SK Economic Fundamentals 2008-12

[joeiannuzzi]

What`s Behind the Curtain?
Saskatchewan
2008-12
Daily Online Edition

SK Economic Fundamentals 2008-12


The following codes will be at the top of each post using an eight sequence alphanumeric description of the month, year and area:

MMYYAREA

Examples

1208SASK000000--> = Dec 08 Saskatchewan

1208SKTN = Dec 08 Saskatoon

1208RGNA = Dec 08 Regina


If you wish to view only one area, you can use the advanced search mode and select the "Result Type" > "Show results as posts".

I have also color coded each area along with the caption to make it easier for you to simply scroll through the posts and locate the ones you are interested in.

All the small towns that have online newspapers are covered on Sundays.

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Sorry, no news today.

 

[joeiannuzzi]

1208SASK
Group urges province not to sell land

SASKATOON -- The provincial government should not be putting an environmentally sensitive portion of northwestern Saskatchewan on the auction block for oilsands development, says the Saskatchewan Environmental Society (SES).

The SES says the area, roughly 41,561 hectares south and west of Peter Pond Lake, has been identified as an area worthy of protection by a number of groups. They include the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, the World Wildlife Fund, Ducks Unlimited, Mistik Management -- and the province`s own parks branch.

http://www.leaderpost.com/Technology/Group...0105/story.html

 

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1208SKTN
Park plan frustrates dog owners

Dog owners unhappy with a proposed reduction of space to run their pets off-leash in Chief Whitecap Park marked their territory at city hall Monday.

About 100 dog owners sporting bright red tops packed council chambers to standing room only.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...73-f43e0962651c

 

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1208SKTN
Housing sales cool in Saskatoon

Housing sales continued to cool along with the November weather, as real estate agents sold fewer homes than in the same month of 2007 and the average sale price fell again from its June peak.

Homes sold numbered 181, down from 316 last November, at an average price of $278,495, the Saskatoon Region Association of Realtors (SRAR) reported Monday. The average price is up 11 per cent from last November`s $251,202, but down from the $310,527 posted in June.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...28-4da52989f61d

 

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1208SASK
Coalition could affect direction of wheat board

For now, supporters of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association are in control federally.

Soon, federal power may be in the hands of the alumni of the National Farmers Union.

The Wheat Growers are on the right side of the philosophical spectrum. They`re supporters of free trade and they want an end to the monopoly powers of the Canadian Wheat Board.

http://www.leaderpost.com/Business/Coaliti...5760/story.html

 

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1208SKTN
Economic crisis won`t slow mall construction

Global recession or not, construction of Saskatoon`s next big-box mall will start in the spring.

SmartCentres hopes to build the city`s biggest store -- a 183,000-square-foot Wal-Mart -- next year on the Blairmore site, with the rest of the site taking shape in the following years, said project manager Mike Gilman.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...e1-84964f9de58c

 

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1208SASK
Economic slowdown affects mineral mining sector

Members of Saskatchewan`s mineral mining sector are working to stay positive despite slowdowns in exploration as a result of the global financial crisis.

"There`s certainly financial issues the companies are dealing with, especially the junior companies having a difficult time raising financing," said Kent Campbell, acting deputy minister of energy and resources.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...08-d85a2c8d800b

 

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1208RGNA
Megaprojects to shape Regina`s future: mayor

Infrastructure projects, like Canadian Pacific`s intermodal facility, the Co-op refinery expansion and the revitalization of Evraz Place, are the foundation of the city`s future success, Mayor Pat Fiacco told the Regina and District Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday.

In his annual `year in review` address, Fiacco updated chamber members on three major projects that will provide the impetus for job and economic growth in the city for years to come.

http://www.leaderpost.com/news/todays-pape...0548/story.html

 

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1208SASK
Outlook looks good for Sask.

There may be a slowdown in the housing markets in Canada next year but not necessarily in Saskatchewan, according to the housing market outlook report released Wednesday by Re/Max.

The report said the imminent global recession may have an effect on sales in the major Canadian housing markets.

In Regina, a projected 3,450 homes will be bought and sold in 2009, which is the same number that was forecasted for this year, while Saskatoon will see a slight increase to 3,700 in 2009 from 3,600 this year.

http://www.leaderpost.com/Homes/Outlook+lo...0579/story.html

 

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1208SASK
Tourism booming, thanks to Alta. visitors

An "astonishing`` growth in Alberta visitors should help keep Saskatchewan`s tourism industry strong despite a looming international recession, Tourism Saskatchewan president Lynda Haverstock said Wednesday.

Tourism from Alberta went up by 28 per cent in one year, Haverstock said during a speech at the fall general business session of Tourism Saskatchewan.

http://www.leaderpost.com/news/todays-pape...0583/story.html

 

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1208SASK
Province can expand irrigated farmland

A new report says Saskatchewan can support up to two million acres of irrigated farmland and work should start soon to develop such an economically beneficial system, says its supporters.

The Lake Diefenbaker region, in particular, has the ability to support 500,000 additional irrigation acres, says the Saskatchewan Irrigation Projects Association (SIPA). A 20-year, $2.9-billion spending program for regional water distribution works at the lake would result in a $33-billion increase to the provincial GDP over a 40-year period, the group says in its new report: Time to Irrigate.

http://www.leaderpost.com/news/todays-pape...0585/story.html

 

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1208SKTN
Housing sales to rise: Re/Max

Saskatoon`s housing market is expected to be one of the few bright spots in Canada next year, with the average price rising by two per cent and sales going up by three per cent, Re/Max forecasted Wednesday.

In fact, Re/Max predicts Saskatoon will see the highest percentage increase in unit sales for 2009 out of 22 major markets. Regina is expected to hold the line, matching this year`s sales.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...17-49aadf0a1832

 

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1208SASK
Global potash supply expected to remain short, Doyle tells conference

TORONTO (Reuters) -- Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, the world`s biggest fertilizer company, said on Wednesday global potash supply is expected to remain short to balanced during the next few years, giving it an ideal opportunity for its expansions.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...e8-e5b97ef4886a

 

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1208SASK
Finance minister warns next year will be tougher

As provincial politicians wrapped up a fall sitting that`s seen the Saskatchewan Party government rolling in cash, Finance Minister Rod Gantefoer warned that next year`s budget may only be balanced by dipping into the province`s reserves.

On a day when oil prices dropped under US $44-a-barrel amidst worldwide economic uncertainty, Gantefoer said the fall in commodity prices will definitely impact next year`s revenues compared to this year`s record-busting windfall.

http://www.leaderpost.com/news/todays-pape...5364/story.html

 

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1208RGNA
Regina continues to buck building trend

Contrary to a general downward trend nationally, Regina is continuing to post positive numbers in terms of building permits, according to figures released by Statistics Canada on Thursday.

The latest data indicates that the value of building permits issued in the metropolitan Regina area in October was up by 21.3 per cent, compared to September.

http://www.leaderpost.com/Homes/Regina+con...5382/story.html

 

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1208SKTN
Building permits cool off in city in November

Saskatoon is expected to set a record in the value of building permits in 2008, but residential permits fell off dramatically in November, City of Saskatoon statistics show.

Builders took out 125 residential permits last month for a value of $4.34 million, down from the 209 permits valued at $16.8 million last November, says Bob Baran, manager of the city`s building standards branch.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...85-bf0a55eb4574

 

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1208SASK
Sask. a bright spot on the job front

Saskatchewan`s economy has once again dodged the bullet by posting strong job growth numbers in November, while much of the rest of the country was bleeding job losses.

The latest job numbers, released by Statistics Canada Friday, indicated there were 520,700 people employed in Saskatchewan in November, which was an increase of 14,800 compared to November of last year.

Across Canada, employment dropped by 71,000 jobs in November. Massive job losses, in excess of 500,000 jobs, were also being reported in the U.S.

http://www.leaderpost.com/Business/Sask+br...0239/story.html

 

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1208SASK
Twinning project now complete

Traffic is now flowing on the twinned lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway all across Saskatchewan, the only western province to twin the corridor from border to border.

The last section of the Trans-Canada Highway east to be twinned in Saskatchewan officially opened Friday with a celebration in Moosomin -- although the lanes actually opened about a month ago.

http://www.leaderpost.com/news/todays-pape...0240/story.html

 

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1208SASK
Employers` premiums reduced

The Saskatchewan Workers` Compensation Board will reduce employers` 2009 average premium rate by 1.8 per cent to $1.66 per $100 of payroll, the WCB announced Friday.

The rate changes, which take effect Jan. 1, are the result of continuing reductions in the workplace injury rate and represent the fourth such reduction in the past five years.

The 2009 rate decision means that approximately two-thirds of the more than 35,000 employers registered with the WCB will pay lower premiums or see no change in premiums next year.

http://www.leaderpost.com/news/todays-pape...0273/story.html