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AB Economic Fundamentals 2008-07

Unchallenged Tories ride high in new poll

Despite several environmental flashpoints and contentious decisions, including significantly hiking MLA pay and redrawing

Alberta`s entire health-care map, Premier Ed Stelmach`s Tories have emerged unscathed, a new poll shows.

Four in 10 people surveyed last month said they`d back the Conservatives with their votes, according to a Leger Marketing poll provided exclusively to the Herald.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/s...99-59c46e1f58cd
 
Lenders predict rush before oct. 15 change

In the Calgary real estate game, Brad Gough considers himself lucky.

First of all, he and his wife Sarah got in under the wire for purchasing their first home in Calgary, picking up a Palliser townhouse months before the major price increases hit in 2006.

And just last week, Gough, 27, locked up what could be one of Calgary`s last 40-year mortgages.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/s...43-343857673687
 
Support for farmers` market grows amid lease limbo

The Calgary Farmers`

Market has been inundated by messages of support from customers shocked to learn it may have to close once its lease at Currie Barracks runs out in October 2009.

"It would be a travesty if it closed," said Sheila Maureau, who has been shopping at the market weekly for the past three years and happily jostled with a massive crowd to buy her fruits and vegetables Sunday.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...b1-fe8247a886a5
 
Cash woes for water plants


Council will have to dig up an extra $25 million to finish off a planned expansion for the Glenmore water treatment plant, a city committee will hear Wednesday.

The utilities and environment committee will be asked to free up the additional funds to cover the ballooning price tag for upgrades to both the Glenmore and Bearspaw facilities, which have already gone over their original budget by $113 million. With the additional request, the city will now have to shell out $370 million for the double expansion, which is just over 50% completed.

http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Alberta/2008/0...218076-sun.html
 
No power to the people


EDMONTON -- Dire predictions from an energy executive in Calgary came true yesterday -- in Edmonton.

Spotty blackouts in some areas of the Alberta capital preview what will strike as the province`s aging electricity grid struggles to keep up with soaring power demands, warned a Liberal`s infrastructure critic. "We`ve had a lot of mini-blackouts and it`s a sign that our transmission system and the supply of our electricity has become unstable, and this goes back to electricity deregulation," said Edmonton Gold Bar MLA Hugh MacDonald.

http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Alberta/2008/0...218091-sun.html
 
Region finishes in the black

David Thompson Health Region finished the 2007-08 fiscal year with an $8-million surplus.

"We went from a $25-million deficit last year to an $8-million surplus this year," said Bryan Judd, DTHR spokesman.

The region`s deficit was paid off with a one-time $40-million injection from Alberta Health, leaving the surplus.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradv..._the_black.html
 
You say crisis. I say opportunity

The Chair`s report on the 34th meeting of G8 leaders earlier this month states: "In response to the sharp rise in oil prices ... we emphasized the need for increased production and refining capacities ..."

Then, in the Environment and Climate Change section of the same report is the statement: "We seek ... the goal of achieving at least 50-per-cent reduction of global emissions by 2050."

While I`m surprised not to have seen someone among the hordes of media covering the Hokkaido Toyako Summit pick up on the glaring inconsistency between these statements, it is a perfect demonstration of the public-policy schizophrenia surrounding socioeconomic and environmental issues.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto.../BNStory/energy
 
No opposition to seniors complex

A proposed seniors condo development in Legacy Ridge is a step closer to getting a green light from city hall.
The proposal for the three-storey, 142-unit complex sailed through a public hearing Monday afternoon with no one voicing opposition.
Alvin Fritz, project architect, told city council the feedback from neighbours leading up to the hearing was positive and included some comments expressing relief that the development is to be an upscale seniors residence.
The hearing was held for a proposed bylaw amendment to reclassify 1.9 hectares of land in the 3000 to 3200 block of 13 Street North to medium density residential. Located on the east side of the street, the land includes five parcels of land, three of them city-owned.

http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/article_11436.php
 
City census tops 60,000

The City of Medicine Hat`s 2008 Census Final Report was released Monday at city council, showing an official population count of 60,426 as of May 1, 2008.

The census, which was conducted from May 1 to 30 of this year, showed that the city`s population has continued to increase at a positive growth rate of 2.6 per annum over the last three years.

The new population figure of 60,426 is a 4,378 person increase when compared to the 2005 city census, or a 3,429 person increase when compared to the 2006 Federal Census. The 2005 city census counted a population of 56,048.

http://www.medicinehatnews.com/content/view/37151/65/
 
Lawsuit targets insurers

A massive lawsuit has been filed in relation to a $20-million arson that destroyed a 149-unit condo complex being built in south Edmonton one year ago.

On July 21, 2007, an early-morning inferno destroyed the MacEwan Gardens condo complex under construction at 119 Street and MacEwan Road.

LARGEST RESIDENTIAL FIRE

The fire also destroyed 18 nearby duplexes and damaged 70 others, making it the city`s largest residential fire. Shortly after the fire, investigators concluded the blaze was arson. However, police have yet to make an arrest.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Edmonton/2...228141-sun.html
 
City eyes expansion south to airport

EDMONTON - Edmonton has quietly reopened the controversial annexation issue with a move to take over a large chunk of Leduc County that includes the Edmonton International Airport.

City councillors authorized staff to start informal annexation negotiations with the county and other interested groups following a private meeting last month to discuss the idea.

According to a confidential city report obtained by The Journal, south-central Edmonton needs more room to grow because it doesn`t have a 30-year supply of land.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...fd-a2a44cdb8c29
 
No overhaul at TransAlta

EDMONTON - The companies who made a $7.8-billion bid for TransAlta Monday say they have no plans to change the power generator`s current operations or its relationship with Epcor, its partner on the Keephills and Genesee power plant expansions.

"The management team -- including CEO Steve Snyder -- is doing a good job, and it would be business as usual," said James Bartlett, president of LS Power

Equity Partners, which made the informal joint bid Monday with Global Infrastructure Partners.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...ea-aad8f1dd680b
 
Calgary population growth back to normal

Calgary`s explosive population boom has ended, but there`s no bust with the city expanding by another 23,000 people last year.

While down substantially from the 2006 spike, where the population increased by more than 35,000 people, last year`s growth alone is still large enough to qualify as Alberta`s 13th largest municipality.

"It`s a more normal year," the University of Calgary`s Harry Hiller, director of the Alberta In-migration study, said. "It`s still expansive growth, without the boom-type pressures. The dilemma is to think it always has to be high or always has to keep getting higher.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/s...cb-709f3d9ee2d3
 
Housing supply crunch eases

As Calgary`s population growth slows down, the housing supply has started to catch up with demand -- prompting civic officials to suggest it will lead to more affordable housing options.

The 2008 civic census, conducted in April and released Monday, shows the number of dwellings in Calgary has increased faster than the population growth in the past year.

"Two years ago, there was no housing stock," said Mayor Dave Bronconnier. "We were in a crisis situation for housing, the builders couldn`t build it fast enough.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/s...dd-6cfb2e0e4fc1
 
Okotoks may lift population cap

Lifting the population cap in Okotoks is a good idea, as long as the environmental footprint is kept to a minimum, says the Sierra Club.

The town is looking at lifting the population cap, which is set at 30,000 residents.

According to Sierra Club spokesman Alex Taylor, it doesn`t have to mean extensive growth and an increase in single-family dwellings, as long as the town plans properly.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...25-81c0f662ae0a
 
Shops pay price for rezoning

Calgary`s red-hot economy has seen Earl Crawford`s flower shop blossom this past year, but the bloom is about to go off the rose.

The Treehouse Flower Shop is facing eviction Jan. 1 from its 30-year home in a Brentwood Village strip mall as the building`s owners prepare to rip down the long-established building in favour of a condo-retail development.

Several other businesses -- including a vet clinic, hair salon, restaurant and music store -- are also anticipating their leases will either be terminated or not renewed.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...fe-6b0f01b8b5ba
 
Cematrix cements deal for new location

It`s only nine years ago that Jeff Kendrick left his CFO position with Jaeger Industries to take on the role of president and CEO of Cematrix and moved the cellular concrete company into a 6,300-square-foot facility on 27th Avenue N.E.

Tremendous growth since then meant the need to move into larger space. The new location at 5440 52nd St. S.E. that was leased through Target Realty provides 22,750 square feet of office/warehouse space and a hectare of yard for the storage and maintenance of its big equipment.

The product is unique and is being used by a growing number of companies that are able to save time and money with Cematrix, which vice-president and general manager Steve Bent says has become an alternative to other forms of insulation products such as pre-formed plastic foam.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...46-c1d632eb4bf2
 
Sylvan Lake to have its Wal-Mart soon

Sylvan Lake will officially become a Wal-Mart community this month, when the retail giant opens the doors to its store in Beju Industrial Park.

Felicia Fefer, a Mississauga-based spokesperson with Wal-Mart Canada, said on Monday the 115,000-square-foot store is slated to open in July. She didn`t provide a specific date.

The store, which will adopt Wal-Mart`s supercentre format, will carry a full range of grocery products, with a deli, bakery and produce section. It will also have a broader selection of clothing, electronics and other products than do traditional Wal-Mart stores.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradv...-Mart_soon.html
 
Council must consider C-Train salvation for southeast LRT users before frittering money away on projects


There`s no word yet on whether residents of Mackenzie Towne will demand a rechristening: C-Traine, complete with superfluous `e`, has such a nice flow to it.

Extra vowel or not, residents of The Towne and other deep southeast communities can finally look forward to avoiding the Deerfoot on their daily rush-hour commute, with C-Train salvation on the horizon.

Well, it might be on the horizon. There`s hope.

The answer lies with city council, and a potentially historic vote to be held next week. Two aldermen, Joe Ceci and Ric McIver, are headed to council with a Notice of Motion, which if successful, will place the southeast leg of the LRT at the top of Calgary`s transportation priority list.

http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Columnists/Pla...6228901-sun.php
 
Getting right tenants is of Paramount importance

Given that the familiar marquee is still out front and the old storefront windows remain papered over, you could be forgiven for wondering whether the promised redevelopment of the Paramount Theatre has fizzled out.
But for the man behind the downtown project in the 700 block of 4 Avenue South, it`s what`s inside that counts.
"A lot of people don`t realize what`s going on inside," says developer Ken Harvie. "Inside, it`s changed drastically."
In the cavernous space that used to be the larger of the twin movie theatres, stripped red-brick walls surround bare steel girders that support what within a few months will be a two-storey indoor mall. In the other former theatre space, a wide promenade is under construction and will eventually open onto 8 Street South.
The angles are different, too. Where theatre floors once sloped to more than two metres below street level, 400 truckloads of clay and gravel have been hauled in to create flat, even floorspaces.

http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/article_11452.php
 
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