SK Economic Fundamentals 2008-07

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What`s Behind the Curtain?
Saskatchewan
2008-07
Daily Online Edition

 

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Construction projects on hold at Sask Pen

Although the number of inmates in Canada`s correctional institutions is expected to increase in future, the federal government has no plans to build new prisons.

http://www.paherald.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=148590&sc=4

 

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Revitalization plan begins

Lt.-Gov. Gordon Barnhart announced a Government House gardens restoration project during the inaugural Lieutenant-Governor`s garden party to coincide with Canada Day celebrations.

"I am pleased to unveil the Government House Edwardian Garden Rehabilitation Project,`` Barnhart said.

He explained in the early years of Government House -- which was the official residence of the Queen`s representative from 1891 to 1945 -- head gardener George Watt in collaboration with Lt.-Gov. Amedee Forget (1898-1910) transformed the grounds from bald prairie into an oasis of trees and flowers.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...95-b51c62841234

 

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Tenants left in the dark

SASKATOON -- Despite a last-minute injunction request by controversial landlord Jack Grover, power and water lines were cut off early Monday at his Westmount-area rental multiplex to prepare for a scheduled property demolition.

The City of Saskatoon had slated the property at the corner of Avenue D and 27th Street West for demolition today under an order that states the house is not safe for habitation.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...7b-89af9823f4a0

 

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Oilsands significance hasn`t peaked yet

MADRID, Spain -- Canada`s oilsands are still years away from making a meaningful impact on global oil supplies, the heads of two of the world`s largest oil companies -- Exxon and Total -- said at the World Petroleum Congress in Spain on Tuesday.

But they also said despite economic and environmental challenges, unconventional oil from Canada will eventually play a crucial role in meeting the world`s oil needs.

"Resources in Athabasca (Alta.) are huge, probably much bigger than expected," Total CEO Christophe de Margerie told a news conference. "The problem is that the time to take resources into production will be longer than expected."

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...f6-0c70c4147b53

 

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Metakaolin plant producing jobs for Sask. residents

WOOD MOUNTAIN -- Canada`s first metakaolin plant is up and running after ironing out some bugs and is gearing up to reach full capacity of 200,000 tonnes per year in the next few months.

More importantly, the $50-million mine and mill complex is producing much-needed jobs for young people in this sparsely populated area of south-central Saskatchewan.

Metakaolin is superheated kaolin, a white-coloured clay used in manufacturing paint, plastics and ceramics and as a filler and coater in paper.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...55-26d56249c907

 

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Immigrants help solve labour shortage

Prince Albert has the jobs and immigrants are looking for a better life. Together it could be a perfect match.

Employers around the province have started to snap up immigrants and Prince Albert is no different.

Alan Greene, general manager for Boston Pizza in Prince Albert, said the restaurant chain decided to do something unconventional to relieve some of the pressure of the labour shortage.

http://www.paherald.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=148988&sc=4

 

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Cattle conference kicks off in Queen City

The "gentle giant`` of cattle breeds was being celebrated at a party in Regina on Wednesday that included an international contingent of visitors to the city.

That reception was the kickoff for an 18-day combination tour of Western Canada and international conference for fans of the South Devon breed, which is revered for its tender, tasty meat and many other fine qualities.

The South Devon breed is "noted for their gentle disposition; in England they`re called the gentle giant,`` said Dar Geiss, the president of the World South Devon Association.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...cd-0b3fa8160973

 

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Wall affirms energy links with U.S.

REGINA -- The appetite for Canadian energy in the United States remains undiminished despite increasing concerns over the environmental impact of the oilsands, Premier Brad Wall said Wednesday at the close of the Western Governors Association annual meeting.

Wall said the governors expressed a desire for co-operation between Canada and the United States in areas such as the production of renewable and non-renewable energy sources and the development of carbon capture and sequestration technology.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...47-307a02144212

 

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Landlord seeks court order to restore utilities

Saskatoon landlord Jack Grover rushed to the Queen`s Bench courthouse Wednesday to file an application to get power restored to a west-side multiplex the city intends to demolish.

"We want that back on tomorrow (Thursday)," Grover said as he and lawyer Jim Serne delivered the documents.

The pair will appear before a judge this morning to make their arguments.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...06-7a192e73241b

 

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Will anyone`s interests be served if Lakeside closes?

A major sale is pending in the Canadian beef packing industry. If the sale proceeds, Canada`s beef processing sector will be more Canadian-owned, but a lot more concentrated. Rather than three big players, there will be two. Tyson Foods has signed a letter of intent to sell the packing, feed yard and fertilizer assets of Lakeside Farm Industries Ltd. and its subsidiary, Lakeside Packers, based in Brooks, Alta. The buyer is XL Foods.

Lakeside employs 2,300 people and has the capacity to slaughter and process 4,700 cattle a day. The boxed beef produced by the plant is sold to customers in Canada and the U.S.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...d3-0f73678b36e7

 

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Saskatoon company completes acquisition

Saskatoon`s Great Western Minerals Group Ltd. (GWMG) has completed its acquisition of Less Common Metals Ltd. (LCM), a U.K.-based specialty alloy producer, for $7.8 million.

GWMG, which explores and develops strategic metal resources including rare earth elements, announced in early June its intent to acquire LCM, a move that will advance its "mine to market" strategy.

LCM now joins GWMG`s wholly owned subsidiary, Great Western Technologies Inc. of Troy, Mich., in producing specialty alloys for the automotive, battery, magnet and aerospace industries.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...9d-6d23b7bf10c1

 

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Saskatoon grapples with boomtown pains

After a lifetime in Alberta, Don Evernden sold off his charter aviation business and moved to Saskatchewan, drawn by the kind of economic boom he has witnessed in his home province.

Mr. Evernden, 73, bought a farm last year northwest of Saskatoon, cashing in on the growing agriculture sector, and went looking for another opportunity.

The investment that caught his eye was McNab Park, a rundown former military base bordering the Saskatoon airport where old barracks have been used for decades as low-income housing for about 400 people. Some city officials consider the neighbourhood an "eyesore" at the gateway to the city and have longed to redevelop it. Mr. Evernden had the same idea when he bought the land in January for $17-million.

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

 

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Teachers needed to fill in for teachers who fill in

The education labour market is dwindling.

Saskatchewan Rivers School Division has been hardest hit.

Jim Mireau a superintendent with the school division said they are doing alright when it comes to teachers, but some areas could be better.

They are currently seeing a shortage of substitute teachers.

In the last year there were times when the list contained about 150 substitutes, but the list could use another 30.

"As the years goes along it tends to dwindle."

http://www.paherald.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=149423&sc=4

 

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Victoria Park turns outdoor cinema

Victoria Park is set to be transformed into an outdoor cinema tonight with the erection of a giant, inflatable movie screen.

The Cinema4Change 10-city movie tour, which is making its way across the province this summer, is stopping in Regina today. The tour is named after the Saskatchewan-based non-profit group which paired up with the

FreshAirCinema company to raise money for charities in each of the 10 host cities.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...32-e2fdaac2355a

 

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Regina running out of room to store your worldly possessions

Due to the booming housing industry many Reginans are handing over the keys to their homes and picking up the keys to a storage unit.

As the real estate market continues to favour sellers over buyers and waiting times for new houses grow, many homeowners are selling their homes before purchasing or building their next one.

This is good news for storage businesses around the city as an increasing number of people are looking for a place to store their household items.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...82-8ae47c4f5d1f

 

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Infrastructure repairs for shortline rail lines

A series of grants to help repair and maintain shortline rail lines in Saskatchewan was announced Thursday at the legislature.

Highways and Infrastructure Minister Wayne Elhard said the province plans to provide $500,000 to shortline rail companies, which will invest a matching $500,000, for a total of $1 million to be spent on rail line infrastructure.

"Shortline rail is important because it helps link Saskatchewan export-based economy to provincial, national and worldwide markets,`` said Elhard, who announced the grants at a press conference in front of his office at the legislature.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...44-c14355da8933

 

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Sask. to lead nation for next couple of years: RBC

SASKATOON -- The stars "appear to be perfectly aligned" for Saskatchewan to post the best economic growth in Canada this year and next, says a new report from RBC Economics.

The report predicts growth of 3.7 per cent this year and 3.8 per cent in 2009.

"Reaping the benefits of the positive terms of trade shock currently playing out in the Canadian economy, the province is in the fortunate position that virtually all of its major commodity exports -- oil, grain, uranium and potash -- are recording historically high prices," said Craig Wright, senior vice-president and chief economist at RBC.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...4c-9f9e4798856b

 

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Retailers shopping for employees

Retail can`t keep up with their customers.

Local businesses in the area cannot hire staff quick enough. The problem? They are leaving as fast are they are coming.

Chad Fraser, the manager of Wal-Mart, said, "We are hiring as fast as we can."

They are facing the same shortage of employees as many other retail companies in the area.

Fraser believes it is due to the fact Saskatchewan is doing so well and stores are expanding. This leads to a lot of open jobs.

"There are a ton of jobs out there."

http://www.paherald.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=149807&sc=4

 

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Construction on highways

Motorists on Saskatchewan`s highways could face delays this weekend due to construction in a number of locations.

They include:

- The Trans-Canada Highway -- The twinning lanes of the highway from the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border to Whitewood are under construction adjacent to the existing lanes.

- Highway 2 -- From its junction with Highway 264 to 34 kilometres south of its junction with Highway 916 is being surfaced. Highway 2 is being paved from 18km north of Imperial to Watrous.

- Highway 8 -- The highway is under construction from its junction with Highway 361 to 10km south of its junction with Highway 13, from its junction with Highway 13 to its junction of Highway 48, and from 24km north of Moosomin to 16km south of Qu`Appelle.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...d1-47c982c430e8