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Alberta Economic Fundamentals

Stations vie for airspace

Competition for the ears of area residents is heating up, with eight radio stations seeking approval to broadcast in Red Deer.

They are vying for the rights to two FM frequencies, 90.5 and 100.7, with their proposed formats ranging from rock to gospel.

The applications will be considered by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission during a hearing in Edmonton that begins May. 26.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradv...r_airspace.html
 
Work underway on premises for first tenant in new commercial park west of Lacombe

Work is underway on the premises for the first tenant in a new commercial park west of Lacombe.

Okanagan Manufacturers Ltd. is developing approximately 75 acres on the southwest corner of highways 2 and 12, with commercial lots there expected to be ready for development by summer.

"It`s a very nice piece of property," said Chris Epp, who owns Penticton, B.C.-based Okanagan Manufacturers and RV manufacturer West Coast Leisure Homes Ltd.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradv...of_Lacombe.html
 
Town of Ponoka to host annexation meeting

The Town of Ponoka is preparing for a very important information meeting to discuss the plans to annex land from Ponoka County to make provisions for future growth.

The meeting will be held at the Kinsmen Community Centre on April 14 at 7 p.m.

Mayor Larry Henkelman says that the main reason for the annexation is to plan for the future growth of the town including residential, commercial and industrial land.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/ponokanews...s/17436299.html
 
Alberta gives royalty break to deep drillers

After watching oil-and-gas industry investment collapse, the Alberta government backed off yesterday on some of the most controversial royalty increases announced last fall, admitting that "wells that are not drilled do not generate royalty and to do not benefit Albertans."

Mel Knight, the Energy Minister, introduced late on Thursday two new royalty programs to encourage the development of deep oil and gas wells that became uneconomic under the new regime.

http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=436489
 
McIver wants Enmax profits

The City of Calgary should increase its annual dividend from municipally owned Enmax Corp. to reduce future property tax hikes, says one council member.

Ald. Ric McIver will suggest the move at a council meeting Monday -- one day before the civic politicians meet to start work on the 2009-11 budget, which some have suggested could bring hefty tax increases.

The city gets a portion of its wholly owned subsidiary`s annual profits.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...be-fc95b0d135ed
 
Mount Royal gaining stature by degrees

Mount Royal College will begin offering five new bachelor`s degrees this fall, buoying hope among supporters that the Calgary post-secondary school is taking another step toward becoming a university.

Advanced Education Minister Doug Horner will unveil the degree programs at a ceremony today, including a bachelor of arts, a bachelor of science, bachelor of communication, bachelor of business administration and a degree in criminal justice.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...68-e048d5f202d5
 
Western energy land rush heads east

Saskatchewan racked up its biggest land sale ever Thursday, as oil and gas companies continue to flock to develop its energy prospects.

The province`s April land auction raised $265 million -- eclipsing the $250 million it took in for all of 2007.

In an oblique dig at Alberta, Saskatchewan officials credited the province`s fiscal regime for the "astounding" result.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...38-5c5f09bd05bb
 
Oil glitters as world stampedes to `new gold`

A catchy nickname -- "the new gold" -- has been coined to put in a nutshell the glow of oil on agitated financial markets in the United States.

The price of oil long ago stopped measuring solely its value as fuel, says Cambridge Energy Research Associates. The Boston consulting firm, an internationally known industry pillar led by Pulitzer-winning industry historian Daniel Yergin, came up with the new nickname.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...17-c84289cbf609
 
No P3 for Edmonton`s southwest rec centre

EDMONTON - City manager Al Maurer has confirmed that city council will be asked to abandon a P3 approach to building the southwest recreation centre and a nearby arena complex.

The city was unable to reach a deal with a company to design, build and operate the centre under a private-public partnership, Maurer announced today.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...7ad&k=48264
 
Backyard waterfall soaks Bowness resident

Micky Leycraft lives in a hidden nook of Bowness, at the foot of a hill nestled amongst the trees. She also has a waterfall in her backyard that spills thousands of litres down the hill every day -- from leaky pipes beneath the ground above.

The source of the continuous stream has been debated for years, with Leycraft caught in the middle of a battle between the city and the privately owned Greenwood Village trailer park -- her yard and home becoming soggier as time passes.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...1d-44a7e9e530ca
 
Prices for new homes take February dip

New housing price increases in the Calgary region continue to slow, and even decrease, according to data released Friday by Statistics Canada.

The federal agency`s new housing price index showed that in the Calgary census metropolitan area, prices dropped by 0.3 per cent from January to February this year. But prices rose 5.2 per cent between February 2007 and February 2008, slightly lower than the 5.6 per cent year-over-year increase in the previous month.

The Calgary CMA includes the city, Airdrie, the Municipal District of Rocky View, Chestermere, Cochrane, Irricana, Beiseker and Crossfield.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...66-4ccb2959ea0c
 
Hidden gems in southwest

A faithful reader -- and realtor -- wondered if I`d ever written about Rutland Park and the short answer is I don`t think I have made mention of this little southwest community tucked between old Currie Barracks and Richmond Road.

I`m not sure because I may have wandered through the community and even talked about its great location, but it is hard to know when you are actually in Rutland Park. But that`s the same with many older districts.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/l...56-da9e14acbd93
 
Calgary market adjusting to new reality, says expert

Homebuyers are sitting on the fence and holding on, says a Calgary realtor.

"They`re cautious because of what they`re hearing globally," says Marlene Swinton of Re/Max Realty Professionals -- although as a big city, there`s always some activity in the market.

With construction starts of single-family homes declining nearly 40 per cent so far this year, and the same decrease in the number of resale homes changing hands last month compared to March 2007, it appears Swinton is right.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/n...c0-7925d8762860
 
Higher education expansion plan almost finished, minister promises

A plan for creating new post-secondary spots across the province should be released within the next two months, says Advanced Education Minister Doug Horner.

"It`s a very in-depth study of what the demand and supply is," Horner said while attending ceremonies Friday for the formal unveiling of five new baccalaureate degrees at Mount Royal College.

"You have to take all of the factors into play. How many people are going to move into the province? What is the outlook for the economy? What is the outlook for the students?"

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...98-6aa2591a5bc0
 
Sky isn`t falling on Calgary`s condo market

`To build or not to build" -- that is the question facing many Calgary condo developers.

As a Calgary Planning Commission member, I see major new condos being proposed for Calgary`s downtown almost every other week.

Yet, one has to wonder when -- or even if (because a developer with approval has no obligation to actually build) -- they will be constructed.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/n...2a-4b1bd2ac4c1c
 
Total upgrader delayed, again

Total SA, an emerging force in the oilsands, committed Friday to building multibillion-dollar refining facilities in Alberta, but it pushed back the startup of its Edmonton upgrader for a second time.

The French oil giant said Alberta regulators are set to review a plan it submitted in December which calls for an upgrader in Strathcona County, east of Edmonton.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...a7-00ed84a2029f
 
Blackfalds expands

LACOMBE — Lacombe County has informally accepted the Town of Blackfalds` bid to annex large tracts of property around its perimeter.

County council reviewed this week a draft annexation agreement negotiated between the two municipalities.

A formal request will be brought for the county`s final approval in the near future, county commissioner Terry Hager said during council`s regular meeting on Thursday.

The annexation involves 27 properties comprising 2,108 acres of land.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradv...ds_expands.html
 
West LRT opposition heats up

Frustrated west-end residents say their concerns about a proposed LRT line aren`t getting a fair hearing from the city.

"There`s a feeling that the consultation process is very much a pro-forma thing," said Lloyd Mildon, vice-president of the Parkview Community League.

No serious effort is being made to find out what people in the area think about a light-rail transit line, he said.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...e2-ad66c5fc4c7d
 
City to be touted as world-class centre for elite track training

EDMONTON / Tyler Christopher, a world-class sprinter who recently scored gold in the 400-metre event at the world indoor championships in Spain, is one of Canada`s top medal threats at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

The 24-year-old speed demon grew up in Chilliwack, B.C., but he adopted Edmonton as his year-round home in 2001, the same year the City of Champions played host to the wildly successful World Championships in Athletics.

It may sound odd that Christopher would willingly forgo mild West Coast winters to seek track stardom in Canada`s most northerly metropolis, but the young speedster says it`s been a great move.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...92-21c56c0606cb
 
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