches public consultations on a digital dollar

The Bank of Canada is launching an online public consultation on the features that could be included in a digital Canadian dollar. The consultation opened today and runs until June 19.

The way Canadians pay for everything from the daily necessities to major purchases is evolving rapidly. As the world becomes increasingly digital, the Bank—like many other central banks—is exploring a digital version of Canada’s national currency.

“As Canada’s central bank, we want to make sure everyone can always take part in our country’s economy. That means being ready for whatever the future holds,” said Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn Rogers.

Click here to read more.

Click here to offer your input in the consultation.

Ontario passes health-reform bill that expands private delivery of care

Ontario has passed a health-reform bill that will allow more private clinics to offer certain publicly funded surgeries and procedures in an effort to cut long wait lists for care.

Cataract surgeries and diagnostic imaging and testing will be expanded while the government will create an entirely new system to perform hip and knee replacement surgeries.

The moves are part of the government’s plan to decrease wait times and reduce a massive backlog of surgeries, which stands at more than 200,000 procedures.

Click here to read more.

Meta has team working to block news on Facebook, Instagram from Canadian users

Tech giant Meta has learned from the mistakes it made blocking online news from Facebook in Australia, when it accidentally limited access to emergency services pages, a company representative said Monday.

Rachel Curran, head of public policy for Meta Canada, said the company has put together a content-blocking team that is getting ready to end the availability of news on its social media platforms Facebook and Instagram should the Liberal government’s online news bill pass.

Curran told the House of Commons heritage committee the company will remove news in a way that is careful, responsible and transparent.

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Arterra acquires Angels Gate and Kew

Arterra Wines Canada, Inc. announced that it has acquired Angels Gate Winery and Kew Vineyards Estate Winery, two beautiful wineries located in the Beamsville Bench, the westernmost part of the Niagara Peninsula wine-growing area and home to some of the best vineyards in Ontario.

“We are excited about the future of Angels Gate and Kew now that they are part of Arterra Wines Canada. We are confident Arterra will continue the development of both wineries as producers of premium quality wines while maintaining the values that have always been at the heart of our culture,” said John Young, President of Angels Gate and Kew Vineyards.

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St. Catharines fire deparment reminds businesses that permits are needed to sell fireworks

St. Catharines Fire Department would like to remind businesses ahead of Victoria Day that only licensed businesses with a permit are allowed to sell fireworks in the city.

Anyone interested in a permit to sell fireworks can apply by contacting the city. The by-law in St. Catharines only allows the use of fireworks around Victoria Day, Canada Day, and Diwali.

For more information visit stcatharines.ca/fireworks.

To apply for a permit contact 905.688.5601 ext. 4224 or fire@stcatharines.ca.

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Did you know?

Shell, the world’s second-largest investor-owned oil company, began its life as an antiques store.

Focus on Small Business

Canadian SMBs are confident about the future, but rising costs remain a concern

Sage, the leader in accounting, financial, HR, and payroll technology for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), today unveiled the results from its annual global survey Small Business, Big Opportunity of approximately 12,000 SMB business leaders worldwide; including 1,200 in Canada. The new study finds that the majority of Canadian SMBs (72%) are confident in their current business1 success, up from 63% in 2022.

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Want to position a small business to scale up—or get acquired? Here’s one easy step you can take to improve the odds of success

Dave Meadows and Mike Sovie are co-founders of ColdCallRX, a provider of outsourced cold-calling and lead generation services based in Tampa Bay, Fla., that they started in 2020.

One way they’ve positioned their company to scale up is by creating standard operating procedures, or SOPs. Entrepreneurs use these documents to describe how they do things in the business—whether it’s answering a customer service call or entering information into a database—so it is easier to train new hires.

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: April 28, 2023

April 28, 2023 | Daily Update

In this edition:

Economy ticked upward in February, but may have shrunk in March

Real gross domestic product (GDP) edged up 0.1% in February, following a 0.6% increase in January. Both services-producing industries and goods-producing industries edged up 0.1%. Overall, 12 of 20 subsectors increased.

The public sector (educational services, health care and social assistance, and public administration combined) expanded 0.2% in February, up for the thirteenth consecutive month, with increases in all three subsectors. The professional, scientific, and technical services sector also posted gains, rising 0.6% in February.

Wholesale trade contracted 1.3% in February, partially offsetting the large January gain, with five of nine subsectors decreasing in the month, while retail trade retreated 0.5% in February, recording its first decline in three months.

Advance information indicates that real GDP edged down 0.1% in March. Decreases in retail and wholesale trade sectors, as well as in the mining and quarrying (except oil and gas) subsector were partially offset by increases in the public sector, in professional, scientific and technical services, and in administrative and support, waste management and remediation services.

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Ontario hospital nurses awarded additional pay after Bill 124 struck down

Ontario hospital nurses should get retroactive pay for three years during which they were subject to a wage restraint law that has since been ruled unconstitutional, arbitrators have ruled.

The 2019 law, known as Bill 124, capped wage increases for the nurses and other public sector workers at one per cent a year for three years.

It was ruled unconstitutional in November and though the government is appealing that, the Ontario Nurses’ Association sought retroactive pay through an arbitrator, since the contracts were subject to be reopened if Bill 124 was repealed or declared invalid.

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Canadian foreign investments grow

Canada’s net direct investment position with the rest of the world reached $725.7 billion at the end of 2022, up $128.2 billion from 2021, as growth of Canadian direct investment abroad continued to outpace growth of foreign direct investment in Canada.

The stock of Canadian direct investment abroad increased 11.2% (+$199.8 billion) to $1,989.6 billion at the end of 2022, following valuation gains from a weaker Canadian dollar, notably against the US dollar.

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Vendors wanted for family-friendly event in Port Colborne

The Main Street BIA is planning a party at Lock 8 Gateway Park and are looking for food and market vendors who would like to come.

“So far, we have had an overwhelming response for vendors which is exciting. We are hoping for more handmade makers to add to the line up as well,” BIA member Carey Benvenuti said.

Mainstreet BIA Day in the Park will be held at Lock 8 Gateway Park on June 10 from noon until 4 p.m.
For more information about the event, or to apply as a vendor send an email to lock8dayinthepark@gmail.com or call 289-968-0043.

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It’s past time to rebuild our health human resources: Niagara Health CEO

We don’t have enough physicians to continue operating as we always have.

Some people claim COVID-19 created this problem. I disagree. The pandemic exposed, and accelerated, challenges our industry has faced for years, even decades. Fewer health-care workers helping more and more people. Increased wait times. Burnout.

Because of these challenges, and the unique needs of Niagara’s growing and aging population, we are driving transformational change at Niagara Health, change that will increase our capacity, enhance patient care and encourage more people to pursue careers in health care in our community.

When it comes to health human resources, the ‘do nothing and hope for the best’ approach simply won’t work. We’ve made tough decisions to cope with staffing shortages, including temporarily closing the Port Colborne and Fort Erie urgent care centres. Most recently, an ongoing anesthesiologist shortage caused a wind-down of after-hours emergency surgeries at Welland hospital. For the past few summers, we’ve asked physicians to forgo vacations, work overtime and stretch themselves thin. We can’t keep doing that. We won’t.

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National Day of Mourning for Fallen Workers observed

The National Day of Mourning is not only a day to remember and honour those lives lost or injured due to a workplace tragedy, but also a day to collectively renew our commitment to improve health and safety in the workplace and prevent further injuries, illnesses and deaths.

Traditionally on April 28th the Canadian flag has flown at half-mast on Parliament Hill and on all federal government buildings. Employers and workers have observed Day of Mourning in a variety of ways over the years.

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Focus on Technology

A rise in self-service technologies may cause a decline in our sense of community

Automation, once hidden behind closed doors in factories, is increasingly moving into public view. Customers can pay for groceries or clothing at a self-checkout machine, order fast food from a touchscreen kiosk or even pickup coffee from a “robo-café.”

These technologies, which substitute human contact for robot-based interactions, are examples of self-service technologies — innovative public-facing automation which “enable customers to perform entire services on their own without direct assistance from employees.”

While self-service technologies have the potential to improve efficiency, reduce costs and improve user experience, these technologies raise complex economic and political questions.

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Why do electronics manufacturers need to optimize quality control?

Quality control is a critical step in any manufacturing line. Mistakes or inefficiencies at this stage can lead to considerable losses, delays and waste, so optimizing it as much as possible is essential. Electronics manufacturers face more pressure to optimize their quality control than most.

The electronics industry’s rapid growth is one of the most significant reasons quality control is crucial in this sector. There are almost 4,000 consumer electronics manufacturers alone as of early 2023, which has steadily grown since 2020. As the industry becomes increasingly crowded, product quality will become a more important differentiator between competitors.

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Should we automate the CEO?

Last August, NetDragon Websoft — a Hong Kong-based online gaming firm with $2.1B in annual revenue — appointed a CEO to helm its flagship subsidiary.

The new chief, Tang Yu, was responsible for all of the typical duties of a company figurehead: reviewing high-level analytics, making leadership decisions, assessing risks, and fostering an efficient workplace. 

She worked 24/7, didn’t sleep, and was compensated $0 per year.

But there was a catch: Yu wasn’t a human. She was a virtual robot powered by artificial intelligence.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

The first oil company in North America was founded just southeast of Sarnia in 1854.

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: April 19, 2023

April 19, 2023 | Daily Update

In this edition:

Bargaining continues as federal workers picket, major service disruptions expected

Canada’s largest federal public-service union and the federal government continue to negotiate as workers go on strike.

Federal workers were hitting the picket lines across the country on Wednesday after Canada’s largest federal public-service union and the government failed to reach a deal by a Tuesday evening deadline.

In a statement, the Government of Canada said that it “has done everything it can to reach a deal and avoid disrupting the services that Canadians rely on… The Government has presented a fair, competitive offer to the PSAC and responded to all their demands.”

Chris Aylward, PSAC national president, said in a release that “we truly hoped we wouldn’t be forced to take strike action, but we’ve exhausted every other avenue to reach a fair contract for Canada’s Federal Public Service workers.”

Approximately 46,000 workers are deemed essential, but Canadians should anticipate major disruptions to non-essential services. PSAC has announced that the passport office in the Pen Centre will be picketed, but no other picket lines in Niagara are planned.

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Raw material prices down 16.5% year over year

Prices of products manufactured in Canada, as measured by the Industrial Product Price Index (IPPI), edged up 0.1% month over month in March and fell 1.8% year over year. Prices of raw materials purchased by manufacturers operating in Canada, as measured by the Raw Materials Price Index (RMPI), decreased 1.7% on a monthly basis in March and were down 16.5% year over year.

Prices for crude energy products fell 3.3% in March, a fifth consecutive monthly decrease. In March, the price of conventional crude oil declined 3.4% month over month and was 28.2% lower compared with March 2022. This was the largest year-over-year decrease for conventional crude oil since November 2020 (-28.9%).

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St. Catharines recognized for efforts to adapt to climate change with award

The City of St. Catharines received a Climate Action Award from the Water Environment Association of Ontario. Presented in partnership with the Ontario Water Works Association, the award recognizes and acknowledges innovations in infrastructure that adapt to climate change (resilient infrastructure) or reduce climate impacts by significantly decreasing greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation).

The news of the award came on the heels of a recent University of Ottawa research paper which ranked the City’s Climate Adaptation Plan third of about 15 plans from across the province evaluated for comprehensiveness –  finishing ahead of communities like Toronto, Hamilton and Kitchener, among others.

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$500,000 gift in honour of Laura Sabia to support women in STEM, aspiring entrepreneurs

Women students and researchers working and studying in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), as well as those developing their own business ideas, got a substantial boost Wednesday thanks to a generous gift from Brock University Chancellor Hilary Pearson and her husband Michael Sabia.

The $500,000 gift — made in honour of noted Niagara politician, journalist and women’s rights leader Laura Sabia — will support students and researchers in the Yousef Haj-Ahmad Department of Engineering and in the Entrepreneurship Co-op program. Laura Sabia was the mother of Michael Sabia and a strong public advocate for women’s success in business and professional occupations.

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St. Catharines will spend $250,000 on study to protect downtown heritage buildings

St. Catharines will spend $250,000 on a study to assess how the Ford government’s new housing bill will impact heritage buildings, and how the city can protect them.

Councillors voted 11-2 to fund the study, possibly creating a downtown heritage district in order to protect more than 100 buildings.

There are currently five heritage districts in the city, including the Yates Street and Port Dalhousie areas.

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Investigation paused at Port Colborne dig site

Jennifer Dockstader has concerns about how an investigation into a potential burial ground with Indigenous artifacts in Port Colborne has been handled so far.

But the executive director of the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre said she is grateful the investigation has been paused so the Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI) can have a chance to lend its expertise.

“The HDI protects and preserves the heritage of Haudenosaunee people and Indigenous people. Their involvement brings a level of expertise to the potential finds of Indigenous people and will bring expertise with regard to the Indigenous artifacts found,” Dockstader said.

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Focus on Climate

How Sweden electrified its home heating — and what Canada could learn

In the 1970s, three quarters of Swedish homes were heated with oil boilers. Today, electric-powered heat pumps have all but replaced oil in single-family homes (most multi-family homes rely on district heating). That has driven greenhouse gas emissions from oil heating of buildings down 95 per cent since 1990, according to the Swedish Energy Agency, said Martin Forsén a Swedish heating industry veteran and president of the European Heat Pump Association.

So how did that happen? And are there lessons for Canada’s transition away from fossil heating?

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How a Supreme Court case could decide the future of Canadian climate policy

On the heels of the latest United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report declaring a “rapidly closing window of opportunity” to secure a liveable future, the Supreme Court of Canada recently heard a case that could decide the future of Canadian climate policy.

Late last year, the Alberta Court of Appeal said the federal Impact Assessment Act — which seeks to minimize the environmental impacts of major economic projects — was unconstitutional because it intruded into provincial jurisdiction over natural resources development.

The federal government, on March 21 and 22, asked the Supreme Court of Canada to overturn the Alberta Court of Appeal’s opinion.

Click here to read more.

Did you know?

Pepsi was first invented in 1898 by pharmacist Caleb Bradham and sold as “Brad’s drink.”

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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Espresso Live: Tax Hacks For Your 2022 Return

April 14, 2023 | Espresso Live Webinars, Event Recordings

Make this year’s tax season headache-free as we examine the changes, updates and tips for perfect 2022 filing

With a new year comes new opportunities to save on your taxes and maximize your deductions. Join us as we cover the latest tax updates and explore some expert tips and strategies to help you navigate the tax system and save money. Whether you’re an individual taxpayer or a business owner, you don’t want to miss this informative session.

Hosted by Mishka Balsom, CEO, Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce.

With guests:

  • Bill Crysler, Partner, MNP
  • Doug Carroll, Tax & Estate Specialist, Aviso Wealth, Wealth Management Partner to Meridian Credit Union

Powered by Meridian Credit Union

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