AB Economic Fundamentals 2008-08

[joeiannuzzi]

Landlords cramming in renters could face crackdown

The city is looking to get tough on landlords who cram too many renters into a house.

Under city bylaws, up to seven people who are not related can live in one household. The executive committee of council yesterday recommended administration slash that to five. "If you have seven unrelated people renting rooms with seven different vehicles, you get all that corresponding traffic and everything else that comes along with that," said Coun. Kim Krushell.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Edmonton/2...594446-sun.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

U of C, colleges get 544 new seats

The province has anted up funding for 2,447 post-secondary spaces across the province to address the high demand that forces schools to turn away thousands of qualified applicants every year.

The $73 million announced Wednesday will mean 544 additional seats in Calgary.

The funding will provide for 227 new spaces at the University of Calgary, 93 at SAIT and 50 at Mount Royal College. Details on other local schools were not available.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...c8-18209169304e

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Pay hikes highest in Wild Rose Country

Despite signs growth in the Alberta economy is moderating, workers here still receive not only the largest pay packets, but also have the fastest-rising wages of any Canadian province, all at a time when inflation is softening -- meaning workers are making real gains in income.

Moreover, the outlook for further increases is among the strongest in the country as the demand continues to outpace the supply of available workers in Canada`s tightest labour market, which at last read had a jobless rate of just 3.6 per cent in July, along with the highest employment rate and the highest labour participation rate.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...54-7685533622bc

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Alberta launches nanotechnology centre in hopes of greener future

A world measured in thousandths of a millimetre that works with elastomers and dendrimers has the potential to pay big dividends for the Alberta economy, says the CEO of the new Alberta Centre for Advanced Microsystems and Nanotechnology Products (ACAMP).

The $11.5-million facility in Edmonton Research Park will help the province become less dependent on the energy sector, while also making it cleaner and more efficient, Ken Brizel said Wednesday at the official opening.

"Nanotechnology is Alberta`s next big investment," said Brizel, a technology veteran recruited from Florida to head the non-profit organization.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/bu...9b-e24ad0ddbb44

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Sylvan looks to create recreation capital fund

The Town of Sylvan Lake is looking to developers and home builders to help pay for future recreation projects.

Council has given first reading to a bylaw encouraging builders to voluntarily provide $850 per housing unit to the major recreation capital fund as part of the development agreement process.

"We are hoping to provide some of the funding needed for future facilities through this," said Myron Thompson, the town`s assistant chief administrative officer, on Tuesday.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradv...pital_fund.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Abbey Homes building office in Burnt Lake Business Park

Five years ago, Laebon Homes turned heads when it built an eye-catching office building overlooking Hwy 2 in Burnt Lake Business Park.

Now Abbey Master Builder is doing the same on the adjacent lot to the south.

Work is well underway on an 8,500-square-foot building that will serve as the local builder`s headquarters.

Marco Spione, Abbey`s construction supervisor, said plans include a clay roof and quarry quartz stone over most of the front facade.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradv...ess_Park_1.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Wajax Industries begins building

BLACKFALDS — A company poised to become one of this town`s biggest corporate citizens did a little ceremonial digging at Blackfalds Industrial Park on Tuesday.

Wajax Industries plans to develop an approximately 31,000-square-foot building on a six-acre parcel on the south side of town.

The facility will be used for sales and servicing of mobile equipment for the mining, oil and gas, construction, material-handling, forestry and other industries.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradv...s_building.html

 

[GlennLasiuta]

Improvements at Bower Ponds

August 27, 2008

(Red Deer, Alberta) – Bower Ponds will look different next spring after work started this week to develop a new playground, serenity garden and additional linkages to existing trails.

"We are committed to providing accessible recreation and leisure opportunities for all Red Deer citizens. These improvements are just one more way we can demonstrate this commitment and ensure we continue to maintain valuable community assets like Bower Ponds," said Jeff Graves, Project Superintendent.

READ MOREhttp://http://www.reddeer.ca/Keepin...leases/Recent/Improvements+at+Bower+Ponds.htm

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Starting Sunday, there will be a a new method of presenting all the economic updates in a more organized and simplifed fashion.

Thanks to Thomas Beyer, Garth Chapman, Ed Renkema and Ethan for your feedback and help.

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Parking shortage, LRT repairs put squeeze on transit system

EDMONTON - With thousands of students ready to ride the bus or the LRT back to school next week, Edmonton Transit says it`s prepared for the ridership bump.

But with limited parking near LRT stations and LRT service interruptions to the University of Alberta, ETS has more to worry about than passenger numbers.

ETS only has three parking lots along the LRT route -- at Clareview, Belvedere and Stadium stations. The parking lot that serves Belvedere Station has been partially closed for most of the summer as construction crews work on widening Fort Road.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...22-4f22c80dce78

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Alberta labour market ranked No. 1 in North America

OTTAWA - Alberta has the best-performing labour market in North America, reflecting its strong job growth, high productivity and short-lived periods of unemployment, a Canadian economic think-tank says.

It`s the only province in the top 10. American states take the other nine top spots, led by Nevada in second and Utah in third, according to the annual comparison of labour markets by the right-wing Fraser Institute.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...d4-b398ac314f76

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Calgary scores world juniors in 2012

The planet`s best young hockey players are coming to Calgary in 2012, when Alberta`s two biggest cities co-host the world junior hockey championship.

The annual showcase is expected to bring a sizable boost to the provincial economy.

"We`re estimating somewhere between $45 million and $50 million," said Marco Diaco, manager of the Calgary Sport Tourism Authority, following Thursday`s announcement that Alberta`s bid for the 10-team tournament had been chosen by the Hockey Canada selection committee.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/s...7d-c9e916a88657

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Drillbit gains on shovel for oilsands production

Oilsands production from cold flow and thermal recovery methods is rapidly closing in on production milestones from oilsands mining operations.

According to a first half 2008 report from FirstEnergy Capital of Calgary, total heavy oil-bitumen production through the drill bit from projects in the Alberta Athabasca, Cold Lake and Peace River oilsands regions reached about 600,000 barrels per day (bpd) in June.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...35-557b8568131c

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Condo crash not likely

Calgary - Last week the Resiance Corporation announced a construction halt it on its Gateway Midtown highrise condo project in the Beltline.

Despite what doomsayers might believe, it`s not likely to precipitate a major crash in the Calgary condo market.

The shut down is not due to weak sales -- Gateway Midtown is a two-tower project, with 650 suites in total. About 80% of the suites have been sold, which is an excellent ratio and well above the traditional bank requirement of 50% sold before financing could be arranged.

http://calsun.canoe.ca/Business/2008/08/29/6604896-sun.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Growth falls short

Lacombe County`s census shows the municipality has grown by just 20 or 30 people since 2006.

"I really hoped it was going to be a few hundred more, not just 20 or 30," Tim Timmons, the county`s corporate services manager, told council on Thursday.

The municipality embarked on its first-ever census in April in hopes of updating the federal census, which was last taken in 2006 and will not be repeated until 2011. The 2006 census counted 10,451 in the county, which was actually about 200 fewer than the previous census in 2001.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradv...alls_short.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Major developments proposed for Pine Lake

PINE LAKE – Concerns over residential development, boating and decimation of information highlighted a meeting Thursday about the future of the lake.

The controversial Red Deer County project, which is gathering public information, attracted about 150 people to the Community Hub Centre.

The concept plan envisions clusters of development around the lake and development of a small commercial centre near the Hub.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradv..._Pine_Lake.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Trash talk: $100-miliion gasification plant for Penhold

Political leaders are glad the trash talk is finally over.

Now they can get on with building a $100-million gasification plant, making it one of only a few in the world.

On Friday, a pinnacle deal was signed between Central Waste Management Commission and PLASCO Energy representatives for PLASCO Energy to divert garbage from landfills by using a gasification process.

Under the contract, the Ottawa business will fund the project 100 per cent so there is no cost to Central Alberta taxpayers.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradv...or_Penhold.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Ottawa adds $25M to Northlands` building fund

EDMONTON - Northlands will receive another $25 million from the federal government to help expand its exhibition facilities.

The funding follows the $50 million the provincial government has committed over the last few years.

"It`s critical funding," said Jerry Bouma, chairman of Northlands. "If Edmonton wants to be a major player, we need these facilities." Industry Minister Jim Prentice made the announcement Friday afternoon on the Northlands grounds. Edmonton-Spruce Grove MP Rona Ambrose was on hand for the announcement.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...a9-345ced6eb30f

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Another sign of growth

EDMONTON - Sorry Epcor. The title of Edmonton`s first new downtown office tower since 1990 will go to The Metro, a 15-storey condominium office tower.

After a longer-than expected delay in getting its design approved, builders will break ground in the next two weeks, said Ralph Friederichsen, president of the Ironwood Group, which is developing the tower.

If construction finishes in the planned 22 months, the $55-million Metro will go up in 2010 at 10180 103rd Street where a parking lot now sits.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...62-a642373f4aaf

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Enbridge, BP rush to Texas

The race to the Gulf Coast heated up Friday after Enbridge Inc. teamed up with BP to add an outlet for Canadian heavy oil into Houston.

The companies said they would spend up to $2 billion to reconfigure a series of existing pipelines and add facilities capable of moving 250,000 barrels a day from Flanagan, Ill., to the Texas coast starting in 2012.

Steve Wuori, Enbridge`s executive vice-president of liquids pipelines, said the project will link surging oilsands production from Western Canada with new markets in the southern U.S.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...14-478d3e3bc1d6