Updates from the City of St. John's |
|
Walk up counter service now available at Access St. John's |
|
Walk up counter service at St. John’s City Hall has reopened to the public. Hours of operation will be 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. daily.
The public can enter City Hall via the main entrance during these hours for most front counter services such as bill payment and application drop off and processing. To ensure social distancing rules are followed, there will be limits placed on the number of people permitted to enter at one time.
Appointments for service 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. can still be booked by emailing access@stjohns.ca or by calling 311 or 709-754-CITY (2489), however the building will be closed for drop-in.
|
|
Water Street Pedestrian Mall ends its season |
|
The Water Street Pedestrian Mall Pilot project concluded September 7. The City was pleased by the public support and positive attention the Pedestrian Mall received. We will take time to evaluate this summer’s event, to gather feedback from businesses and visitors through a formal engagement process and to plan for future events.
Business owners with decks within the Pedestrian Mall who wish to keep them operational after September 7 can reach out to our Inspections Services team (576-8049) regarding any modifications required to ensure pedestrian pathways are available, similar to the plan put in place for decks in areas currently outside the mall.
|
|
Robin Hood Bay returns to normal hours |
|
As of September 8, Robin Hood Bay has returned to normal operational hours for both commercial and residential users of the site. Commercial landfill hours are:
- Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- Saturday, 8 a.m. – noon
For information on hours of operation and what is accepted at Robin Hood Bay, please visit robinhoodbay.ca.
|
|
Covid-19 Support Program Updates |
|
New Canada Recovery Benefit |
|
The Government of Canada has created a new temporary Canada Recovery Benefit for workers who are self-employed or non-EI eligible, including those working in the gig economy, who still require income support because their work has not yet returned due to COVID-19. This benefit will provide $400 per week for up to 26 weeks, while claimants continue to look for work. They will be able to earn income from employment or self-employment while receiving the benefit, but need to repay 50 cents of every dollar earned above an annual net income of $38,000 through their income tax return. In the coming weeks, the Canada Revenue Agency will provide more details on how and when Canadians can get ready to apply at www.canada.ca/coronavirus.
|
|
Federal loan programs for small business extended |
|
The Federal Government has announced the Business Credit Availability Program is extended to June 2021 and has extended the application deadline for the Canada Emergency Business Account to October 31, 2020 to help more small businesses affected by COVID19 get back on their feet. The government is working closely with financial institutions to make the CEBA program more flexible and available to those with qualifying payroll or non-deferrable expenses that have so far been unable to apply due to not operating from a business banking account. Further details on these changes will be released in coming days. View the news release on www.canada.ca.
|
|
New temporary Canada work permits |
|
Visitors who are currently in Canada and have a valid job offer will be able to apply for an employer-specific work permit and, if approved, receive the permit without having to leave the country, thanks to a new public policy announced recently by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. This temporary policy change takes effect immediately and will benefit employers in Canada who continue to face difficulties finding the workers they need, as well as temporary residents who would like to contribute their labour and skills to Canada’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
|
|
Have you heard of a business that is adapting to provide pandemic solutions? – Share these stories of ingenuity with Canada and the world - #CanadaResilient
|
|
St. John’s Board of Trade Recovery and Resiliency Initiative
The St. John’s Board of Trade, with support from ACOA and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), have launched an online Toolkit for small business owners offering practical advice for six focus areas including, employee safety, mental health, talent and recruitment, marketing, supply chain development, and support for building online platforms. The Main Street Recovery Project has resources that small business owners need to reboot successfully in today’s new business normal. A successful, resilient recovery is critical for our business community and to the success of the NL economy. For further details about this initiative visit MainStreetRecovery.ca.
|
|
Opportunities & Further Supports |
|
E-Commerce Tool: Grow your Global Presence
In today’s interconnected global business climate, COVID-19 is affecting the way Canadian companies operate. Many are turning to e-commerce as a way to translate today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities. Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service can help companies who are looking to start doing business online with customers abroad, or who are already selling internationally. Access pertinent information and resources for your business to better understand what it means to go digital. Click here to access the resource.
Hire a Business Student through Mitacs Business Strategy Internship
Mitacs has partnered with Memorial University Faculty of Business Administration on a new program that will support small to medium-sized businesses and non-profits hire business students this fall. The Mitacs Business Strategy Internship provides $10,000 stipends to undergraduate and graduate business students to spend four months working in your organization to examine ways you can adapt your operations during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Your contribution? Only $5,000. Click here to learn more.
|
|
Latest Economic Indicators |
|
City of St. John's Building Permits |
|
As of August 31, 2020:
Commercial permits were up 49% from $82,881,922 in 2019 to $123,494,314 in 2020
Industrial permits were valued at $1,737,266 for 2019 and $3,000 for 2020
Government/Institutional permits were valued at $1,578,850 in 2019 and $136,500 for 2020*
Residential permits were up 3% to $27,832,207 for 2020 over $26,964,621 for 2019
Repair permits were up 40%, from $1,776,774 in 2019 to $2,090,626 in 2020
Total value of all permits was up 34% to $153,556,647 for 2020 over $114,939,432 for 2019
*Note that this data does not include the full range of permit activity undertaken by the provincial government and Memorial University.
|
|
 |
...as of August 2020
Labour Force 122,000 (down -1.2%)
Unemployment Rate 10.5% (up 2.9 ppts)
Employment 109,100 (down -4.4%)
Participation Rate 65.0% (down -1.4 ppts)
St. John's CMA, seasonally adjusted, three-month moving average. Percentage change reflects the same month previous year. Source: Statistics Canada.
|
|
|
|
The New Housing Price Index for St. John’s Metro was 96.9 in July 2020 down -0.2%*
The Consumer Price Index for St. John’s Metro was 139.2 in July 2020 down -0.1%*
Retail trade for Newfoundland and Labrador was $830 million in June 2020 up 10.6%*
*same month in the previous year. Source: Statistics Canada.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cirque'letics School of Circus Arts, 60 O’Lleary Ave.
Sunny Days, 7-9 Queen St.
Orr Cabot Crosbie Law, 55 Duckworth St.
Wags to Whiskers, 466 Topsail Rd.
Ethiopian cuisine plus, 4 Quidi Vidi Rd.
Bar/lounge, 340 Water St.
|
|
|
Home-based Businesses
Office for eavestrough business, 45 Hawker Cres.
Web design, 123 Forest Rd.
Electrical contractor, 28 Otter Dr.
Family home childcare, 18 Sinnott Pl.
Pet grooming, 129 Hamilton Ave.
Floral design studio, 3 St. Michael’s Avenue
Office for consultant, 18 Pearson St.
|
|
2020 Total Year-to-Date 87
|
|
|
Further Support & Resources from the Federal, Provincial (NL) & Municipal Government(s) & Industry Associations |
|
|
|
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Regional Municipalities
|
|
|
APEC - Atlantic Provinces Economic Council - Click here
BOT - St. John’s Board of Trade -
CBA - Conception Bay Area Chamber of Commerce - Click here
MPCC - Mount Pearl Chamber of Commerce - Click here
CFIB - Canadian Federation of Independent Business - Click here
PLA - Public Legal Information Association of Newfoundland and Labrador - Click here
|
|
NOIA - Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Industry Association - Click here
NATI - Newfoundland Association of Technology & Innovation - Click here
NEIA - Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industries Association - Click here
NLCA - Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association - Click here
HNL - Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador - Click here
|
|
|
Department of Community Services | Economic Development, Culture and Partnerships
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
