Saskatchewan Economic Fundamentals

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Council backs apartment incentive plan

City council agreed in principle Monday to a $6-million rebate program to lure private developers into building 1,000 new apartments within the next two years.

"I wish it wasn`t in principle. I wish it was the real McCoy tonight," said Coun. Maurice Neault, who congratulated civic staff on the proposal.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...5b-4078f9aa625b

 

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Station 20 rally won`t change decision: Wall

REGINA -- Saturday`s rally in support of the inner-city Station 20 West project that attracted more than 2,000 people won`t change the Saskatchewan Party government`s decision to pull its funding.

In question period, NDP Leader Lorne Calvert called on Premier Brad Wall "to listen to the voice of the people" and restore $8 million in government funding for the Saskatoon project, which is intended to centralize and expand health and social services for inner-city residents.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...7c-08638ca27ede

 

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City sees industrial land rush

The market for industrial land in and around Saskatoon keeps rising, along with the cost for a serviced lot.

According to a recent Colliers McClocklin first quarter industrial market report, the average price for an acre of fully serviced industrial land within city limits hit $275,000 in the three months leading off 2008. In the Marquis Industrial area, some lots were listed as high as $290,000 per acre and sold at an average of $294,000 per acre -- seven per cent more than asking price.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...76-7fa2704a2b41

 

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Wanuskewin project out of cash

Construction has stopped on a $10-million expansion of Wanuskewin Heritage Park.

"The project has run out of money," confirmed Justice Minister Don Morgan Tuesday. "The contractor quit because he hasn`t been paid."

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...85-ac9d9b47bd54

 

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Gov`t won`t neglect inner-city needs despite Station 20 decision: Wall

Premier Brad Wall is promising to spend more money in Saskatoon`s inner city despite his government`s decision to pull funding to build a new multi-purpose centre in the area.

"No one should doubt the resolve of this premier and this government to help those in the inner city deal with the issues that they face," said Wall at the Saskatchewan Party`s annual leader`s dinner in Saskatoon on Tuesday.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...d8-aac8d7c0161e

 

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West-end homeowners mull lawsuit over flooding

A group of homeowners on Saskatoon`s west end is hoping to sue the city for repeated flood damage.

"I`m not giving up," said Shellie Cooper who lives in Dundonald.

"I put in every single thing that the city asked -- the sump pump and the back valve and did everything and I still flooded."

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...92-896b6a28db96

 

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City`s housing starts continue to increase

Construction has started on nearly 600 housing units in Saskatoon in the first three months of 2008 and the pace is expected to continue through the spring, according to a new report.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation`s (CMHC) residential construction survey for March shows total housing starts for the year are 85 per cent higher than those recorded in the first three months of 2007 -- up to 590 units this year from 319.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...3f-fe66b0916318

 

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Sask. seeding plans up four per cent

REGINA (SNN) -- Farmers are planning to seed of 34.2 million acres, three per cent above the 10-year average of 33.3 million acres, and four per cent above last year`s 33.1 million acres, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture.

Crops projected to see increases in acreage seeded from last year include spring wheat, durum, flax, canola, mustard, lentils and peas.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...be-4c41785091cb

 

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Fraudster getting more jail time

A career con man with a long history of targeting the elderly, disabled and invalid -- including terminally ill cancer patients -- will serve extra time in jail for two frauds involving Regina residents.

Bryan Andrew Casavant, 46, pleaded guilty Tuesday to two Regina frauds he claims were part of an interprovincial crime spree prompted by the death of his brother.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...67-bf1870086995

 

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Economy boosts housing

The snow is melting and residential construction in Regina and area is heating up for another hot year.

A total of 285 housing units were started to date this year, up 10.5 per cent from this time last year, according to recent statistics from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC).

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...a9-d3c815d57378

 

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Field house to be built near hospital

Health region land has been earmarked for construction of the soccer field house.

At the committee of the whole meeting Monday, the city administration was granted permission by council to negotiate a land exchange with the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region (PAPHA).

The 19 acres located to the west and north of the intersection at 10th Avenue and 28th Street West will be home to the field house.

http://www.paherald.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=124246&sc=4

 

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Uranium a sluggish bandwagon

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall is on a mission to turn Saskatchewan into a nuclear powerhouse.

He promotes the idea of further processing of our uranium at every turn, from refining and conversion all the way to enrichment.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...2f-70fd4321e871

 

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Milroy residents take case to Court of Appeal

Residents of Milroy Apartments have decided to take their case against the City of Saskatoon to the Court of Appeal, in a further bid to overturn city council`s decision to approve the downtown highrise for condominium conversion.

The January council decision to let a local developer convert the 156-unit tower into condos was upheld by a Queen`s Bench court ruling last month, in which a judge denied the tenants` request to have the council vote set aside.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...da-b45edfc15c03

 

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Sask. ranks high on boil-water advisory list

REGINA -- The Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) has uncovered some startling facts about Canada`s drinking water.

Saskatchewan ranks No. 4 in the study with 126 boil-water advisories as of March 31 -- 53 were emergency boil-water orders and 73 were precautionary. In comparison Alberta reported 13 boil-water advisories and Manitoba issued 59 such warnings.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...e3-12ef2009cbbf

 

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Record year for Saskatchewan credit unions

REGINA -- Saskatchewan credit unions had a good year in 2007, with net income of $69.4 million, up from

$65 million in 2006, delegates were told at the annual meeting of SaskCentral, the umbrella group for the province`s credit unions in Saskatoon Wednesday.

SaskCentral itself also had a record year for net income with $53.9 million, compared with $16.2 million in 2006, thanks to sale of SaskCentral`s interest in two subsidiary companies, CUETS and CUMIS.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...36-fda0d10d2646

 

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Sask. housing boom lifts ISC to record profit

REGINA -- Information Services Corp. (ISC), once considered a black hole of expense for the provincial government, is now one of its shining stars, posting a record $23-million profit and paying an $8-million dividend to the province`s holding company in 2007.

And thanks to Saskatchewan`s booming housing market, ISC, which operates the province`s computerized land registry system, is expecting to see similar results in 2008.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...53-e78f47dce208

 

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Survey may provide a case for higher professor salaries

A preliminary Statistics Canada survey on the 2007-08 salaries of full-time teaching staff at Canadian universities is providing fodder for the University of Regina Faculty Association`s wage proposals in upcoming negotiations.

"Looking at the survey in terms of salary scales we definitely are not competitive in terms of Canadian universities,`` URFA president Dorothy Lane said in response to the survey.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...9c-acf88101f283

 

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307 Station 20 West Questions

Among the many reasons both for and against using millions of taxpayers` dollars for the well-intentioned, but expensive, Station 20 West project in the inner city of Saskatoon, there are some curiosities.

The provincial government`s decision to yank $8 million dollars from Station 20 West will not affect new low-income housing or a public library -- both of which are proceeding. Presumably the nearby community garden will also be a go.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...c3-d741c7a53e3e

 

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Library will open at Station 20 site

A new branch of the Saskatoon Public Library will open next year at the Station 20 West site in Saskatoon`s inner city, regardless of the provincial government`s recent decision to withdraw $8 million in funding from the Station 20 West project itself.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...99-a693ec000ef0

 

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China wants to expand holdings

Shares in Cameco Corp. rose this week on the news that China National Nuclear Corp. (CNNC) is looking to Canada for acquisitions or partnerships.

Saskatoon-based Cameco, the world`s largest uranium producer, rose 4.77 per cent, or $1.74, at the end of trading Thursday, closing at $38.25 -- the company`s highest share value since March 14. More than three million Cameco shares were traded Thursday, the busiest day for the company since March 20.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...85-c367d599dab5