Alberta Economic Fundamentals

[joeiannuzzi]

Calgary driven to distraction

Gas. Brake. Shake fist. Gas.

With construction season upon us, Calgary drivers are faced with frustration.

City roads and provincial highways will undergo major construction.

Commuters should prepare for a summer of crawling traffic, said Mayor Dave Bronconnier. "By and large Calgarians are resigned and understanding of these major public works and they know we can`t do them overnight," he said.

http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Alberta/2008/0...466016-sun.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

King Coal takes back throne

There couldn`t be a less appealing commodity than coal. And yet this ugly duckling -- particularly the metallurgical variety used for making steel -- has become the latest

addition to the list of hot resource plays. The reasons are not unlike those driving the oil price these days -- high levels of demand and lack of supply.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...c5-2099413bfbac

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Province identifies need for new Hwy 813 bridge

It may be just a faint blip, but the need to build a new bridge over the Athabasca River is officially on the provincial government`s radar screen.

The province`s 20-year Capital Plan, released last Tuesday as part of the provincial budget announcement, included a brief statement that identifies, as a medium-term priority, "build a replacement bridge over the Athabasca River on Highway 813 to accommodate increased resource-based traffic."

"We saw that right off," Mayor Colleen Powell said of her review of the budget announcement. "It is a glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel."

http://www.athabascaadvocate.com/news/2008/0429/news1.htm

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Town receives financial picture

Council reviewed its audited 2007 financial statement on Tuesday, and for the most part, the Town of Bonnyville`s books are right on track.
The Town`s debt limit is down, only one and half times its revenue. The Town has a total of $92.8 million in liabilities and equity, up $16 million from 2006. This includes the paid value of its assets, not the depreciated value.
"I doubt we`ll get a cheque for that much, but on paper that`s what the Town is worth," CAO Mark Power said.

http://bonnyvillenouvelle.ca/index.php?opt...78&Itemid=1

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Population increase expected

The Town of Didsbury is slated to begin its collection of information for a municipal census this week. Municipal Clerk, Luanna Smith says the purpose of the census is to provide evidence of increased population numbers, which would result in improved opportunities for provincial and federal grant dollars to benefit the town.

http://www.didsburyreview.ca/news7.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Radioisotope shortage not affecting area health regions

Two local health authorities have been successful in avoiding a shortage of radioisotopes, which has made an impact worldwide. According to reports from national media outlets, approximately 50 per cent of the world`s supply of radioisotopes is produced in Chalk River, Ontario, which was shut down by Canada`s nuclear regulator due to safety concerns in November.

http://www.mountainviewgazette.ca/news5.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Holmes eyes Okotoks area

Developers behind a green neighbourhood proposed for Okotoks` Southern border are aiming to `get it right.`
Mike Holmes, host of the TV show Holmes on Homes, will be making his first foray as a developer with a new, eco-friendly neighbourhood on a 145-acre parcel of land on the south side of Highway 7 across from Cornerstone.
Holmes gained fame on his show on the Home and Garden TV Canada network correcting botched renovation and repair jobs with his call to "get it right."

http://www.westernwheel.com/index.htm

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Future Bowden access a concern

The potential for Bowden to be down to one QE II Highway access drew the greatest amount of interest from residents at a public meeting last Thursday. The majority in attendance at the Bowden Friendship Centre came to hear about the process for a proposed Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) between the Town of Bowden and Red Deer County. However, comments about a provincial study that could recommend the Highway 587 interchange being the only access point in or out of Bowden drew the only questions of the night.

http://www.oldsalbertan.ca/news8.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

MD permitted mine expansion without provincial approval

A jurisdiction dispute has erupted between Alberta Environment and the MD of Rocky View over a peat mine operation in Grand Valley.

Earlier this month Alberta Environment (AENV) cancelled an approval for a peat mine in Grand Valley after it was discovered upon inspection the mine was three times larger than authorized by the provincial agency. AENV granted a 10-year approval in September 2000 to mine 3.72 acres of peat from Griffin Valley Ranch in northwest Rocky View. However, one month earlier, in August 2000, the MD of Rocky View authorized expanding the mine to 10 acres without waiting for AENV`s approval.

http://rockyviewweekly.awna.com/story1.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Tax news gets worse

More than 4,000 St. Albert homeowners opened their mailboxes this week to find their tax bills are going up well beyond the citywide average.

Christopher Hewitt feels anything but average.

The Lacombe Park resident faces an estimated 36 per cent tax hike this year. Hewitt received the shocking news in the mail Wednesday, when he learned his 20-year-old duplex doubled in assessment to $360,000 between July 2006 and July 2007.

http://www.stalbertgazette.com/news/2008/0503/top1.htm

 

[joeiannuzzi]

M.D.-Airdrie rec centre agreement is still in works

While the Municipal District of Rocky View recently pledged $2.12 million in support of Phase 2 of Genesis Place, the City of Airdrie says the M.D. still has a way to go.
"They haven`t chipped in anything yet," Airdrie Mayor Linda Bruce said. "We`ve been asking for a few years that they contribute to the project."

http://www.airdrieecho.com/News/396738.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Town to buy new parking lot



Town council has agreed to purchase a lot on Beaver Street in order to increase parking capacity in Banff.
The new acquisition comes with an estimated price tag of $883,000 with money coming from general capital reserves.
Purchasing the lot will result in 28 new parking spots and is one of several options that were approved by council on Monday, April 28.
“Twenty-eight is not huge, but it is significant. It doesn’t involve creating a new structure and it will not impede views from Beaver St.,” said Coun. Stavros Karlos.
Town council denied a concept for a 274 stall parking structure on Beaver St. in December 2007. This resulted in cost estimates presented to council Monday by administration as parking alternatives.

http://www.banffcragandcanyon.com/News/396612.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Council approves Springwood subdivision

Springwood Developments has moved another step closer to developing a big box retail complex on the former Domtar lands after council on Monday voted 6-1 in favour of subdividing almost 45 acres of the former Domtar lands.

However, Springwood President Bill Butler had an ace up his sleeve that may have helped sway some of council.

Springwood is giving the Town $79,064 for 2.717 hectares of land in lieu of providing municipal reserve on the site. Due to the contamination of the site, and with the hefty costs expected to be associated with remediation, the entire 17.87 hectare parcel was assessed at a value of $520,000.

http://www.cochranetimes.com/News/396986.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Property tax hike on the way

Homeowners in the Crowsnest Pass should be prepared to shell out more to own property in the Crowsnest Pass.
At a budget meeting held on April 24, council approved a motion that would increase residential property taxes by 11.2 per cent.
Council was presented three possible options by Municipal Chief Adminstrative Officer Gordon Lundy, all based on paying off a $110,000 budget deficit incurred in 2007.
Option one saw taxes increase by only 9.2 per cent, with no payment of the deficit.

http://www.crowsnestpasspromoter.com/News/397406.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Town purchases apartments

The people of Drayton Valley will soon be the owners of the Carlton West apartment building. In a split decision last week town council voted to purchase the property at a cost of about $2.4 million in order to provide 16 affordable housing units for needy families.
The Town has a pot of about $3.3 million available for affordable housing. The bulk of that money came in the form of a grant from the province. Director of community services Annette Driessen said after the purchase of Carlton West the remainder of the money could be used to build additional units in the community.

http://www.draytonvalleywesternreview.com/...ies/396156.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Council unanimously favours paving project

Council voted unanimously last week in favour of a project that would see the town and abutting landowners evenly split the cost of paving 63rd Street.
At its meeting on April 22, council directed administration to craft a local improvement tax levy bylaw and begin seeking construction bids for the $2.9 million project.
If the bylaw passes, 51 landowners will pay their half of the project according to how much frontage of property they have on the street from 22nd Avenue in the north to the Bench Creek Bridge in the south.

http://www.edsonleader.com/Local%20News/396070.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

New facilities plan coming at college

Sometimes doing something right means taking more time than was initially anticipated.

Grande Prairie Regional College`s investigation into what potential new facilities for apprenticeship and health and wellness training might look like is going to take a little bit longer to complete – 60 days longer.

The college`s vice-president of special projects, Doug Hart, has had his contract extended along with the project, for the same amount of time, to see it through to the end.

"We had anticipated the project being done by the end of June, and after meeting with the consultants working with us, we realized we need a little extra time," said Don Gnatiuk, GPRC president.

http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/Local%20...ews/397790.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Housing market slows down

After an unusually vibrant year for real estate sales and prices, the market for homes in High River is softening.
Century 21 released its annual National House Price Survey on Wednesday, and High River is
listed as a "softening market."

http://www.highrivertimes.com/News/397922.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Town plans to recruit doctors, provide land for new facility

High River plans to proceed with a doctor recruitment program, after all.
Changing its hands-off approach to the town`s doctor shortage, council agreed Monday to a strategy that would add doctors and a new facility in town.
"I would like to propose that we work on a recruitment strategy where we look at incentives for doctors to locate within our community and, within that context, look at what other incentives communities are offering," said Melissa Scaman, High River`s economic development officer.

http://www.highrivertimes.com/News/397924.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Hotel taxes skyrocket

Local hotel owners will see tax increases of more than 20 per cent this year due to a big jump in property values, but some other commercial outlets may see a reduced tax bill.
"There will be some shifting," said Jasper`s municipal manager George Krefting. "Some taxes will be more, some will be less."
Krefting said that would depend on whether or not individual assessments have increased.
During an interview earlier this month, Krefting said there is a 13-per-cent increase for residential property assessments and a 40 per cent hike for commercial properties. Industrial has gone up by 19 per cent while schools, churches and other exempt properties have increased by 11 per cent. These values are to be used to determine individual property taxes.

http://www.jasperbooster.com/Headline%20News/397053.html