MB Economic Fundamentals 2008-11

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What`s Behind the Curtain?

Manitoba

2008-11

Daily Online Edition

MB Economic Fundamentals 2008-11


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

MMYYAREA


1108MTBA = Nov 08 Manitoba

1108WNPG = Nov 08 Winnipeg

1108PORT = Nov 08 Portage La Prairie

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.

 

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1108PORT
Highway construction to wrap up soon

The construction that has reduced westbound traffic to just one lane along a section of the Trans-Canada Highway just east of Portage la Prairie should be cleared up very shortly.

Kelvin Shuvera, director of south central regional operations with Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation, estimates work crews will be finished soon, and both lanes will be open for motorists by mid-November.

"As long as the weather stays good, I expect we should be done there in about two weeks," he explained. "We`re kind of racing against the snow right now, but I can`t see us taking much longer than that."

http://www.portagedailygraphic.com/Article....aspx?e=1275226

 

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1108PORT
Spruced up storefronts in downtown Portage

Storefronts in Portage la Prairie`s downtown are looking more inviting thanks to funding they`ve received from both the provincial government and the City of Portage over the summer.

In total, 14 local businesses were approved for money from the Hometown Manitoba grant program this year, which invested a total of $445,000 in communities throughout the province, including $12,531 here in Portage. The City of Portage topped up the provincial money, doling out an extra $10,000 among the accepted applicants.

Coun. Jeff Bereza, chairman of the city`s economic development committee, said the funding program encourages everyone to take pride in their community.

http://www.portagedailygraphic.com/Article....aspx?e=1275228

 

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1108MTBA
Casino plan finds home

A casino twice rejected by Brandon residents is to be built just north of the western Manitoba city.

The gambling house will have 300 to 400 slot machines and will be built little more than a stone`s throw from city limits in the Rural Municipality of Elton, said Dave Chomiak, the provincial minister responsible for gaming. The facility will be aboriginal-run and will raise money for First Nations communities across the province.

http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Manitoba/2...272676-sun.html

 

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Back on Monday.

 

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1108WNPG
Commercial real estate Building a new retail gem

It`s not another Little Italy, but area merchants hope they`re witnessing the birth of another commercial hot spot on Corydon Avenue.

The roughly three-block stretch of Corydon between Renfrew and Centennial streets is much smaller than its well-known retail cousin to the east -- the roughly eight-block stretch of Corydon between Pembina Highway and Stafford Street. That area is often referred to as Little Italy because of its high number of Italian bars and restaurants.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscribe...p-4888091c.html

 

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1108WNPG
Decision on PSB`s fate approaches

CITY council is one step closer to deciding whether it makes more financial sense to demolish downtown`s Public Safety Building or fix the crumbling Tyndall stone facade of the police headquarters.

Three years ago, the city estimated the cost of repairing the 43-year-old Princess Street structure and moving police into temporary offices at about $19 million.

But after a fall 2007 review pegged the actual cost of repairs and relocation at about $40 million, Winnipeg`s chief financial officer and acting chief administrator placed the PSB project on hold.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/sto...p-4888565c.html

 

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1108MTBA
Hydro set to award contract for dam project

MANITOBA Hydro expects to award the contract to build the bulk of its Wuskwatim hydroelectric dam in the next few weeks, the utility`s president, Bob Brennan, said Monday.

This past summer, the Hydro boss said the contract would be let out no later than September.

But it has taken the utility longer than expected to work out the details. "We`re in the process of finalizing the contract," Brennan said Monday. An announcement could be made "any time within the next three weeks," he said in an interview.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscribe...p-4888509c.html

 

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1108WNPG
Downtown cheer

A couple weeks ago on my walk to the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce I had to hold my nose because of the strong musty odour emanating from the Avenue Building on Portage Avenue. I had never noticed the smell before, but then why would I? The Avenue Building has been boarded up for years. In fact, plywood murals covered all the windows. The only reason you ever saw people hanging around the building was so they could get out of the wind or cold to have a smoke in the doorways.

http://www.winnipegsun.com/Business/2008/1...295166-sun.html

 

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1108WNPG
U of W puts downtown projects on back burner

The global financial crisis and unexpected structural problems in the former United Army Surplus store have put the brakes on two major projects in the University of Winnipeg`s ambitious downtown expansion.

"If some projects have to wait, they`ll have to wait," Dan Hurley, U of W`s executive director of external and government affairs, said Tuesday.

Hurley said the university`s board of regents has approved going ahead with the first phase of a new science complex, two blocks west of the main campus on Portage Avenue between Furby and Langside streets.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/sto...p-4889035c.html

 

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1008MTBA
Not enough nurses: Tories

The province opened a $25-million addition to Selkirk Mental Health Centre yesterday, but the Opposition Tories say there are not enough nurses to staff it.

"A sparkling new facility means nothing to Manitobans if the NDP can`t find nurses to staff it," said Tory health critic Myrna Driedger. She said the centre is short 30 to 40 nurses at any given time, and long shifts and overworked nurses presents dangers for both staff and patients.

http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Manitoba/2...320516-sun.html

 

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1108WNPG
City ready to branch out?

Winnipeg wants to sell water to bedroom communities, treat their sewage and could even get into the green energy business, if politicians approve a plan to create a new water and power utility.

City councillors have been asked to replace the city`s water and waste department with a new city-owned corporation that would operate like an independent utility.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/sto...p-4890031c.html

 

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1108WNPG
Furniture retailer shuts stores citing hard economic times

ONE of the city`s largest furniture retailers is closing three of its Winnipeg stores, blaming the closings on the economic slowdown.

North End Furniture Company (NEFCO) sent a letter to its customers this week saying it is closing Penthouse Furniture on Princess Street and Furniture Galleria on St. James Street.

The announcement comes two weeks after NEFCO also closed its Great Rooms By Palliser store at 634 Century St.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscribe...p-4890060c.html

 

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1108MTBA
Manitoba building permits rise by 40% in September

BUILDING permit activity rebounded in a big way in September in Manitoba, with the value of permits surging nearly 40 per cent, according to new Statistics Canada figures released Thursday.

The federal agency said Manitoba municipalities issued $199.2 million worth of residential and non-residential permits during the month. That was an increase of 39.8 per cent from August`s $142.5 million, and more than made up for that month`s 30.3 per cent decline.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscribe...p-4890042c.html

 

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1108WNPG
City gives thumbs-up to new 120-room hotel

A new six-storey, 120-room hotel is to be built on the north side of Ellice Avenue, between Strathcona and Empress streets, adding to a growing cluster of inns around Polo Park and the airport.

Thomas Design Builders Ltd. is overseeing the design and construction of the $10 million project, which will be located at 1301 Ellice, across the street from Cabela`s outfitters and a Dollarama.

This week, the city granted a conditional use, allowing the project to proceed on the 5.25-acre light industrial lot.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscribe...p-4890512c.html

 

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MB Small Town Updates: 2008-11-09

 

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1108WNPG
Gritty area going downtown?

CentreVenture wants to bring more homes, restaurants and businesses to South Point Douglas by expanding the definition of downtown to include the gritty, inner-city neighbourhood.

Before this summer, few Winnipeggers had heard of South Point Douglas, a riverfront patchwork of industrial properties, vacant land and a few leafy residential streets populated by artists and other homeowners who relished the neighbourhood`s obscurity.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/sto...p-4891181c.html

 

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1108MTBA
Hydro blamed as new wind farm runs out of steam

The province`s newest wind farm near St. Joseph has been delayed, and rural politicians are getting frustrated with what they say is Manitoba Hydro`s foot-dragging.

Meanwhile, the Australian company that`s backing construction of the new wind farm has been plagued by financial problems, and a Manitoba wind powerhouse snubbed by Hydro earlier this year has taken their business south of the border.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/sto...p-4891176c.html

 

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1108WNPG
Portage Avenue relics resurrected

Plans are underway to redevelop another long-vacant historical building on Portage Avenue -- the Mitchell-Copp Building across the street from the MTS Centre.

"We`ve got our engineers in there and our architects in there looking at what specifically needs to be done and what our options are," North Portage Development Corp. CEO Jim August said.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscribe...p-4891193c.html

 

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1108WNPG
Cottagers in land dispute hold out hope for resolution

SEVERAL Winnipeggers who were forced to abandon their Lake of the Woods cottages a year ago said they hope a deal still can be made with the Indian band that holds the leases on the property.

Reg Wightman said he and the other 32 families who had cottages at Devil`s Gap said they were disappointed when they heard that members of the Rat Portage First Nation had rejected the group`s offer to regain access to the site. However, Wightman said it`s not certain that band members were aware of the complete financial offer the cottagers were making.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/sto...p-4891934c.html