AB Economic Fundamentals 2008-12

[joeiannuzzi]

What`s Behind the Curtain?
Alberta
2008-12
Daily Online Edition


AB Economic Fundamentals 2008-12



The following codes will be at the top of each post using an eight sequence alphanumeric description of the month, year and area:

MMYYAREA

mes New Roman-->Examples

1208ALTA for Dec 08 Alberta

1208CALG for Dec 08 Calgary

1208EDTN for Dec 08 Edmonton

1208REDR for Dec 08 Red Deer and surrounding areas.

If you wish to view only one area, you can use the advanced search mode and select the "Result Type" > "Show results as posts".

I have also color coded each area along with the caption to make it easier for you to simply scroll through the posts and locate the ones you are interested in.

All the small towns that have online newspapers are covered on Sundays.

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1208CALG
Calgary Transit looks ahead with new study

Calgary Transit is launching a gigantic survey of riders on all 164 routes to determine what it`s doing right--and wrong--and to help plan future service.

The transit agency will seek about 21,500 respondents for its largest-ever ridership study, thrusting questionnaires in front of riders next spring to gauge weekend and weekday use, rush-hour and off-peak use, and even use at several stops along each train or bus route.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/s...b9-1e6e88627e58

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1208ALTA
Alberta floats idea of financial hub

The Stelmach government has launched exploratory talks with banks big and small on establishing a western-based "financial hub" that clusters more of the operations of the banking sector in Alberta and turns the province into a global financial powerhouse.

While the province looks for ways to pry some of the financial sector`s influence away from Eastern Canada, a new government-commissioned report recommends a series of fiscal reforms that would see Alberta and British Columbia create a joint pension plan.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/s...b3-4880f6262d05

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1208CALG
Crowsnest residents fearful of planned logging project

Concerned Crowsnest Pass residents will gather at their municipal building Tuesday evening to hear details of a planned cut of trees to fight the spread of the mountain pine beetle.

Many are worried that a cut will spoil the natural beauty of the area around Crowsnest Mountain while having little effect on halting the progress of the destructive beetle.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...fd-ce10b7c0ab32

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1208CALG
Region`s plan: protect lands, intensify growth

A vision for the region`s future would limit development on the area`s green space and farmland and concentrate new populations in designated zones or corridors.

The preliminary version of the draft regional land-use plan requires that at least one-quarter of residential growth in the next 75 years occur on already developed land.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...4f-c349337b84ca

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1208EDTN
Nuclear regulator revokes firm`s licences

An Edmonton business that contaminated a local building with radioactive material has had its licences revoked by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.

A commission panel issued its decision Monday on Enviropac, a company that distributed radiotracer products to the Canadian oil service industry. Radiotracers can detect leaks in facilities, such as a gas battery, where natural gas recovered from one or more wells is collected and measured prior to its delivery to another facility or pipeline.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...28-eb8b5e74ba69

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1208EDTN
Wabamun coal mining days numbered

EDMONTON - A century of coal mining near the shores of Wabamun Lake is coming to an end.

Within the next 16 months, TransAlta`s sole remaining turbine at the Wabamun power plant will shut down, and the final reclamation will begin at the adjacent Whitewood coal mine with its giant green and yellow dragline visible from the Yellowhead Highway.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...56-cfb297a9d62b

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1208REDR
Public spending boosts permits, but still far below 2007

The G.H. Dawe Community Centre renovation and expansion provided a $7.9-million boost to the City of Red Deer`s building permit values last month.

That amount, and $1 million for exterior work at the Provincial Building, accounted for almost all of the $8.9 million worth of permits issued in the public category during November. Approvals for residential work added another $7.2 million, with industrial projects contributing $4.1 million and commercial permits $964,000.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradv...below_2007.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1208EDTN
Mandel`s line in the sand

A fired-up Mayor Stephen Mandel vows to break from tradition and vote against next year`s city budget if it contains a tax hike of more than 3.75%.

But some councillors warn an increase that low is just wishful thinking.

"I will tell you right now I will vote against the budget," Mandel told reporters yesterday.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Edmonton/2...603056-sun.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1208CALG
Calgary MPs fear fallout in Alberta

Bewildered Calgary Tory MPs girded Monday for the distinct possibility their party could be relegated back into opposition within days, and lamented how a newly elected government could fall victim to an unprecedented "coup."

Indeed, the high political drama unfolding in Ottawa -- which could see the Liberals, NDP and Bloc Quebecois defeat the Tories and form a coalition government headed by Grit Leader Stephane Dion -- left MPs and observers scratching their heads.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/s...57-c07019797849

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1208CALG
Calgary business leaders fret

The deepening political battle in Ottawa has unnerved Calgary`s business leaders, who say uncertainty in the midst of an ongoing economic crisis jeopardizes Canada`s status as a safe-haven.

But environmentalists welcomed the potential power shift, hoping it could mean tougher federal rules for greenhouse gas emission reductions.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/s...dd-7fc72ee33f71

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1208CALG
MLS sales fall below pre-boom levels amid downturn

It is becoming increasingly difficult to sell a home in the Calgary residential real estate market.

Statistics released by the Calgary Real Estate Board on Monday show that MLS sales in November plunged compared to a year ago--and they`ve even dropped below levels prior to the real estate boom of the past two years. As well, average and median sale prices continue to slide as listings remain at elevated levels.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...6a-9f6fd128c170

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1208CALG
Nortel campus offers `a unique opportunity`

It is being described as one of the choicest real estate properties on the market today.

The Westwinds Business Complex, owned by Nortel, is for sale. The 23.8-hectare site includes a two-storey Class A high-tech office building and a technology facility comprised of a single-storey air-conditioned, high performance industrial facility with a two-storey office component, as well as the potential to acquire 3.6 hectares of surplus land for future development.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...ff-462c1232c630

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1208ALTA
Economy won`t wait for Ottawa: premier

EDMONTON - Ed Stelmach joined a chorus of premiers again Tuesday urging Ottawa`s politicians to take a time out.

While Conservatives across the country planned rallies to protest the Liberal-NDP coalition proposed to replace Prime Minister Stephen Harper`s government, Stelmach called for cooler heads to prevail and egos to be parked.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...96-0a14c1f65fb2

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1208EDTN
Older streets to get $150-million facelift

EDMONTON - City council agreed Tuesday to borrow $150 million over the next 10 years to pay for revitalization projects on major commercial streets in older neighbourhoods.

The scheme will fund $10.7-million worth of work planned for 118th Avenue from Wayne Gretzky Drive to 106th Street in 2009, including improved

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...6d-40df3fc2eaa6

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1208EDTN
Area house sales hit 10-year low

EDMONTON - Take one local real estate correction, add a global economic crisis and what do you get?

A 10-year low for November sales of existing homes.

Sales of Edmonton-area homes plunged to levels last month not seen since the pre-boom year of 1998, according to the Realtors Association of Edmonton, which released its monthly Multiple Listing Service figures Tuesday.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...b4-b71ed0d84a9e

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1208ALTA
Atco pulls plug on Fort Hills work camp

EDMONTON - Atco Structures has cancelled its project to build a 2,000-person workforce housing camp for Petro-Canada`s delayed Fort Hills oilsands mine project near Fort McMurray.

About one-quarter of its contract to design, manufacture and install the camp has already been completed. "We will complete the 504-bed unit by December 22, and then close production at the Calgary plant," said Atco Structures president Harry Wilmot. "It was a large project, but we have been through this before in the industry. The Petro-Can project would have kept the plant going until June," he said. The Calgary plant employs 450 workers and 150 salaried staff.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...72-4e371007374e

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1208ALTA
French oilsands player readying $19B bid for Nexen: report

CALGARY - Shares in Nexen Inc. rose 11 per cent Tuesday after a report said that French oil major Total SA is poised to make a $19.7-billion takeover offer for Canada`s No. 4 independent oil explorer.

Nexen earlier jumped 33 per cent for its steepest intraday gain in 21 years.

The Financial Times reported on its website Tuesday that Total`s board of directors was meeting to approve a $38-per-share offer for Nexen.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...3b-9702ea4d49ba

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1208EDTN
`Out of control`

Jaws dropped at City Hall yesterday as civic politicians learned Edmontonians could be hammered with a stunning 60% property tax hike over four years.

That`s unless spending is reeled in.

"Well, there`s your figure with how careful we`re being with someone`s else money," said Coun. Tony Caterina, reacting after seeing the figure for the first time.

"With the way things are going it seems everyone has a want but nobody`s willing to give anything up."

http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Edmonton/2...613716-sun.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1208EDTN
Edmonton gets Sunday CIBC

Edmonton Sunday shoppers will have a new ally in their efforts starting next year.

CIBC announced yesterday that it will offer Sunday banking at two new Edmonton branches opening in 2009: its Namao branch at 97 Street and 162 Avenue, due to open in the spring, and a branch in Terwillegar near the Anthony Henday slated to open in the fall.

CIBC`s vice-president of retail markets for Western Canada, Wendy Slavin, says the decision to open the Edmonton branches follows the successful trial of Sunday openings this year in 12 locations - six in Vancouver`s Lower Mainland and six in greater Toronto.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/Business/News/2...602971-sun.html