ON Economic Fundamentals 2008-08

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Aqueduct barriers coming down

WELLAND

The barricades are coming down, but there will be no speed humps or traffic medians installed to thwart Aqueduct Street North speeders.

Instead, city council hopes reducing the speed limit from 50 km/h to 40 km/h and establishing a community safety zone will be enough to improve safety for students who walk along the roadway.

Councillors Tuesday night supported a recommendation by David Ferguson, the city`s manager of traffic and parking, to remove a gate that has blocked the road to through traffic for more than a year.

But they stopped short of supporting plans to add various traffic-calming measures such as speed humps and centre median islands.

http://www.wellandtribune.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1165037

 

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Water bills will triple

Welland - The deadlines for homeowners to have a water meter installed are Oct. 31, Dec. 31 and Feb. 28. People who fail to have meters installed before those deadlines, without good reason, will receive a phone call from city staff, followed by tripled water bills sent out in December, February and April.

Despite concerns raised by residents about threats, intimidation and poor customer relations from the contractor hired to install water meters throughout the city, city councillors voted 10-3 in favour of a recommendation to triple the rates.

While several councillors argued that the plan would give city staff the tools they need to bring the water meter installation program to an end, others argues that the whole process was flawed from the beginning, and taking a heavy-handed approach was the wrong way to address the situation.

http://www.wellandtribune.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1164720

 

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Municipal parking gets a boost

Motorists will have a few more places to leave their wheels, as local parking received a $300,000 boost on Monday.

Enhancements will be made at the Park Avenue Business Centre, Chatham Central Library, Wallaceburg Museum and the Chatham-Kent Civic Centre.

These areas were previously identified and improved under the capital budget, as well as the municipal buildings lifecycle budgets.

Chatham-based Henry Heyink Construction was selected to perform the work.

Some at the council table suggested separating individual projects to vote on. However, the recommendation was accepted as is.

"It really is a staff function," Chatham Coun. Anne Gilbert said. "As politicians, this a little bit of micromanaging."

http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1162150

 

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No threat of water shortage

Sarnians shouldn`t worry about water shortages despite a government report warning that Canada`s stores of fresh water are not as plentiful as once thought, the head of the county`s water supply system said.

Terry Burrell, chairperson of the Lambton Area Water Supply System, said the region`s geographic positioning would protect its residents from a water shortage.

"It really doesn`t affect us much. You`d have to have Lake Superior, Lake Huron and Lake Michigan go dry before we ran out of water," said Burrell, who is also a city councillor.

http://www.theobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1169844

 

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Shell extending some land options

Shell Canada will extend its options on some St. Clair township properties, despite pulling out of a multi-million dollar refinery project earlier this summer.

But the re-negotiations shouldn`t get anyone`s hopes up, said spokesperson Heather Cooper.

"This has been an ongoing thing," said Cooper. "We`re currently negotiating with people. In some areas, we`re negotiating an extension with specific properties, while other pieces of land will be released as the options come up."

Cooper wouldn`t specify which properties will continue to be optioned out, with respect to the owners` privacy, she said.

http://www.theobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1161666

 

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City presses on with water system

Despite the absence of federal or provincial subsidies, Greater Sudbury city council has decided it must proceed immediately with construction of an $18.5-million water distribution system for Levack and Onaping.

Council agreed with a staff recommendation last week that it had no choice, but to proceed with the water system in order to complete the project by year`s end.

The year-end deadline, which was extended in the past, has been imposed by the provincial environment ministry, as well as Vale Inco, which will no longer supply water to Levack.

The city had been delaying the water project for at least two years, in the hope of securing infrastructure renewal funds from the provincial and federal governments. However, a federal-provincial funding agreement was reached only last month and it will take several months to finalize details, which will be too late for the city to secure funding and complete the water project this year.

http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1166007

 

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New gas plant raises a stink

COLLINGWOOD -- Shelly Camilleri and her partner, Jason, have become prisoners in their home.

"I can`t even go outside for a walk because it smells like garbage," said Camilleri, 30, a mother of 4-month-old Sienna.

The couple moved to Collingwood two years ago from Brampton to escape big city bustle, but now has to deal with the stench from Collingwood Ethanol, L.P., an ethanol production plant, which opened up last June less than a kilmometre from their house -- a short walk from Georgian Bay. Residents living near the plant and Collingwood Mayor Chris Carrier, are burning over what they say are broken promises to fix the problem.

http://www.torontosun.com/News/Canada/2008...562116-sun.html

 

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Air medical service gets $130M lift

For the first time in decades, Ontario will have a new fleet of air ambulances after the province`s service provider announced the purchase of the most advanced medical helicopters in the world.

The 10 new helicopters, which cost about $130-million, is Canada`s most significant purchase for transport medicine, said representatives of Ornge, a Toronto-based agency.

http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/s....html?id=746355

 

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Aerospace industry searching for workers

The North American airline industry may be struggling under the weight of high operating costs, but it appears to be having little effect on global demand for new aircraft and skilled aerospace trade workers.

Aerospace companies have reported strong growth over the past year, even setting some records, as global demand for the next generation of airliners and business jets remains strong, according to industry data, despite current market uncertainty on the continent.

http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/bus...26-4964900ae11c

 

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Newmarket: It`s growing up, big time

Bold changes.
That`s what this series has been dubbed and that`s precisely what is being proposed for Newmarket`s future.


It couldn`t be summed up more simply.


Newmarket has grown from a small, fur-trading market to a village and then, finally, a town.

Now, it is facing the next stage in its growth and evolution.


Urban centre may soon join that list of titles as the town`s population grows from 80,000 to nearly 100,000 over the next two decades. The times they are, indeed, a-changing.

http://www.yorkregion.com/News/Newmarket/article/79801

 

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City gets $24.9M for infrastructure

The City of Mississauga will receive $24.9 million to spend on infrastructure.
The funding is part of the $1.1 billion Queen`s Park is giving Ontario municipalities to improve roads and bridges, sewers, and public transit.
Premier Dalton McGuinty made the announcement in a speech today at the annual convention of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, taking place this week in Ottawa.
McGuinty estimated the cash will also create as many as 11,000 construction jobs.
"The big boost to infrastructure announced today reflects last year`s strong economic performance," he said.

http://mississauga.com/article/18146

 

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London gets $33M for infrastructure

London will get more than $33.5 million to spend on public works, part of a $1.1-billion infrastructure package for Ontario municipalities.

The funding was announced yesterday by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty to rousing applause by thousands of civic leaders at an Ottawa meeting of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. "It`s a great announcement and a great boost," said London Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best, who was there.

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/200...572221-sun.html

 

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Municipalities get $1.1B

OTTAWA–Ontario municipalities are getting $1.1 billion – $529 million of it in the GTA – to help pay for badly needed infrastructure projects thanks to last year`s provincial budget surplus.

That`s the good news. Here`s the bad: With an estimated $50 billion backlog in municipal infrastructure projects, one-time funding of $1.1 billion isn`t enough. And within minutes of announcing the infrastructure money, Premier Dalton McGuinty severely dampened expectations for the upcoming provincial-municipal fiscal review – the real key, according to Toronto mayor David Miller and others, to curbing skyrocketing property tax increases and improving services in cities and towns.

But yesterday, mayors struggling with crumbling roads and bridges and outdated water pipes and community centres were just happy to get some help and welcomed the announcement.

http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/485444

 

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City receives $238M from province

Toronto is receiving a $238-million cash injection from the province to fund much-needed road repairs and public transit expansion. It is the city`s share of $1.1-billion for infrastructure Premier Dalton McGuinty announced yesterday for Ontario municipalities.

The money is the bulk of Ontario`s $1.7-billion budget surplus. After devoting the first $600-million to pay down debt the province dispersed the rest to cities, but with a warning that this may be the last windfall in a while.

http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/s....html?id=748914

 

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Work resumes on Oak Park Road project

Brantford - Work on a $500 million redevelopment project on Oak Park Road has resumed now that environmental concerns and questions raised earlier this month have been answered, says King and Benton president Steve Charest. "It`s time to get back to work," Charest said in a statement released Monday afternoon. "We have answered questions, held numerous public meetings, consulted to unheard of levels and we care about doing this project in a way that protects the environment for ourselves, children and grandchildren.

"We have worked closely with the Ministry of the Environment and every other relevant agency to ensure all environmental standards are met or exceeded."

http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDi....aspx?e=1172063

 

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Barrie lauds provincial windfall

The City of Barrie will be $12.2 million richer this fall, thanks to funding from the provincial government.

Barrie is one of several municipalities cashing in on the government`s surplus from the past fiscal year.

"The $12.2 million is certainly welcomed news for us," said Richard Forward, the city`s general manager of infrastructure, development and culture. "We`re really going to benefit from this. It`ll definitely help our long-range financial planning."

Premier Dalton McGuinty announced the province will invest $1.1 billion in infrastructure funding in Ontario municipalities this fall. The announcement came yesterday at the Association of Municipalities of

Ontario (AMO) conference in Ottawa. "The public accounts committee

http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDi....aspx?e=1171986

 

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$77M windfall

A city councillor says the $77 million Ottawa will get from the province for infrastructure improvements is a much-needed cash infusion and the first step toward eradicating waste from the Ottawa River by repairing the city`s faulty sewage system. Alta Vista Coun. Peter Hume, who is also the incoming president of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, said the money will help council make "huge strides" toward cleaning the river and ensuring raw sewage doesn`t enter the water any more than at acceptable levels.

http://www.ottawasun.com/News/OttawaAndReg...571921-sun.html

 

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Rail line not out of steam yet

The federal government has refused to upgrade the Hull-Chelsea-Wakefield stream train line, but Chelsea Mayor Jean Perras says the municipalities will apply for another grant in September and the train could still roll again next summer.

Mr. Perras said the government rejected a grant application by Gatineau, Chelsea and La Pêche in 2007 because the steam train did not carry freight. He said he does not know whether the line would qualify for a grant under a new federal-provincial infrastructure program that is to start this fall.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/c...2a-30f9415b5c88

 

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Hamilton`s $48-million provincial share `huge`

Hamilton is $48 million richer.

Premier Dalton McGuinty announced yesterday the province is giving $1.1 billion in infrastructure funding to municipalities thanks to Ontario`s budget surplus.

"It`s a lot of bread," said local MPP Ted McMeekin. "It is huge."

Mayor Fred Eisenberger, who was surprised by the size of Hamilton`s share, said he wants to target the backlog of work required in road, sewer and water infrastructure.

http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/424969

 

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Aging industrial site could be demolished

WATERLOO

The owner of a downtown factory dating back to the First World War wants to tear it down and build a 19-storey condominium building.

A development proposal to rezone 21 Allen St. W. from industrial to multi-residential is before city planners.

The three-storey building is now home to Ontario Table and Chair Co.

It`s owned by Randy Kinat, who did not return phone calls from The Record yesterday.

http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/404898