SK Economic Fundamentals 2008-07

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Building permits up from last year

The first half of the building permit season at City Hall is over -- and it`s a virtual tie with the numbers posted in the sizzling record-breaking year of 2007.

Information released by the city, for the first six months of this year, show that the city issued permits for construction valued at $188.7 million, which is slightly above the $188.5 million in building permits issued for the first six months of 2007.

"It`s amazingly close to last year,`` said Garry Wasyliw, the manager of the city`s building branch.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...fa-89539ee47d01

 

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Uranium gaining ground

Cameco shares jumped this week as it announced that it continues to make progress with remediation at the Cigar Lake Uranium Project in northern Saskatchewan.

Cameco has submitted an application to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) to allow dewatering of the project.

The CNSC has approved Cameco`s plans to pump the water out of the mine and to inspect the mine once the water is pumped out.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...b9-f0e68adf8d3c

 

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Landlord plans to reopen house city boarded up

Jack Grover has a court date of July 10 to convince a judge to order a reconnection of utility services cut by the city earlier this week.

But the Saskatoon landlord isn`t waiting that long to let his tenants back into the property at the corner of Avenue D and 27th Street West.

In a letter sent Friday afternoon to the city solicitor`s office and acting fire chief Dan Paulsen, Grover stated his intention to remove the boards blocking the entrances to the multiplex.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...a7-a6d2b53c8417

 

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Multi-year fraud scheme lands former gov`t employee in jail

REGINA -- A former high-ranking government employee, devoted volunteer and well-respected member of the community was led out of a Regina courtroom in handcuffs on Friday after being sentenced to 15 months in jail for fraud.

Brenda Oates, 50, sat with her long hair hanging over her face and showed no reaction when she learned her sentence. She looked tearfully back at her husband and daughter once before leaving court with RCMP officers.

Outside court, Oates` lawyer, Cam McCannell, described the experience of being sent to jail as "like getting hit between the eyes with a sledgehammer."

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...be-8ebf64ec37b0

 

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Construction of Humboldt hospital set to begin

Final approval has been given for construction of a new $40-million hospital in Humboldt.

Wright Construction was awarded the contract on Friday after financing details were finalized. The provincial cabinet approved $2.7 million in additional funding last week.

"The government wants to see this project move ahead without delay," Health Minister Don McMorris said in a news release.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...fb-f02bcdcad471

 

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Ponds and fountains next best alternative to costly waterfront

Water is becoming an irresistible feature in big and small gardens, even on small elevated terraces and balconies.

"A water feature can be something as simple as a birdbath or an elaborate as a 20-by-20-foot pond," says Richard Bown, who recently opened a shop in Ottawa that pays homage to the soothing power of water and outdoor accessories.

There is a growing range of decorative and simple ways to add water to your property, says the landscape architect. The first step is looking at your lifestyle and deciding what water features suit you. Also look at the size of your property and go from there.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...a2-54a0070940fd

 

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Local firm expanding

TriKoot Real Estate Services has unveiled plans to offer their property management services throughout the province.

"Our research has shown that with a growing base of out-of-province investors looking to make their investment real estate profitable while being `hands-free` has created a demand for efficient and focused Property Management Services all over the province," explained TriKoot Real Estate Services President and CEO Trevor Koot.

http://www.swbooster.com/index.cfm?sid=149432&sc=37

 

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Enrollment in public system expected to continue to sag slightly

School enrolments are expected to continue to modestly decline next academic year in spite of the economic good times and improvements in overall population numbers in southeast Saskatchewan. Lionel Diederichs, superintendent of administration and finance for the South East Cornerstone School Division, which includes Estevan and area schools, said that projections for school enrolments for the next academic year indicate a slight overall decline of about 64 students in the division`s 39 school facilities. That is a miniscule drop in the overall picture. The number of students registering for the new year is expected to still be near the 7,700 range.

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

 

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Intersection getting $1.35-million upgrade

Construction on one of Moose Jaw`s most notorious intersections is scheduled to begin Monday.
Ninth Avenue Northwest and the Trans-Canada Highway — the site of 48 accidents, 18 injuries and four fatalities since 1988 — is undergoing a $1.35 million upgrade to make it safer and more efficient.
"We consider this to be a very important project," Minister of Highways and Infrastructure Wayne Elhard said during press conference at city hall Friday. "It`s a project that`s long overdue."

http://www.mjtimes.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=150012&sc=3

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Centre has summer jobs; now it needs workers

The Moose Jaw summer job market is definitely favouring those looking for work this year.
Aimee Collette, lead youth summer officer, said this year`s youth summer job program has plenty of willing employers, but is running short on willing young employees.
According to the Services Canada website, there were 78 full- and part-time youth or student jobs in the Moose Jaw area as of Friday, ranging in various types, "like working in retail, restaurant jobs and labourers," Collette said.

http://www.mjtimes.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=150013&sc=520

 

[joeiannuzzi]

New `bed barrier` fights bedbug infestations

Late at night when you`re sleeping, the bedbugs come creeping. And it seems the little bloodsuckers have now made their way throughout the United States, spreading from the major cities where the infestations started a few years ago.

"Just a couple of years ago, it was a pest that not many people had seen. Now, virtually every pest control company that we`re in contact with is dealing with regular bedbug incidents," said Greg Baumann, vice president of Technical Services for the National Pest Management Association.

Because bedbugs are primarily associated with mattresses, some companies are now designing protective products for bedding. London Luxury LLC has just introduced a collection of "bed bug barrier bedding," mattress and pillow protectors, available through Bed Bath & Beyond.

http://www.paherald.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=150019&sc=4

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Even millionaires might not be retirement ready

Even if you are a millionaire, that does not mean you can afford to retire. Over the years, the value of the dollar has been shrunk so much by inflation that the term "millionaire" has lost much of its former glamour.

Statistics Canada tells us nine per cent of Canadian families were millionaires in 2005, up from five per cent in 1999. Many of those millionaires could be homeowners in Vancouver or farmers in Saskatchewan who don`t feel rich at all.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...fd-0e8a4bc6be0c

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Cypress Hill Vineyard growing in popularity

The secret seems to be getting out about a bistro as unique as the Cypress Hills, judging from the array of out of province and country license plates in the overflowing parking lot.

Located 20 kilometres southwest of Maple Creek, Saskatchewan lies Cypress Hills Vineyard and Winery – one of the few wineries on the prairies and the only one that produces its own wine grapes.

The bustling bistro was a beehive of activity last Saturday, "and this isn`t even the busiest, it`s just average," said Marie Bohnet, proprietor and co-owner with her husband Marty.

http://www.mdhnews.com/content/view/34147/65/

 

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Nuclear option could be viable

Nuclear power could work in Saskatchewan under certain business models -- with some significant qualifications -- according to an internal report done by SaskPower last year.

The draft report -- "Nuclear Power: A Report Examining Scenarios, Options, and Issues for its Implementation in Saskatchewan" -- was one of 14 studies relating to nuclear power dating back to 1972 that were released Monday by the Saskatchewan Party government.

Last month, private operator Bruce Power LP -- which is already considering a nuclear plant in Alberta -- announced it would launch a feasibility study on nuclear power in Saskatchewan.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...78-ac5485ec47e8

 

[joeiannuzzi]

RCMP warn of loan scam

Would-be homeowners are among those at risk of getting soaked by a suspected mortgage and loan scam, warns the Saskatchewan RCMP.

The RCMP`s commercial crime section is investigating advance fee loan schemes, as advertised online and in several different Saskatchewan newspapers, including the Leader-Post`s June 11 edition. The ads offer loans and mortgages upon contacting the number in the ad.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...df-198b3f0702b6

 

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Municipalities get funding

SASKATOON -- Saskatchewan municipalities with outstanding infrastructure projects would be well advised to submit their wish lists.

During the next six years, the federal and provincial governments will invest $189 million -- $94.5 million apiece -- to help communities under 100,000 people address priorities such as cleaner water and better waste management.

The funding, which comes from the Building Canada Fund, was announced Monday at Innovation Place by Lynne Yelich, Conservative MP for Blackstrap.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...50-091cf6fa2f7b

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Permit values soar from a year ago

A drop in the value of building permits from April to May isn`t indicative of a slowdown in Saskatchewan`s red-hot economy.

While the value of building permits in the province in May is down 19.5 per cent from April, it`s up 34.5 per cent from May of 2007.

"I don`t pay an awful lot of attention to the specific month because they are really volatile. They bounce around from month to month," said Doug Elliott of the SaskTrends Monitor.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...04-df3559b0cd23

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Housing market still strong in P.A., says Realtor

The housing market might be cooling off in various cities, but Prince Albert`s remains strong, said the president of the Prince Albert and District Association of Realtors.

Lou Doderai said although the number of houses sold this year is not the same as for the same period last year, sales are still strong.

"We`re up in volume (and) we`re up in listings."

Doderai said last year`s hot market was "not normal" for local realtors, although nobody knows why numbers shot up.

Listings from Jan. 1 to June 30 have consistently increased from 570 in 2004 to 990 this year. Sales have varied over the same time: 300 in 2004, 358 in 2005, 344 in 2006, 700 last year and 566 this year.

http://www.paherald.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=150818&sc=4

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Weeding out the neighbourhood

Long grass and weeds beware, a new clean-up group has been formed in Regina.

The North Central Citizens Group Inc. is a newly formed corporation comprising citizens within the North Central community along the 1200 and 1300 blocks of Queen Street.

The group has taken it upon itself to clean up the back alleys of the two blocks by mowing long grass, removing rubble and pulling weeds that have encroached from people`s property. Motivated by the extremely successful Lavender Lane project in Crescents, the North Central Citizens Group Inc. is hoping that the clean-up, along with a newly incorporated Neighbourhood Watch program, will reduce crime in the area and the back alleys.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...7b-53eb655d5528

 

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Realtors OK with tougher disclosure rules

Reginans planning on buying or selling property must prove they are who they say they are under new federal regulations.

The regulations that went into effect on June 23 require real estate agents and brokers to collect and confirm more personal information from their clients.

The regulations will be enforced by the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC). The legislation is part of Bill C-25, which requires the real estate industry, among others, to help combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...74-9b27a00276cf