Alberta Economic Fundamentals

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Agricultural land values jump by 10 per cent

Despite another big leap in the value of Alberta farms, some local farmers say sitting on an increasingly more valuable piece of land will not make much of a difference in their day-to-day lives.

Farm Credit Canada has released its more recent data, which shows land values in Alberta jumped 10.3 per cent in the second half of 2007 – outpacing the Canadian average, which posted a respectable 7.7 per cent jump in that time period.

http://www.peacecountrysun.com/News/396853.html

 

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Pinchme, is this really happening?

A new multi-million dollar development, that could increase the amount of housing in Pincher Creek by almost one third, is being proposed for an area north of town.
Peter Chouhan from Pinchme Corp approached town council on Monday evening with a tentative area structure plan for the quarter section across the highway from Wal-Mart and the Ramada Inn.

http://www.pinchercreekecho.com/News/397251.html

 

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New subdivision needs affordable housing

A lack of affordable housing in a planned subdivision in Vulcan would be detrimental to Vulcan and the county, says a local pastor.
Sue McDonald, United Church pastor, asked Harold Magnuson, who sits on a subcommittee involved with the project, if affordable housing units are included in the plans.

http://www.vulcanadvocate.com/News/397094.html

 

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Experts educate about beetle

Local residents had the opportunity to learn all about the mountain pine beetle last Wednesday afternoon in a forum where questions were answered by a variety of industry experts.
The forum was held by Alberta Sustainable Resource Development with guest speakers from various industries such as pulp, paper, and lumber. Residents were able to ask the guests any questions at their leisure as booths were set up throughout the Seniors` Circle with information at each.

http://www.whitecourtstar.com/News/397341.html

 

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The 2% solution

Roy Almog knows all about the frustrations of selling a home.

It was just two years ago that he and a friend put their two-storey west-end house up for sale.

They first opted for a private commission-free company, figuring it would be a cinch to unload the two-year-old 1,330-square-foot abode - complete with a finished basement - in Edmonton`s then-overheated housing market.

But after a month, they started having their doubts. "We didn`t get much traction," Almog recalled, noting the asking price was about $285,000.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/Business/News/2...400406-sun.html

 

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Soaring expenses force Centennial Arenas to phase in plans

Rising construction costs have forced the Centennial Arenas to phase in plans for two additional ice sheets, starting with a single rink.

A report going to the community and protective services committee Wednesday pegs the price for one additional ice surface at $17 million -- the amount the South West Arena Society thought three years ago would pay for two sheets.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...7a-35f56b39797b

 

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Living wage just the tip of the iceberg for business owners

Alberta`s minimum wage might have recently jumped up to $8.40 an hour, but it won`t help small business owners entice more workers in the city`s tightening labour market, says Connie Johnson, director of

Vibrant Communities Calgary, a non-profit, anti-poverty organization.

As part of a national campaign to reduce poverty by encouraging better conditions for the lowest paid members of the workforce, Vibrant Communities has been promoting the concept of a "living wage" -- a rate of pay that it`s possible to actually live on.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...a1-8873d2c67ade

 

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Is your garage sale sign legal?

`Tis the season for the annual treasure hunt through the unwanted belongings of others.

It`s garage sale time.

But starting this year, the city has new restrictions on how, where and for how long garage sale signs can be used.

Paul Meyette, manager of the city Inspections and Licensing Department, said the land-use bylaw was amended in January to clear up confusion over whether posting a garage sale sign required a permit.

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

 

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Open house to show intersection changes

Intersection improvements at Hwy 11A, Queens Business Park and Linn Valley will be the subject of an open house and public meeting on Thursday.

The proposed improvements will involve an signalized intersection on the south side of Hwy 11A, providing access to Queens Business Park, approximately a kilometre from the Hwy 2 interchange.

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

 

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How the real estate went from boom to buyer`s market in a blink of an eye

EDMONTON - If you were selling a "typical" home this time last year, chances are it lasted 22 days on the market before someone bought it.

You got $413,488 for it.

That was then. This is now.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...5f-ec424077f3c9

 

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Alberta`s oilsands industry needs to clean up its act

EDMONTON - It`s not really about the ducks.

Awful as it was, the grisly deaths of some 500 birds last week in a toxic Syncrude tailings pond doesn`t hold a candle to the endless parade of human horror stories that unfold each day in Darfur, Zimbabwe and dozens of other hell-holes around the globe.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...5e-371ac6f9fa6d

 

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Province plans attack on pine beetle

EDMONTON - The Alberta government is setting aside $55.2 million to fight the mountain pine beetle this year.

"The time to attack the beetle is now, when we have the greatest potential for success in managing pine beetle populations," Sustainable Resource Development Minister Ted Morton said on Monday.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...22-c4abac42a2e8

 

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Alberta families richest in Canada, StatsCan finds

The rich didn`t get richer in 2006 but the poor did, putting a halt -- at least temporarily -- to a widening income gap in Canada.

As a result of strong economic growth and gains in employment, pre-tax family incomes rose by 2.1 per cent after inflation, Statistics Canada reported Monday. Thanks to increases in government transfers, after-tax incomes also rose by 2.1 per cent.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/s...96-6ddc68d4e35c

 

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What`s behind record oil prices

Crude oil hit an all-time high of $120.36 US per barrel on Monday.

Robust demand for crude oil and a weak U.S. dollar have fuelled the rally from a dip below $50 at the start of 2007. Adjusted for inflation, oil is now above the $101.70 peak hit in April 1980, a year after the Iranian revolution, according to the International Energy Agency.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...9b-09ef96bac62e

 

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Nostalgic developer offers High River escape

Dundee Developments is one of the largest builders and developers in Alberta and Saskatchewan and has been responsible for the building of over 10,000 homes on thousands of acres. Mike Cowie, vice-president, Calgary land, has been responsible for some very successful real estate developments here but today he`s particularly excited about High River`s first master-planned community called Montrose.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...30-2277861cd769

 

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Sales soar in strong quarter for real estate

Commercial real estate sales in the Calgary area hit $1.28 billion in the first quarter of this year -- the third strongest quarterly result dating back to the first quarter of 1998, according to real estate information services company RealNet Canada.

The company`s Q1 Greater Calgary Area Commercial Sales Report said the strong quarter followed the highest recorded volume of $1.72 billion in the fourth quarter of 2007.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...8a-552f615e8644

 

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CIBC sees strength in commodities

Energy and materials stocks will hit new record highs as continued strength in commodities drives up related equities, CIBC says in its Canadian Portfolio Strategy Outlook.

"We remain wary of near-term market volatility," said CIBC chief economist Jeff Rubin. "But the strength of the resource market, particularly energy, and a gradual recovery in the U.S. economy should see the TSX justify our equity weighting."

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/b...1c-eef819b086ab

 

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Oil could top $200 in two years: Goldman

LONDON–Oil could shoot up to $200 within the next two years as part of a "super-spike" driven by poor growth in oil supplies, investment bank Goldman Sachs said in a research note.

"We believe the current energy crisis may be coming to a head, as a lack of adequate supply growth is becoming apparent," Goldman said in the note made available to Reuters on Tuesday.

Oil hit a new record near $121 a barrel on Tuesday, continuing an advance which has seen it double over the past 12 months.

http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/421894

 

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Sylvan RCMP site selected

A site for a new Sylvan Lake RCMP detachment has been chosen following a lengthy search that saw residents mobilize to protect a treasured green space.

Town council decided last week on a spot in the Beacon Hill subdivision, which was one of eight potential locations reviewed over the past two years.

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

 

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As city grows, its footprint tightens

Red Deer will have a smaller footprint in future, with more densely packed neighbourhoods and commercial `town centres` in the suburbs.

These are the biggest changes in the new Municipal Development Plan that Red Deer city council unanimously approved on Monday.

The plan that provides a general overview of how Red Deer should develop also maps out the city`s anticipated growth areas.

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