Saskatchewan Economic Fundamentals

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Record land sales eclipsing Alberta`s

Saskatchewan`s red-hot oilpatch has smashed records for a single sale and annual sales revenues in the April sale of Crown petroleum and natural gas drilling rights.

April`s sale raised a whopping $265 million in bonus bid revenue, shattering the previous single-sale record of $197 million set in February. Prior to the February land sale, the previous record of $85 million for a single sale had stood for 14 years.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...c2-4830ea77664d

 

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Sask. may help build expansion

CARNDUFF -- A large expansion at the Minot Air Force Base could benefit Canadian ready-to-move (RTM) home builders.

North Dakota Senator Kent Conrad announced this week that the United States Air Force is moving more B-52 bombers and 1,000 personnel to the base. Kevin Stovin, who owns Triple T Homes of Carnduff, would like to be able to sell and move the homes he builds into North Dakota.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...13-6be3d7ad7c71

 

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Tax Increase and Infrastructure highlight city budget

Swift Current taxpayers will once again be seeing an increase in their municipal tax bill as city council approved the 2008 budget totaling $33.5 million.
A municipal property tax increase of three per cent is required this year to offset increased prices for fuel, energy, labor, and protective services.
With a unanimously vote council approved the 2008 budget totaling $33.5 million in operating and $16.9 million in capital. Although this is once again an aggressive budget, council maintained its position that investments must be made to allow Swift Current`s continued growth.


http://www.swbooster.com/index.cfm?sid=125220&sc=1

 

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Spending $635 million on Sask.

A long-anticipated interchange at Lewvan Drive and the Trans-Canada Highway is one of the key infrastructure projects expected to proceed with the signing of an agreement Friday between Saskatchewan and the federal government.

The framework agreement provides about $635 million for Saskatchewan infrastructure projects over seven years as part of the federal government`s Building Canada plan, a national, multibillion-dollar infrastructure program.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...89-eae6feca3d6f

 

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Rent control not on gov`t agenda

SASKATOON -- Provincial Justice Minister Don Morgan said Friday the Saskatchewan Party government does not have rent control on its agenda.

Calling rent control "problematic" and "not desirable," Morgan addressed the Saskatchewan Rental Housing Industry Association (SRHIA) at its annual general meeting.

"I can`t imagine a better way to kill an economic boom," he told about 100 SRHIA members.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...f7-270c677efeb0

 

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Prices through the roof

Prices for newly-constructed homes in the Regina area and in Saskatoon are continuing to rise spectacularly, according to Statistics Canada data released Friday.

The data indicated that the prices for new homes in the Regina area increased by a startling seven per cent in just one month (from January to February this year) and by an impressive 28.6 per cent in February compared to February of last year.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...20-997d993a4912

 

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Health centre gets go ahead

Tendering for the construction of the Humboldt District Health Complex has been approved by the Ministry of Health.

"Residents of Humboldt and area can now be assured the Humboldt District Health Complex is no longer just a plan but a reality," Darlene Eberle, chair of the Saskatoon Regional Health Authority, said in a news release.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...fb-33b87cc2b89b

 

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Chamber of commerce targets province`s immigration woes

It may have been a hefty goal, but in just one day, the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce hoped Friday to solve the "dysfunctional" Saskatchewan immigration system.

About 100 people from businesses and organizations gathered at Prairieland Park to try to understand the problems surrounding immigration in Saskatchewan and to develop strategies for labour recruitment abroad.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...aa-91e7ab9c943b

 

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Station 20 backers seek support from council

When the mayor and city councillors convene their usual executive committee meeting on Monday, they`ll be facing a gauntlet of speakers anxious to have their say on the city`s condo conversion policy.

They`ll also be facing a crowd of Station 20 West supporters who are eager to make themselves heard -- but council won`t have to listen to the second group unless it wants to.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...25-3c5bc2146345

 

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A lot more than wheat

SASKATOON — Grant Isaac, when he left, never thought he`d be back. Hailing from a family of sports broadcasters out of Regina, Mr. Isaac studied economics at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. After finishing his masters, he and his wife moved to England, where Mr. Isaac did his PhD at the London School of Economics. A world of opportunity was at hand.

But they chose, in 2000, to return. Sensing change, sensing possibility, sensing something percolating, the spirits of their forebears, pioneers who made a life out of a hard land, in the middle of nowhere.

"Everything just seemed to be pointing in the direction of change," Mr. Isaac remembered of the emerging ambitions of his home province this week over a coffee in Saskatoon.

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

 

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Shale party comes to Saskatchewan

After big discoveries in British Columbia and Quebec, a small Calgary company is hoping Saskatchewan will be the next shale gas hot spot.

That`s because tiny PanTerra Resource Corp. has almost half a million hectares of prospective land near Moose Jaw it says could hold more than 60 trillion cubic feet of unconventional gas reserves.

"Shale gas is basically unknown in Canada," compared to the United States, where it is well-established, says vice-president Herve Collet. "We looked around and said there are other places to do this."

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...82-69634d0b3c03

 

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Council OKs property tax hike

This is one budget not loved by all. Council passed the 2008 operating budget during Monday`s council meeting at city hall, with a third of the six council members present voting against it. In a recorded vote, both Couns. Dawn Luhning and Brian Swanson rejected the $22.9 million budget, which the other four councillors approved. Mayor Dale McBain is still recovering from heart surgery and couldn`t attend. Coun. Al Schwinghamer said the 3.6 per cent tax increase isn`t that much money for the average taxpayer, but it allows the city to maintain, what he said, is basically a status quo budget.

http://www.mjtimes.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=124273&sc=3

 

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Business as usual for local realtors

Following the dissolution of the Swift Current Real Estate Association on January 1, Swift Current and area Realtors have now become regional members of the Association of Regina Realtors  Inc. (ARR).

Under this structure, local realtors have formed a Regional Council Executive Committee made up of local realtors to oversee member services, activities, and the operation of the Swift Current and region Multiple Listing ServiceÂ.

http://www.swbooster.com/index.cfm?sid=123381&sc=37

 

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Price increase a `bright spot` for area farmers

Farming in the area is looking a bit better with the increase of prices, however, farmers are also being hit with increases in their input costs.
"Fertilizer, fuel and chemicals have all doubled in price. With the increases of prices it`s going to be better, but not real great," said Ray Young, who farms near Nipawin.
Young says the last few years have been a little on the wet side, but overall it hasn`t been too bad. Other areas, such as Arborfield and Smeaton have seen very wet conditions for the last four years.

http://www.nipawinjournal.com/News/390941.html

 

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Province unveils overpass plans

Get ready for a long summer of road construction and traffic snarls in Estevan.The long awaited rehabilitation project on the Highway 39 overpass is scheduled to begin in May and will take until September to complete. That, coupled with a number of projects planned by the City of Estevan, means residents will have to navigate a number of roadblocks and detours as they make their way around the east side of the city once the work begins. (See accompanying story on city work.)

http://www.estevanmercury.ca/data/stories/...story/News.html

 

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City unveils flood plan

A report heads to city council today recommending $8.9 million in spending to further reduce the risk of basement flooding in the west end.

A $1.15-million storm water retention pond for Charlottetown Park, north of Westridge Village on Confederation Drive, was recently completed.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...ea-9cd23afd9f10

 

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Rural communities still struggle to recruit doctors

A few rural hospitals are still troubled with locked emergency room doors as doctor shortages are burgeoning in the province`s west, while easing in the east.

The lack of doctors that plagued hospitals in east-central Saskatchewan is on the mend -- Preece-ville, Kamsack and Canora haven`t seen service disruptions for months as many new physicians have arrived in the area.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...8d-579d6cf23b6d

 

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Saskatchewan has unique tax rules you need to understand

If you are a Saskatchewan resident, become familiar with the many tax rules that are unique to this province.

Review Form SK428 found in your 2007 income tax return.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...62-cd0820c2903d

 

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Potash pink gold

Gilberto Lima walks into his private jungle of sugarcane, breaks off a stalk and studies the sweet, moist inside.

For 40 years, Lima`s family has grown sugarcane on Fazenda Pinhalzinho (Little Pine Farm), selling it to sweeten everything from Coke to candy.

In today`s Brazil, it`s more lucrative than ever.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...27-ba43abfa6bea

 

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Vacant school sold for $95,890

The former Prince Charles Community School has a new owner.

Saskatchewan Rivers School Division sold the property at 550 8th Ave. E. to Dmyterko Enterprises Ltd., which plans to turn it into new homes.

The school, built on 5.5 acres, closed permanently last fall and has since sat idle.

"We didn`t need the facility and it was old. So Dmyterko Enterprises Ltd. bought it via public tender closed on March 28, for the sum of $95,890," said Dennis Moniuk, secretary treasurer for Saskatchewan Rivers School Division.

http://www.paherald.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=125634&sc=4