SK Economic Fundamentals 2009-01

[joeiannuzzi]

What`s Behind the Curtain?
Saskatchewan
2009-01
Daily Online Edition


SK Economic Fundamentals 2009-01
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

0109SASK = Jan 2009 Saskatchewan
0109ESVN = Jan 2009 Estevan
0109MLFT = Jan 2009 Melfort
0109MSJW = Jan 2009 Moose Jaw
0109PALB = Jan 2009 Prince Albert
0109RGNA = Jan 2009 Regina
0109SKTN = Jan 2009 Saskatoon
0109SWFT = Jan 2009 Swift Current


If you wish to view only one geographic area`s posts, you can use the advanced search mode and type in the 8 sequence code for your area as described above 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.

 

[joeiannuzzi]

0109SASK
New body will oversee private-sector proposals

The Saskatchewan Party government is setting up a secretariat to explore the possibility of private sector companies being involved in large-scale infrastructure projects such as roads, schools and health-care facilities.

But while infrastructure dollars are slated to flow from the provincial and federal governments as part of an economic stimulus package, Government Services Minister Dan D`Autremont said the province will proceed slowly when it comes to the public-private partnerships dubbed P3s.

http://www.leaderpost.com/news/todays-pape...3342/story.html

 

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0109SKTN
Station 20 West plans survive loss of funding

20th Street West was the site of hope and heartbreak, protest and rebuilding in 2008, as a popular project was threatened by the loss of government funding -- then redesigned on a more modest scale.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...cf-eb1cb2459300

 

[joeiannuzzi]

0109SASK
Saskatchewan growth to top nation

Saskatchewan is still riding high on the strength of its export-oriented, resource-rich economy and leads the nation in virtually every economic indicator from economic growth to job growth to retail sales and housing prices.

The question is: How much longer can the boom last?

http://www.calgaryherald.com/Business/Sask...9740/story.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

0109MSJW
Local housing market switched from sellers to buyers in 2008

After record-setting sales in 2007 and early 2008, Moose Jaw`s housing market finally began to cool off in October. At the time, Amber Tangjerd, president of the Moose Jaw Real Estate Board Inc., said sales peaked in the spring, leaving a buyers` market for fall. Based on MJREB statistics, the average sale price of a home in Moose Jaw in August was $156,000, up from $135,000 in January and $115,000 in August 2007.
In March, Saskatchewan Social Services announced the creation of a two-person task force on housing affordability.

http://www.mjtimes.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=205597&sc=520

 

[joeiannuzzi]

0109SASK
Saskatchewan`s growing population creates more demand for government services

A growing Saskatchewan economy is creating an increased demand for crown corporation services across the province.
According to data released Monday by the provincial government, there are 36,000 more registered vehicles in Saskatchewan, 5,000 more SaskEnergy customers and 7,500 more SaskPower customers than a year ago.
Crown Corporations Minister Ken Cheveldayoff says that is a result of a great provincial economy.

http://www.swbooster.com/index.cfm?sid=206023&sc=37

 

[joeiannuzzi]

0109MLFT
Commercial development goal for the new year

Commercial development is a goal for the upcoming year for Melfort Mayor Kevin Phillips.

"Our business people are doing a wonderful job but we need more. Right in line with that is a hotel. We need a hotel and other things we need: we need a plan on how to get our streets in better shape," said Phillips.

"What we`ve been doing in 2008 is doing all the ground work for it, but I`ve got a saying that we`ve used a lot around this building, that nobody gets excited until the ink`s on paper and we`re working towards so many things. But, until ink hits the paper we can`t be excited."

http://www.melfortjournal.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1367544

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Sorry. no news items today.

 

[joeiannuzzi]

0109RGNA
Record year for home sales

Despite a 17-per-cent decline in the number of home sales from 2007, Regina`s residential real estate market set two new records in 2008.

According to the Association of Regina Realtors, sales dollar volume was at an all-time high in the city at $675.2 million, up 15 per cent from the previous high of $586.7 million in 2007.

http://www.leaderpost.com/Homes/Record+yea...5653/story.html

 

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0109SASK
Mayors applaud plan to share tax

Some municipal leaders are cheering the possibility their communities will get a cut of the PST under an anticipated new revenue-sharing agreement with the provincial government.

"We certainly welcome this with open arms," said Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco, as the government confirmed it`s considering a formula that would share some of the sales tax revenue with communities across the province.

http://www.leaderpost.com/news/todays-pape...5702/story.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

0109RGNA
Regina sets sixth straight record for construction

Regina set a new record for construction activity last year with $342.4 million in building permits, up 1.4 per cent from the previous record of $337.7 million set in 2007, according to the City of Regina`s final building permit report for 2008.

It`s the sixth consecutive record-breaking year for construction in the Queen City.

http://www.leaderpost.com/Homes/Regina+set...5681/story.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

0109SASK
What`s next after the oil sands stampede?

The recent euphoria surrounding the development of the Canadian oil sands has come to an end because of the economic fallout from the global financial crisis. But in its recent update to its crude oil outlook through 2020, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) has chosen to ignore most of the damage to the oil sands industry.

http://www.leaderpost.com/Technology/What+...5690/story.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

0109SKTN
Average house price falls

The average house price in Saskatoon in December continued its fall from levels seen during the red-hot summer, dropping more than $40,000 since June.

But the soaring market in mid-2008 pushed the average price for the year to $287,777 compared to $232,754 in 2007, the Saskatoon Region Association of Realtors (SRAR) said Monday.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...b0-959bdce3c467

 

[joeiannuzzi]

0109RGNA
More cash for growing transport facility

The province is expected to put more infrastructure money into a proposed transportation hub west of Regina as plans for the project grow, Highways and Infrastructure Minister Wayne Elhard says.

The Saskatchewan Party government has already agreed to commit about $27 million to the initial $93-million plan involving the relocation of CP`s rail yards from downtown Regina as well as upgrades to Pinkie Road and other roadwork, Elhard said.

http://www.leaderpost.com/news/todays-pape...9249/story.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

0109SKTN
Fewer building permits issued

The number of building permits issued by the City of Saskatoon last year dropped 3.5 per cent from 2007, but the value of 2008`s construction projects grew significantly, a city official says.

Bob Baran, manager of the city`s building standards branch, said Tuesday large commercial ventures pushed the construction value of building projects in Saskatoon to $610 million, an increase of 11 per cent over 2007`s value of $548 million.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...98-d0be54a4987a

 

[joeiannuzzi]

0109SASK
Record sales expected

The Canadian Wheat Board expects to increase exports of wheat by nine per cent this year and post record malting barley sales, despite a challenging world market and record global crop production, according to the CWB`s annual grain marketing report.

The CWB announced an export target for 2008-09 of 16 million tonnes of wheat, up 1.4 million tonnes from last year. The export target for barley is 1.6 million tonnes, 1.4 million tonnes of that being malting barley. The previous record for bulk malting barley exports was 1.3 million tonnes in 1997-98.

http://www.leaderpost.com/news/todays-pape...3372/story.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

0109SKTN
Mayor aims to keep tax hike under 3%

Mayor Don Atchison is aiming for a tax increase of less than three per cent, held down by expected extra funding from the provincial government.

Atchison, speaking to reporters after his state of the city address to a Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce luncheon Wednesday, said the province`s new revenue-sharing dollars should hold down this year`s tax increase, not fund a new wave of spending.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...cb-e4e6070e3c67

 

[joeiannuzzi]

0109RGNA
Businesses optimistic in 2009

Most Regina business owners are optimistic about 2009, but they`re increasingly concerned about the labour shortage and the global economic downturn, according to a survey by the Regina and District Chamber of Commerce.

Nearly two-thirds of respondents expect the level of economic activity in Regina to increase this year, which is down from 82 per cent last year, but on par with the 2007 survey.

http://www.leaderpost.com/news/todays-pape...7260/story.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

0109RGNA
Old Superstore makeover underway

Construction is proceeding briskly on the redevelopment of the former Real Canadian Superstore property in central Regina.

The first tenants are expected to move into the reconstructed facility on April 1, according to Francis Bast, the president of Century West Development Ltd., which is redeveloping the property -- at the intersection of Albert Street and Dewdney Avenue -- for retail, office and other uses.

http://www.leaderpost.com/Homes/Superstore...7262/story.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

0109RGNA
Brewing up traffic troubles

Commuters in need of their double-double fix are brewing up traffic disruptions on some major Regina roadways.

Customers lining up in popular restaurant and coffee shop drive-throughs during high-traffic times are causing long lines to extend into busy streets -- a common occurrence around businesses on Albert Street South and Rochdale Boulevard.

http://www.leaderpost.com/news/todays-pape...3074/story.html