SK Economic Fundamentals 2008-09

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0908RGNA
House construction booms

Regina housing starts were down 45 per cent in August from the same period in 2007 due to a sharp decline in multiple-unit construction, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.

There were 108 total starts in August, compared with 198 starts in August 2007. But there were only eight multi-family units (compared with 115 in August 2007), while 100 were single-detached homes (up 20.5 per cent from 83 single-family starts last year).

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...4a-5b77fd9b6e0e

 

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0908RGNA
House price study flawed: realtors

A recent study that suggests Regina`s housing market could be in for a big correction should be in for a big correction itself, according to Regina housing market watchers.

The study, called Are Canadian Housing Markets Overpriced? released Monday by the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia, claimed that Regina houses are overpriced by 25 per cent or $87,000.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...e7-0ee3217c0e50

 

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0908RGNA
Opportunities aplenty for local job seekers


For anyone seeking employment in Regina during the next few months, things are looking up.

The most recent Manpower employment outlook survey indicates that there will be an increase in hiring.

Job seekers should see an increase of 40 per cent in hiring for the next quarter, which runs from October to December, according to Donna Fergusson of Manpower`s Regina office.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...27-d07b463c75c8

 

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0908SKTN
Funds flow to Station 20

If Station 20 West supporters raise enough money by December, construction on the long-awaited community project could begin in May and wrap up by the end of 2009.

The donations keep rolling in, and some generous benefactors are cutting five-figure cheques to the organization, former project manager Paul Wilkinson says. As of Tuesday, the new project manager, Faith Bodnar, told Wilkinson the non-profit corporation has raised about $425,000. Bodnar couldn`t be reached for comment Tuesday.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...a4-bc49fad87fc0

 

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0908SKTN
Project: Station 20 West received `knockout blow` in March

The first floor would house the Good Food Junction Co-op, a neighbourhood-owned grocery store with healthy food at affordable prices, a cafe and a community kitchen available for cooking classes and other activities.

The second floor would be office space built to house CHEP Good Food Inc., Quint Development Corp., the Elizabeth Fry Society, a University of Saskatchewan community outreach and research centre, agricultural non-profit group Heifer International and, if room, some health services from the Saskatoon Health Region.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...bd-9ee46fbe4d57

 

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0908SKTN
Home construction drops by 2% in city

A growing supply of houses in Sask-atoon is slowing down new home construction, but the trend is temporary, says a local market analyst.

Residential home construction in the city dropped 2.2 per cent in August compared to the same time in 2007, figures from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.`s (CMHC) August report shows. As people move into homes listed on the market, however, new home construction should pick up again, said Paul Caton, CMHC`s senior market analyst in Saskatchewan.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...f2-d878c5988ac5

 

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0908SASK
Sask. confident oilsands viable: Boyd

Summertime accusations by American politicians that oil from Canada`s oilsands are environmentally "dirty" won`t affect sales to buyers in the United States, Saskatchewan`s Energy and Resources Minister Bill Boyd said Tuesday.

Boyd, speaking at a wrapup press conference on the last day of the Energy and Mines Ministers Conference in Saskatoon, said Saskatchewan`s reputation as "a reliable supplier of good, clean oil" wins out over the accusations made during the run-up to the American presidential nomination.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...b6-1b4ce820a993

 

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0908SASK
Equalization deal still an issue for Wall

If Newfoundland premier Danny Williams isn`t letting equalization die as a federal election issue, neither should Premier Brad Wall, the provincial NDP said Wednesday.

The fiery Williams launched a scathing attack on Conservative Leader Stephen Harper Wednesday, describing the prime minister as a fraud over his handling of equalization as it relates to offshore oil revenue for Newfoundland.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...11-750751c95693

 

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0908SKTN
U of S seeks help to build student residence on campus

SASKATOON -- The University of Saskatchewan is looking for entrepreneurs to help build a residence with government support and student rents alone.

The university has put out a request for proposals to develop 200 four-bedroom apartments on university-owned land south of College Drive between Cumberland and Preston Avenues.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...a4-1c45020fa229

 

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0908SASK
Report urges Sask., Alta. to go nuclear

EDMONTON -- Nuclear power offers Alberta and Saskatchewan more opportunities than challenges and both provinces should develop the industry, says a new report by the Canada West Foundation intended to push them toward embracing the nuclear option.

Alberta and Saskatchewan need to take advantage of a worldwide nuclear revival, which will happen with or without their participation, said report author Duane Bratt, a political science instructor at Calgary`s Mount Royal College.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...13-c7ecc9ef4b14

 

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0908SASK
Uranium drilling program extended

Red Rock Energy Inc. announced Monday an extension to its uranium Fusion zone in northern Saskatchewan.

The Calgary-based company made the move after receiving assay results from its 2008 drilling campaign, ultimately extending the Fusion zone down-dip along the Lake Cinch main ore fault. The fault structure, according to Red Rock, was host to the bulk of historic production in the area by former mine operator Lake Cinch Mines Ltd. About 1.2 million pounds of U3O8 remain in the area, the company said in a news release.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...8a-5d4481f1e6bc

 

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0908RGNA
Regina`s prices rise fastest

Prices for newly constructed homes rose faster in Regina than in any other Canadian city, according to a Statistics Canada report released Thursday.

The report said prices were up 29.6 per cent in the metropolitan Regina area in July this year, compared to July last year.

Across Canada, prices for new homes were only up by 2.7 per cent in the same period.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...c1-f92de577d6ef

 

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0908SASK
Law would work for homebuyers

SASKATOON -- Passing legislation for mandatory homeowner warranty protection in Saskatchewan would go a long way in shielding homebuyers from a catalogue of troubling headaches, a leading homebuilders` association is arguing.

The issue, however, is not a priority for the province and is not under consideration, says a government spokesperson.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...b3-64ddb005eb45

 

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0908SKTN
Project encourages reusing existing housing stock

The McNab Park affordable housing demonstration project got rolling Thursday with a 60-foot duplex being wheeled from its foundation.

The structure was hauled by flatbed truck to a spot about 30 metres away, near Airport Drive, where it will get fixed up and serve as a display home for about three months.

The $300,000 project is intended to show builders existing housing stock around Saskatoon can be renovated and reused rather than sending it to the landfill, said Alan Wallace, the city`s manager of neighbourhood planning.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...7c-a6ca2a637497

 

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0908SASK (Radisson)
Raising the roof in Radisson

RADISSON -- Only a few years ago, contemplating building homes in a small community in rural Saskatchewan was akin to defying gravity.

Nowadays, it`s making sound economic sense for one busy contractor in this town about 65 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon. The laid-back, small-town lifestyle, fresh air and wide open spaces has cache these days. It also doesn`t hurt that serviced lots here were once going for a song.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...ba-28f8ec678890

 

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0908RGNA
Reassessment will see minor changes

A reassessment of property values for property tax purposes will be implemented in Regina next year -- perhaps with little or no shouting, screaming or rioting in the streets.

Information released at city hall Friday, at a briefing session for reporters, indicates the 2009 reassessment will not result in the major shifts in the property tax burdens between different homeowners and different neighourhoods that have sometimes occurred as a result of previous, somewhat controversial reassessments

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...87-69f171b8b8cc

 

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0908SKTN
Airport numbers reach high

The Saskatoon Airport Authority (SAA) reported Friday passenger volumes in August reached a record high.

Last month, 97,849 people passed through the terminal at the Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport, surpassing the previous record set in January when 97,377 passengers used the airport terminal. According to the SAA, passenger volumes are up 8.5 per cent over August 2007 while year-to-date volumes are up 8.2 per cent over last year.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...6d-7f45b5409de1

 

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Saskatchewan Small Town Updates 2008-09-14

 

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0908SASK
Pipeline firm broke promises, First Nations say

The chief of a Saskatchewan First Nation is leading a coalition of First Nations considering blockades or other action to halt construction of a multimillion-dollar oil pipeline until their concerns are addressed.

First Nations from across Western Canada meet today and Tuesday in Edmonton to plot their strategy, Red Pheasant Chief Sheldon Wuttunee said in an interview Sunday.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...70-ba0cd3cec83f

 

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0908SASK
Sask. cities to lead growth

Thanks to the strongest economic growth in over a decade, Saskatoon and Regina rank first and second among major Canadian cities this year, according to the Conference Board`s metropolitan outlook for autumn.

"Both Saskatoon and Regina are on track to post their strongest rates of economic growth since 1997, and Saskatoon will lead Canadian CMAs (census metropolitan areas) in economic growth for the second consecutive year," said Mario Lefebvre, director of municipal studies for the Ottawa-based think tank.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...f3-da8f84833c91