ON Economic Fundamentals 2008-08

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Prosperity gap to widen, think-tank warns

Booming Saskatchewan will lead all provinces in economic growth this year, while Ontario and Quebec will suffer through a difficult year, said forecasters at the Conference Board of Canada.

The widening prosperity gap between the West and those in Central and Eastern Canada presents federal policy-makers with some unique challenges. The West may need policies that slow growth and curb inflation, while central Canada has few inflationary worries, but needs some economic stimulus to encourage growth.

In its semi-annual provincial outlook, the Conference Board says Saskatchewan`s economy is booming thanks to surging commodity prices, particularly oil and potash, and as a result, the provincial economy will grow by 4.2 per cent this year.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/b...64-a2965b1e6f41

 

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Airports fly in face of industry woes

These are turbulent times for air travel.

Profits at the major carriers are being threatened by soaring fuel prices and passengers are being hit by higher fares and surcharges to cover those additional costs.

At the same time, there`s a growing awareness -- among consumers and corporate leaders -- of the environmental impact of carbon emissions and concerns over how to reduce them.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/b...c2-4d3230fd3acf

 

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Sewer fix won`t flow easily: Hume

There`s no one quick fix to solving the pollution problems of the Ottawa River, warns Alta Vista Coun. Peter Hume.

Since a major spill in 2006 was uncovered earlier this year, attention has been focused on the downtown core`s combined sewer system and its associated problems. But Hume says he worries too much stock is being put on that one issue and residents shouldn`t be lulled into thinking solving it is the panacea to all of the river`s pollution problems.

http://www.ottawasun.com/News/OttawaAndReg...371341-sun.html

 

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Building permits down in June

The residential and non-residential sectors both dropped as the total value of building permits in June fell 5.3 per cent from May to $6.3 billion.

The decline hit most provinces and was 5.5 per cent in constant dollars.

The value of building permits fell 4.4 per cent in the residential sector to $3.6 billion, driven by lower values in multi-family permits in all provinces except Saskatchewan. The value of permits dropped 6.6 per cent to $2.8 billion in the non-residential sector due to declines in commercial and industrial intentions.

http://www.ottawasun.com/Money/2008/08/07/6374726.html

 

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Selling sidewalks hurt pedestrians, critics say

Toronto sidewalks are for sale. Pusateri`s Fine Foods got a chunk for $75,000 – the cost of transforming part of the public sidewalk space on Bay St. at the store`s Yorkville location into valet parking for four vehicles.

Now Holt Renfrew is about to get a chunk, too. The 46 parking spaces along Bloor St. between Avenue Rd. and Church St. will be eliminated as part of the $20 million Bloor Street Transformation Project, which calls for granite sidewalks, raised planters, special street lighting and public art. Holt Renfrew, meanwhile, will get a 20-metre lay-by at the front door, room for three cars.

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/473664

 

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Toronto rated as powerhouse

Chin up, Toronto. The website of U.S. business magazine Forbes has ranked Toronto as the world`s 10th most economically powerful city.

That may not be enough for an Olympic medal. But it puts Toronto on the same list as New York, Paris, Hong Kong, Tokyo and London, notes Stuart Green, a spokesperson for Mayor David Miller. And there`s nothing wrong with that.

"It acknowledges that Toronto is Canada`s economic capital," Green said in an interview.

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/473681

 

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City offers $750 grants for flood cleanup

Hamilton will extend compassionate grants worth $750 to homeowners whose basements have been flooded by a series of intense summer storms.

Residents anywhere in the city may apply for the compensation package, meant to help with the cost of emergency cleanup.

Scott Stewart, Hamilton`s general manager of public works, says at the height of the storm Tuesday night, the city sewer system was running all seven of its massive pumps flat-out and pumping enough to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool -- 2.5 million litres -- every three minutes.

http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/414716

 

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Hamilton calls truce on taxation war

City council is postponing any decision about Hamilton`s controversial tax divide until after the next election.

The 8-7 decision yesterday came despite a staff report that found fault with the current division of taxes between the old city and suburbs.

"Harmony overrides fairness," said Mayor Fred Eisenberger, reminding council of the acrimony caused by the recent Flamborough tax debate.

"There`s a healing process ... I`m really interested in setting this issue aside."

http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/414903

 

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Local house prices go up as sales go down

Sales are dropping but house prices in Hamilton are still rising.

The Realtors Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB) reports the number of properties sold in July was down 11 per cent from a year ago. The average price was up 4.7 per cent.

After seven months, the board says total sales are off seven per cent compared to last year. New listings are up six per cent.

"While homeowners continue to see healthy returns, it is taking slightly longer to achieve a sale; the average time on market has increased to 50 days compared to 47 days a year ago," said Bruce King, RAHB president-elect.

http://www.thespec.com/News/Business/article/414901

 

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More charged under watering bylaw

WATERLOO REGION

Bylaw officers have charged eight property owners with illegal lawn-watering so far this summer, up from six charges laid all last year.

The charges, against six residences and two businesses, are for watering on the wrong day or outside regulated hours.

"We`ve had sprinklers going when it`s raining," said Marty Sawdon, who manages bylaw enforcement for regional government. "If you have a sprinkler system, make sure that you`re monitoring the settings."

http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/394913

 

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Two new fire halls on way

A pair of new Markham fire stations is in the works, fire Chief Don McClean said.

The two proposed fire and emergency facilities will augment the existing seven, staffed by 240, including administrative personnel.

Awaiting final council approvals and ownership of the sites, the dual station expansion is budgeted at $6 million. The first station, near Cathedral Town at the north-west corner of Major Mackenzie Drive and Woodbine Avenue, could be operating by late 2009, Chief McClean said.

The second location, at Cornell, near Bur Oak Avenue north of Hwy. 7, will follow.

http://www.yorkregion.com/News/Markham/article/79296

 

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New ice rinks, pitches, diamonds in works

The sports and recreation landscape of Whitchurch-Stouffville is about to change dramatically.

Pick a sport and its base of activity will likely be altered in the next few years.

With new households continuing to sprout up, use of existing indoor and outdoor recreational facilities are showing no signs of decline, town director of leisure services Tom Graham said.

Many are operating to near capacity, just like the organizations that use them.
"This is a great community. There`s lots of active participation," Mr. Graham said.

http://www.yorkregion.com/News/Whitchurch-...e/article/79338

 

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WestJet cuts Toronto-L.A. route
WestJet Airlines Ltd. will be suspending its Toronto-Los Angeles route this fall, and letting service lapse between Calgary and Newark, N.J., but says it remains committed to expanding total seat capacity, cushioned by trips to Mexico.

"Toronto to Los Angeles was intended to be year-round," WestJet spokesman Robert Palmer said yesterday, noting that the service is slated to end Nov. 1, less than a year after it was relaunched.

The Toronto-Los Angeles route will be shifted to seasonal scheduling because of slowing advance bookings, compared with "greater opportunities with the aircraft to maximize efficiencies," he said.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...PStory/Business

 

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City Centre shuttle might be scuttled, again

Barring a dramatic increase in users, it appears Mississauga Transit`s City Centre shuttle bus is doomed to be garaged again, barely seven months after it was resurrected after a three-year hiatus.
At the very least, City of Mississauga staff is recommending that service hours be reduced by more than 30 hours per week, starting in October. That, according to a report presented Wednesday, Aug. 6 to Council, will save the City close to $100,000 annually.
The recommendation, based on an interim review, did not come as a surprise to some councillors. Even a resident came forward to say he`d issued a warning at the outset.

http://mississauga.com/article/17407

 

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Developer wants boundary change to pave way for $50-million resort

If you can`t build outside the urban boundary, bring the boundary to you.

That`s the philosophy in the latest attempt by the Queenston Quarry Reclamation Company to turn the former Lafarge quarry into a sprawling tourist resort.

After the Niagara Escarpment Commission denied the company`s request to build a 220-room country inn outside the urban boundary of St. Davids, the company is requesting the urban boundary be extended to reach the location of the planned hotel, president Frank Racioppo said Thursday.

Approval could make or break the project, Racioppo said. Plans calling for a golf course, spa, winery, trails and equestrian facility need to fit together as a whole.

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/Article....aspx?e=1148496

 

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Deputy mayor says plan will be more modest than MURF

Meeting the recreational and cultural needs of the largest township in Simcoe County will be an enormous challenge, says a planning consultant.

"Oro-Medonte has no centre," said Robert Lockhart, a partner in ReThink Group.

"The population is widely dispersed."

Instead of one focal point, the 20,000 year-round residents live on rural properties and in hamlets such as Moonstone, Warminster, Shanty Bay, Horseshoe Valley, Sugar Bush, Craighurst, Oro Station and Hawkestone.

The 61,000-hectare township owns 85 acres of land adjacent to the only indoor ice rink in Guthrie on Highway 11 and Line 4. It is earmarked for recreational development. For more, please This land could be used to build a multi-use recreation complex with two ice surfaces to replace the existing 37-year-old rink and additional components, such as indoor soccer and fitness centre and outdoor uses such as baseball and soccer fields.

http://www.orilliapacket.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1148183

 

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Feds give Ontario Pan Am Games bid boost

The federal government will put up some cash in support Ontario`s bid for the 2015 Pan Am Games.

Word trickled down to the provincial government from the feds late yesterday afternoon that money will flow from Ottawa to Toronto to help cover a third of the $1.77-billion it will take to bring the Games to the Golden Horseshoe region in 2015.

"We`re supporting these Games," Finance Minister Jim Flaherty told Sun Media last night. "The financial commitment of the government will be huge." Flaherty refused to say how much his government would pony up for the Games, insisting he first wants to review the business plan presented by the Ontario government.

http://www.ottawasun.com/News/National/200...381316-sun.html

 

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Ottawa housing prices strong, report says

Although the number of residential properties on the market has decreased slightly over the past year, the Ottawa Real Estate Board says prices remain strong.

Members of the board sold 1,390 residential properties in July through the board`s Multiple Listing Service system compared with 1,451 in July 2007, a decrease of 4.2 per cent. There were 1,691 sales in June 2008.

Board president-elect Rick Snell says it`s normal for the Ottawa market to have fewer sales in July, after the busy spring market cools off. Also, he wrote in a release, listing inventory has declined, so the market is becoming more balanced and, he says, a balanced market is an ideal environment in which to buy or sell a property.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/b...02-4239a5018c6c

 

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Building permits value fall in June

The value of building permits in Canada plunged 5.3 per cent to $6.3 billion in June, as plans for residential and non-residential projects declined from the month before, Statistics Canada reported yesterday.

The most significant decrease occurred in Ontario, where the value of building permits -- a key indicator of construction activity -- fell 7.9 per cent to $2.3 billion. Six provinces saw declines in their numbers.

Nationally, the residential sector experienced a 4.4-per-cent drop to $3.6 billion, generated by lower values in multi-family permits in all provinces except Saskatchewan.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/b...4f-4cd9dafc64d6

 

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Trades training facility stirs interest

Political momentum is building at city hall for a contribution of more than $1 million toward a new trades training facility in Orléans.

The city is being asked to contribute 7.2 hectares of property at Trim Road and Highway 174 so La Cité collégiale can build the trades centre for francophone students.

The land is worth $1 million and the city will also waive various development charges under a deal to be presented to council.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/c...b9-9778f1f419e9