0109OKVL Oakville strays from its routes Growth and changing travel patterns, including more cross-regional trips, are behind a complete makeover of Oakville`s bus service planned for this year. The town, which has traditionally planned its routes for GO commuters using the Bronte, Oakville...

0109VANC The city needs someone to lien on Geoff Meggs -- brilliant guy, a pro to the core, nice taste in clothes for a lefty -- is a newly elected councillor for Vision Vancouver. He is also, as Mayor Gregor Robertson says of him, Vision`s "point man" on the Olympic village deal. In earlier...

0109VANC Vancouver area could see water shortage by summer Despite the near-record December snowfall followed by heavy rain that flooded parts of Greater Vancouver, the region could see a water supply shortage by the summer. According to Allan Chapman of the B.C. River Forecast Centre...

0109BCBC B.C. cuts stumpage fees 50% Premier Gordon Campbell dropped stumpage rates on the B.C. coast by 50 per cent to $5 a cubic metre yesterday as part of plan to kick-start the moribund forest industry. Representatives of the American lumber lobby, who were in the audience at the annual...

0109VICT Victorians dominate local MLS sales So who bought the 6,175 homes, condominiums and other pieces of property sold through the Multiple Listing Service in the Greater Victoria region and Gulf Islands last year? More than 75 per cent of the buyers were from Greater Victoria -- up two...

0109WNPG Non-stop flights to London on way FEEL like strawberries and cream at Wimbledon this summer? GO Travel Direct can make that a reality for Winnipeggers with direct, non-stop flights to London beginning this June. "We`re spreading our wings," said Dan Brennan, marketing director for...

0109SASK Global situation favourable for Canadian canola: expert Global demand for Canadian canola remains strong, but new inventory from countries developing their agricultural roots means local producers are going to have to work harder to grow better product, says an international oilseed...

0109SASK Bank projects Sask. GDP to grow in 2009 Another major bank is forecasting Saskatchewan to lead the country in economic growth in 2009, with a projected one-per-cent increase in real gross domestic product (GDP) versus negative 1.3-per-cent growth in Canada, according to Bank of...

0109SASK Global demand for metals goes soft quickly The fact that commodity prices were hit hard in the fourth quarter is no surprise to anyone. Molybdenum had it the worst, falling 53%. Oil followed with a 51% decline, copper was down 49%, nickel fell 43%, aluminum dipped 34% and zinc dropped...

0109RGNA City poised to approve conversion despite tenant pleas Mary Lapeyre has moved 24 times in her life and doesn`t want to move again. The Regina senior has lived in an apartment at 2141 Rae St. for more than 25 years. In addressing the City of Regina`s Planning Commission on Wednesday...

Buyers get the msg He`s a full-time student, an emergency medical technician and he`s looking for his first house. But Calgary resident Ryan Coslovich doesn`t have much free time between work, school and his social life, making the home search an arduous task. "For myself, a first-time...

0109FTMC Oil deal signed Imperial Oil Ltd. has inked a "main contract" for preparatory work on the multibillion Kearl oilsands project near Fort McMurray, a company spokesman said yesterday. But whereas yesterday`s announcement is a first official sign in several months that work on Kearl is...

0109ALTA Forestry sector eyes credit, incentives Cash isn`t the kind of support the Alberta forestry sector needs from higher levels of government, says an industry representative. "We`re not looking for a handout," said Brady Whittaker yesterday. "We`re just looking for a hand up." The...

0109EDTN Unregulated heat meters on hot seat Many Edmontonians are keeping an eye on their heating bills, perhaps no one more than Kathie Landry. This is the first winter Landry has spent in her Riverbend apartment, which has been equipped with a heat meter. The devices measure heating costs...

0109EDTN Housing plan `against the grain` The Boyle Renaissance downtown redevelopment plan is moving ahead despite concerns about its size and the concentration of social agencies in the area, project manager Harry Finnigan said on Wednesday. The plan involves building 585 units of housing on...

0109ALTA Cheap oil, gas temporary: ex-CEO Consumers shouldn`t get too comfortable with cheap gasoline, because the planet is running out of oil and prices will go "sky high" -- as high as $20 per litre -- as petroleum reserves dwindle in the coming years. That`s the view of Jim Buckee, the...

0109REDR International clothing retailer coming to Red Deer International clothing retailer H&M is preparing to set up shop in Red Deer, with a store in Bower Place Shopping Centre expected to open this spring. The Swedish-based chain, whose full name is Hennes & Mauritz AB, carries clothing...

0109REDR (Sylvan Lake) Sylvan gives hotel group another deadline Sylvan Lake town council is giving the group behind the stalled hotel project until Feb. 15 to erect a permanent fence around the downtown site. Council met in-camera on Monday night to discuss the site after the Dec. 19...

0109DCLR Toronto banks could impact Clarington taxes CLARINGTON -- A decision on bank towers in downtown Toronto could have implications for the amount of property taxes paid by Clarington`s citizens. Recently, the Assessment Review Board (ARB) of the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation...

0109DAJX Meeting set on Ajax ward boundary changes AJAX -- An open house is being held next month on plans to redraw the Town`s ward boundaries. The aim is to have new boundaries in place for the November 2010 municipal election. Mayor Steve Parish said the open house is on Monday, Feb. 2...