MB Economic Fundamentals 2008-07

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Turning the sod for new processor

Nine months of hard work led to the ceremonial sod turning for Sunbelt Prairie Products Ltd. on June 28.
Owned and operated by Zeb Rice, a Pakistan based company that also has a presence in Sweden, the new plant is valued at $12 million, and will process peas, beans and lentils to the stage where they can be put directly on store shelves.
The facility was attracted in part by Sunbelt Development Corporation, made up of members from Gretna, Altona, Plum Coulee and the RM of Rhineland. At the sod-turning in the RM of Rhineland Industrial Park, Sunbelt Dev. Group CEO Jim Spencer said the project will have a "significant impact on southern Manitoba."
Ron Miller, General Manager of Thomas Builders, will take on the construction of the 25,000 square foot facility. "I think it`s a great day for the RM and the surrounding districts," he said.

http://www.altonaecho.com/News/409487.html

 

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Funding officially arrives for mains

A sod-turning ceremony was held last week to officially mark the start of the Town of Lac du Bonnet water and sewer main replacement project.

The town has officially received $1.6 million in funding from the federal and provincial governments through the Canada-Manitoba Infrastructure Program for the important project, which will replace just under 20 per cent of all the town`s water and sewer infrastructure.

http://www.lacdubonnetleader.com/News/409814.html

 

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Morden-Winkler riding proposed

Local municipal officials are not happy with a proposed redrawing of the provincial electoral boundaries that would split the RM of Stanley and create a new constituency largely consisting of Morden and Winkler.
The recommendations from the Manitoba Electoral Divisions Boundaries Commission call for cutting the Morden and Winkler region from the existing Pembina constituency.
The remainder of Pembina would then be included in a new Carman-Pembina riding with the part of the R.M. of Stanley added to Emerson constituency.
The idea of having the R.M. of Stanley divided between two different ridings did not sit well with several municipal officials.

http://www.mordentimes.com/News/409441.html

 

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Septic system stink?

The province is preparing to send inspectors to residential properties to crack down on failing or problematic septic systems inside the Red River Corridor.
The Onsite Wastewater Management Systems program will focus on problem areas in the Red River Corridor between the North Perimeter Highway and Selkirk. Densely developed areas within the RMs of West St. Paul, East St. Paul, St. Andrews and St. Clements will be selected for inspection.
"It must be done," said St. Clements Mayor Steve Strang, stressing environmental issues have become a major concern for the public. "The acceptance of bad fields or failing wells cannot be accepted any more...we need to be proactive rather than reactive because we know reactive costs about three times as much money."

http://www.selkirkjournal.com/News/409546.html

 

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Lake Francis seeks new centre

The small Interlake community of Lake Francis is looking to replace its nearly century-old hall and upgrade to a bigger, better facility soon.
The current hall, around 90-years old according to community centre president Dawn Rae Grey, only has space for about 30 visitors and is missing essential services such as plumbing in the building. Grey puts it bluntly.
"Our old hall is terrible," she says.
"It`s almost 90 years old, for sure."

http://www.stonewallargusteulontimes.com/News/409717.html

 

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More students=more teachers

In all, GVSD advertised for 61 teaching positions (including 28 full-time jobs) for this fall, 58 of which had been filled by the end of June, said superintendent Vern Reimer.
Of those, 18 positions were brand new jobs, he said, created to help local schools cope with growing student populations.
That number is in keeping with the trend of the last few years, which has seen new positions added to the division`s teaching staff every year, Reimer said. In the 07/08 school year, a total of 16 new teaching positions were needed, he noted.
The division`s end-of-the-year hiring blitz also had another notable number: 41 of the candidates hired are "local hires", people who either already live in the Winkler area, or who grew up in the region and are now returning, Reimer said.

http://www.winklertimes.com/News/409481.html

 

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More docs in city ERs solve crisis in staffing

Winnipeg emergency rooms won`t face a staff crisis this summer because more doctors are working ER shifts, health officials say.

As of June 1, the city`s four community hospitals were short about nine full-time emergency physicians -- a vacancy rate of about 22 per cent.

Health Minister Theresa Oswald said the vacancy rate has since dropped to 16 per cent and will continue to drop. She expects it to reach nine per cent by the fall.

Two doctors will start at Victoria General Hospital in August, and family doctors have agreed to handle "minor complaints" in the Grace Hospital emergency, leaving the hospital short about two full-time physicians instead of four.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/sto...p-4786962c.html

 

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Ambulance fees increased for residents in the Central RHA

Residents may not want to leave the hospital before looking at their next ambulance bill.

The results may be shocking– especially for those who live outside of Portage la Prairie.

The base rate for ambulance service has now increased from $210 to $290. The Regional Health Authority–Central Manitoba Inc., which manages local Emergency Medical Service, attributes the hike to rising operating and staffing expenses.

The basic rate is a standard rate for all calls irregardless of the distance and comes in addition to the $2.50-per kilometre distance rate.

http://www.portagedailygraphic.com/Article....aspx?e=1103987

 

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Get insured to jump the queue

Manitobans with enough cash could be on the fast-track to feeling better.

The first Canadian wait-list insurance company has launched in Calgary, begging the question of whether a two-tiered health-care system is the answer to shorten wait times.

The new company, Acure Health Corp., gives patients who are waiting for surgery for more than 45 days, a chance to see a specialist or have treatment at another hospital in Canada or the U.S. for a minimum wait of 21 days.

The option comes at an average premium price of $75 a month for the coverage of diagnostic tests, such as CT scans, MRIs, bypass heart surgery and hip and knee replacements.

Portagers, in comparison to other urban centres, do not currently have long wait times for minor surgeries.

http://www.portagedailygraphic.com/Article....aspx?e=1103439

 

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City eyes boosts for parking fines

The Winnipeg Parking Authority plans to boost fines for serious offences, increase parkade fees and may sell off its lucrative Winnipeg Square facility to pay for repairs to its other two parkades.

But the arm`s-length city agency also wants to allow motorists to purchase extra time at meters and pay stations without having to move their vehicles -- and could give them up to four more days to pay discounted fines for disputed tickets.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/sto...p-4787055c.html

 

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The fuel crunch: two strategies

With gas prices soaring, scooters are becoming increasingly fashionable on the city`s streets.

Filling the tank can be done for under $4 and for Denise Baker that was reason enough to make the switch to two wheels from four.

"They are a little tricky at first to drive but I`ve only been honked at once," Baker said. "It`s durable, it`s enjoyable and if it`s hot out you get the wind movement instead of air conditioning."

Baker is one of many Winnipeggers who have traded in a gas-guzzling vehicle for a cheaper summer ride. They look like mini-motorcycles and are painted in bright colours. Some can even reach 140 kilometres an hour.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/sto...p-4787371c.html

 

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Gas plant worst-case Hydro scenario

If two massive northern generating stations don`t get built in time to make good on export deals to the United States, Manitoba Hydro will build a natural gas-fired power plant -- a move that could compromise the province`s Kyoto goal.

A gas-fired plant would cost a pittance compared to a hydro dam, and it could be built relatively fast. But it could compromise the spirit of the billion-dollar export deals reached recently with power companies in Minnesota and Wisconsin, where utilities consider hydro power clean and green compared to coal or natural gas.

That`s according to testimony given by senior Manitoba Hydro officials at a recent series of hearings before the Public Utilities Board -- hearings that prompted the PUB to hike power rates by five per cent last week.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/sto...p-4787343c.html

 

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There`s more to a city`s growth than business affordability

It may come as a surprise to many of you to learn that Winnipeg is one of the most affordable major cities in Canada in which to run a business.

Naysayers in this community spend great quantities of time talking about how much we`ve fallen behind other provinces when it comes to creating a welcoming environment for business. But in KPMG`s 2008 Competitive Alternatives Report, an annual ranking based on the total cost of doing business, Winnipeg does pretty well.

KPMG examines 27 "business cost components" including taxation. Scores are assigned, with a score over 100 meaning the city is more expensive than the average U.S. cost structure; under 100 means less costly for business.

Of the nine largest cities in Canada, Winnipeg ranked second only to Saskatoon in overall cost competitiveness with a score of 97.7; the most costly city in Canada in which to do business was Vancouver (104.2) followed by Calgary (102.0) and Toronto (101.5). Even more remarkable is that in terms of overall tax burden, KPMG found Winnipeg had the lowest effective corporate income tax rate of the nine Canadian cities.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/sto...p-4787349c.html

 

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City resists cooling trend

Winnipeg remains a pillar of strength in a weakening Canadian housing market, racking up another month of near record-breaking sales in June and outperforming most other major cities over the first five months of the year.

"Compared to other major (Canadian) cities, Winnipeg is very much a stand-out," Gregory Klump, chief economist for the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) said Tuesday.

Klump said Winnipeg not only had one of the smallest declines in unit sales over the first five months of this year -- 3.5 per cent -- but also one of the biggest increases in average selling prices -- 18 per cent.

And CREA predicts Winnipeg will also finish the year with the second biggest price increase in the country, at 11 per cent. The only city it thinks will do better is Saskatoon, with a projected 19.5 per cent.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscribe...p-4787832c.html

 

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Experts advise on new Winnipeg slogan

A new slogan for welcome signs to Winnipeg is a great idea -- but it needs to be part of a bigger marketing effort to have a lasting impact, say a pair of branding experts.

Derrick Coupland, a partner at local branding company Blacksheep Strategy, said considering the signs will only be visible to Winnipeggers returning to town, rubber-tire visitors and passers-through, the slogan will have limited marketing value unless put to use elsewhere.

He said there are three elements that determine a successful slogan. First, there needs to be an obvious truth to it, something representative of Winnipeg. Second, it must have a specific meaning, referencing something like The Forks, the city`s many festivals or the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Finally, it has to capture the imagination of Winnipeggers and travellers alike.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingn...p-4787888c.html

 

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Cloverleaf overpass urged for safety

A Winnipeg trucker who helped rescue two women from a fiery crash Tuesday says a cloverleaf-style overpass would be a huge safety improvement over the confusing intersection that currently exists in the northeast corner of the city.

On Tuesday, Ray Nolette, a truck driver of 20 years, rushed to save a woman engulfed in fire after her van collided with a car in a two-vehicle crash that sent five people to hospital near Highway 59 and the North Perimeter Highway.

"I agree an overpass should be there for sure. They should finish it off," Nolette said Tuesday.

"It (the crash) was traumatic. That`s something I don`t care to see again. It was really bad."

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/sto...p-4787857c.html

 

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Committee approves exploring parkade sale

The Winnipeg Parking Authority has been given a green light to explore the sale of the lucrative Winnipeg Square parkade, an underground facility one councillor calls a "gold mine at Portage and Main."

Council`s alternate service delivery committee voted Tuesday to formally ask private companies how much they would be willing to pay for the three-level, 978-stall structure, which the city values somewhere between $20 million and $50 million.

Built in 1979 for $3.5 million, the parkade turned a $1.4-million profit last year and will soon charge $245 a month for a reserved spot.

But the property at 360 Main St. also includes the air rights over the south side of Winnipeg Square, where a office tower or new hotel could be built.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/sto...p-4787871c.html

 

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Council OK`s closing Spence near U of W

ALMOST an entire block of Spence Street alongside the University of Winnipeg will be closed to vehicle traffic for good, city council`s downtown development committee decided Tuesday.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/sto...p-4787847c.html

 

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One Great City! isn`t seeking a new slogan, Katz says

Road signs welcoming travellers to Winnipeg are coming down as ordered.

But neither Mayor Sam Katz nor the economic development agency given the task last week of replacing them say that means the city should launch a public effort to re-fashion its identity.

"This was never meant to be a branding exercise," Katz said Wednesday, as the city`s executive policy committee approved his plan to have Destination Winnipeg replace 10 aging welcome signs.

"It`s about extending a friendly welcome."

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/sto...p-4788487c.html

 

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City`s housing market booms

Winnipeg`s revved-up housing market was firing on all cylinders last month, according to new figures released Wednesday.

One day after the Winnipeg REALTORS Association said last month was the best June on record for sales of existing homes, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. released statistics showing it was also the best June in two decades for single-family housing starts.

CMHC said there were 187 starts in the Winnipeg Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), which includes Winnipeg and 10 surrounding communities.

That was an 18.4 per cent increase over the 158 recorded in June of last year, and was the highest June total since 1988.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscribe...p-4788467c.html