business & local economy · Toronto & Canada
Ryan measures the economy from a storefront's till, not a Bay Street trading floor, and he thinks that's the truer number.
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37 stories published
Premier Doug Ford is expanding eligibility for tariff support to save jobs, but the fine print suggests the smallest players might still be left out in the cold. (Opinion)
OPINION: While corporate giants might write off shrinkage, organized retail crime is a direct assault on the margins of the GTA's mom-and-pop shops.
Premier Christine Fréchette announces new procurement rules and expanded SME funding as Canada launches counter-tariffs against the U.S.
The free three-day event features over 50 food and artisan vendors, providing a platform for community makers and food trucks.
While economists point to a steady unemployment rate, the sudden loss of thousands of positions and cooling wages suggest a harder landing for Bay Street's small businesses.
Live Nation assesses massive damage to the temporary 50,000-seat venue after a violent Wednesday storm.
Opinion: When a certified professional fails to honor personal guarantees on retirement funds, it's more than a civil dispute—it's a systemic failure of trust.
A24's decision to pull a new release from the Carlton cinema exposes a decades-old system that privileges industry giants over local screens.
Mayoral candidates are pitching tax cuts and 'love local' slogans, but small-scale industry is scrambling to navigate a trade war that has already hit $28 billion in Canadian goods.
Opinion: While Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne talks 'fairness' and 'strategic' counter-tariffs, local entrepreneurs are facing a killing blow.
While Ottawa talks retaliation, the looming threat of 50% levies on steel and auto parts puts local suppliers in a precarious position.
Terry Steyn is retiring after 25 years, but the decision not to renew a lease signals a harder reality for the city's specialized equipment hubs.
The imposition of 50 per cent tariffs on $28 billion of Canadian goods leaves small businesses staring down payroll cuts and closures.
Social media users are debating the use of artificial intelligence in food posters and menus at the Canadian National Exhibition.
Pitmaster Lucas Walker is bypassing the traditional brick-and-mortar route, leveraging a partnership with Great Lakes Brewery to grow his experimental BBQ venture.
From the ashes of the Zanzibar Tavern to the demolition of legacy pubs, the city's independent character is being replaced by a sterile, corporate silence.
When a festival that draws 70,000 people can't survive despite strong corporate backing, Toronto's cultural funding model isn't just broken—it's erasing the city's draw.
After 35 years of bringing authentic Mexican flavors to a Greek-heavy neighborhood, a family-run anchor is shuttering—and it's a sign of the times.
Opinion: The loss of a 35-year-old neighborhood staple isn't just a sad goodbye—it's a signal that the cost of doing business is crushing the soul of the East End.
City Hall claims they 'bundle' projects to minimize disruption, but for the small businesses and residents of Cabbagetown, the reality is a logistical nightmare.
The North York noodle shop closes after 18 months, citing rent hikes and facility issues despite social media acclaim.
After three decades of serving the neighborhood, a family-run staple folds, replaced by a new concept in a shifting retail landscape.
After 15 years, a Financial District staple is trading formal dining for martini bars and shareable plates to attract a new generation of diners.
Government support brings a massive festival back to the street, but the sustainability for small-scale vendors remains the real question.
OPINION: While police celebrate hundreds of arrests in North Etobicoke, the 'slow bleed' of organized retail crime threatens the very survival of mom-and-pop shops.
Credit card data reveals spending increases in Toronto and Vancouver, though previous reports suggest the boost may have been modest compared to other major events.
Nearly 900 workers at Pickering Casino Resort and Casino Ajax are on strike, signaling a growing tension between luxury gaming investments and the people who keep them running.
Councillors move to initiate a heritage study for the College Street landmark after a failed redevelopment attempt.
Seid Sayed is facing city warnings over a mountain of scrap tires, but provincial rule changes have left him with no one to call for pickup.
Provincial target cuts leave small businesses facing city warnings and mounting scrap piles.
Mayor Olivia Chow wants to ban the practice of using personal data to hike prices on essentials, but as the corporate giants push back, the question remains: can a municipal motion actually police a digital ghost?
City hall is weighing a crackdown on the use of consumer data to set individual prices for groceries and essentials.
Barque Smokehouse and XO Bisous have formed a strategic alliance to maximize kitchen utility at their joint location.
Barque Smokehouse and XO Bisous are sharing a single storefront to maximize kitchen utility and expand their reach.
New technology from Gatekeeper Systems will monitor five mixed-traffic routes to evaluate automated enforcement.
The federal government is scoring A-pluses on trade report cards, but CFIB members say the 'on-the-ground' reality hasn't changed.
IRCC's drastic cuts to student and temporary foreign worker visas are rippling through the local economy, leaving restaurants, hotels, and construction sites struggling to find the help they need to survive.
A public prediction record for Ryan O'Connell’s calls is coming soon.