August 2009
- Thread starter Amber
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Sales of new cars, trucks in Canada recovering
Sales of new cars and trucks in Canada appear to be recovering as auto manufacturers on Tuesday reported a 6.4% sales volume decline in July, the best year-over-year sales performance since auto sales crashed last November.
Automakers sold 139,901 new vehicles nationwide last month, according to industry data compiled by DesRosiers Automotive Consultants. Sales of SUVs, pickups and other light trucks rose 4.4% year-over year while passenger car sales fell 14.4%.
July`s tally marks the end of a string of double-digit percentage volume declines that have pummelled retailers and forced manufacturers to cut production and send home workers.
read full article here
Sales of new cars and trucks in Canada appear to be recovering as auto manufacturers on Tuesday reported a 6.4% sales volume decline in July, the best year-over-year sales performance since auto sales crashed last November.
Automakers sold 139,901 new vehicles nationwide last month, according to industry data compiled by DesRosiers Automotive Consultants. Sales of SUVs, pickups and other light trucks rose 4.4% year-over year while passenger car sales fell 14.4%.
July`s tally marks the end of a string of double-digit percentage volume declines that have pummelled retailers and forced manufacturers to cut production and send home workers.
read full article here
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2007
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Canadian vehicle sales on the right road
Sales of new cars and trucks in Canada are punching higher after the worst first-half slump in 12 years.
Preliminary figures circulating among manufacturers shows industry volumes were down only 3.7% during the first 20 days of July.
If the tally holds, it would mark the best year-over-year performance since last November, when sales turned sour and the full weight of the economic crisis pushed General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC to the brink of collapse.
For eight straight months, sales of new vehicles in Canada have dropped by double-digit percentages when compared to the previous year`s numbers. The past six months have marked the worst first-half skid since 1997. Back then, Ford Motor Co. was still making the Probe coupe and Chrysler was naming cars after clouds like cirrus.
read full article here
Sales of new cars and trucks in Canada are punching higher after the worst first-half slump in 12 years.
Preliminary figures circulating among manufacturers shows industry volumes were down only 3.7% during the first 20 days of July.
If the tally holds, it would mark the best year-over-year performance since last November, when sales turned sour and the full weight of the economic crisis pushed General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC to the brink of collapse.
For eight straight months, sales of new vehicles in Canada have dropped by double-digit percentages when compared to the previous year`s numbers. The past six months have marked the worst first-half skid since 1997. Back then, Ford Motor Co. was still making the Probe coupe and Chrysler was naming cars after clouds like cirrus.
read full article here
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2007
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- 586
The myth of manufacturing decline
The 2009 recession has produced another round of hand-wringing over Canada`s declining manufacturing base. Weakness in high-profile sectors -- autos, forest products, telecom -- add to the already-entrenched idea that the heart of industrial Canada, its manufacturing base, has long been in the grip of a major long-term decline. Canada is being deindustrialized.
The idea of deindustrialization has been around for decades, manifested, for example, in the 1990s, with slogans about becoming a nation of hamburger flippers and call-centre operators. The howls of deindustrialization have grown in recent years, with calls for more government aid to manufacturing to offset losses suffered in the face of increasingly stiff foreign competition. "Canada`s manufacturing industry is in the midst of a uniquely terrible crisis," Jim Stanford of the Canadian Auto Workers wrote recently.
Now along comes Statistics Canada with a new analysis that essentially debunks much if not all of the deindustrialization claims as unfounded. John Baldwin and Ryan Macdonald, with Statscan`s economic analysis division, argue in a paper published this week that Canada`s manufacturing sector has not been in major decline. Indeed, in terms of volume of output, Canadian manufacturing production as a share of the economy has not changed much in almost half a century.
read full article here
The 2009 recession has produced another round of hand-wringing over Canada`s declining manufacturing base. Weakness in high-profile sectors -- autos, forest products, telecom -- add to the already-entrenched idea that the heart of industrial Canada, its manufacturing base, has long been in the grip of a major long-term decline. Canada is being deindustrialized.
The idea of deindustrialization has been around for decades, manifested, for example, in the 1990s, with slogans about becoming a nation of hamburger flippers and call-centre operators. The howls of deindustrialization have grown in recent years, with calls for more government aid to manufacturing to offset losses suffered in the face of increasingly stiff foreign competition. "Canada`s manufacturing industry is in the midst of a uniquely terrible crisis," Jim Stanford of the Canadian Auto Workers wrote recently.
Now along comes Statistics Canada with a new analysis that essentially debunks much if not all of the deindustrialization claims as unfounded. John Baldwin and Ryan Macdonald, with Statscan`s economic analysis division, argue in a paper published this week that Canada`s manufacturing sector has not been in major decline. Indeed, in terms of volume of output, Canadian manufacturing production as a share of the economy has not changed much in almost half a century.
read full article here
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MP proposes high-speed rail for three cities
OTTAWA — The MP who leads the non-partisan "rail caucus" in the House of Commons is pushing a new high-speed rail plan — a super-fast tri-city train link between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.
"If you were to start a line that connected these three major centres, you would have a line that would be well-supported, would offer significant economic benefits, and, obviously, you`d have significant environmental benefit," said Dean Del Mastro, a Conservative MP from Peterborough, Ont.
Del Mastro said that, given the geography such a line would run through, the trains would probably be limited to speeds of about 240 kilometres an hour but that would still cut the rail ride between Ottawa and Toronto, which now takes a little more than four hours, down to about two hours.
read full article here
OTTAWA — The MP who leads the non-partisan "rail caucus" in the House of Commons is pushing a new high-speed rail plan — a super-fast tri-city train link between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.
"If you were to start a line that connected these three major centres, you would have a line that would be well-supported, would offer significant economic benefits, and, obviously, you`d have significant environmental benefit," said Dean Del Mastro, a Conservative MP from Peterborough, Ont.
Del Mastro said that, given the geography such a line would run through, the trains would probably be limited to speeds of about 240 kilometres an hour but that would still cut the rail ride between Ottawa and Toronto, which now takes a little more than four hours, down to about two hours.
read full article here
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Record Sales Posted in June Toronto Resale Market
An impressive 10,995 sales were recorded in the Toronto resale housing market this past June, representing a 27 percent increase in sales from June 2008.
"The record result in June is testament to the fundamentally sound housing market in the GTA," observed newly appointed Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) President Tom Lebour. "An increasing number of households have been confident in purchasing a home in the region`s affordable and diverse resale housing market."
Jason Mercer, TREB`s Senior Manager of Market Analysis, said, "The re-emergence of seller`s market conditions has exerted upward pressure on home prices." He added, "Look for sales to remain high relative to listings in the second half of the year. This will keep home prices growing."
Along with rising home sales, average prices are also showing an upward trend. The average price in June 2009 rose to $403,972 - a two percent increase from June 2008`s transactions. Note the comparison between 2008 and 2009 figures below.
Things are definitely looking up in our real estate community! If you are, or someone you know is, thinking of making a move, please call for the latest update on prices and sales activity in your specific area.
An impressive 10,995 sales were recorded in the Toronto resale housing market this past June, representing a 27 percent increase in sales from June 2008.
"The record result in June is testament to the fundamentally sound housing market in the GTA," observed newly appointed Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) President Tom Lebour. "An increasing number of households have been confident in purchasing a home in the region`s affordable and diverse resale housing market."
Jason Mercer, TREB`s Senior Manager of Market Analysis, said, "The re-emergence of seller`s market conditions has exerted upward pressure on home prices." He added, "Look for sales to remain high relative to listings in the second half of the year. This will keep home prices growing."
Along with rising home sales, average prices are also showing an upward trend. The average price in June 2009 rose to $403,972 - a two percent increase from June 2008`s transactions. Note the comparison between 2008 and 2009 figures below.
Things are definitely looking up in our real estate community! If you are, or someone you know is, thinking of making a move, please call for the latest update on prices and sales activity in your specific area.
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2007
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- 586
Housing market leads economic recovery
KITCHENER – While the national economy appears to have turned a corner from the sudden and brutal recession of the past nine months, what has amazed economists even more is the rebound in the housing market.
Home sales have recovered much of their decline and house prices, "much to our surprise have pretty well retraced" from the lows of previous months, Sal Guatieri, a senior economist with BMO Capital Markets, told a seminar on the real estate market in Kitchener yesterday.
Unemployment is easing and retail spending is beginning to reawaken, but the main reason is low mortgage rates, he said.
His comments were echoed by Karen Shartun, president of the Kitchener-Waterloo Real Estate Board. House sales have been up in the board`s coverage area for the past few months compared to the same period last year, and average prices have dropped only 2.5 per cent. "This is a pretty darned stable real estate market," she said.
Gord Dunn, a mortgage development manager with BMO Bank of Montreal, said he is seeing more first-time homebuyers coming through the door. The incentives have never been better, including the option of higher downpayments from retirement savings plans, better tax breaks and low interest rates, he said. It`s possible to get a $200,000 mortgage for as little as $900 a month, he noted.
read full article here
KITCHENER – While the national economy appears to have turned a corner from the sudden and brutal recession of the past nine months, what has amazed economists even more is the rebound in the housing market.
Home sales have recovered much of their decline and house prices, "much to our surprise have pretty well retraced" from the lows of previous months, Sal Guatieri, a senior economist with BMO Capital Markets, told a seminar on the real estate market in Kitchener yesterday.
Unemployment is easing and retail spending is beginning to reawaken, but the main reason is low mortgage rates, he said.
His comments were echoed by Karen Shartun, president of the Kitchener-Waterloo Real Estate Board. House sales have been up in the board`s coverage area for the past few months compared to the same period last year, and average prices have dropped only 2.5 per cent. "This is a pretty darned stable real estate market," she said.
Gord Dunn, a mortgage development manager with BMO Bank of Montreal, said he is seeing more first-time homebuyers coming through the door. The incentives have never been better, including the option of higher downpayments from retirement savings plans, better tax breaks and low interest rates, he said. It`s possible to get a $200,000 mortgage for as little as $900 a month, he noted.
read full article here
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- Oct 12, 2007
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Canadians falling further behind in paying their bills
TORONTO - As the recession causes the financial squeeze to get tighter, a credit monitoring company says Canadians are falling behind on their credit payments at "an ever-increasing rate."
Equifax Canada says the average national delinquency rate at the end of June rose to 1.56 per cent - a jump of 24 per cent over the same time last year.
read full article here
TORONTO - As the recession causes the financial squeeze to get tighter, a credit monitoring company says Canadians are falling behind on their credit payments at "an ever-increasing rate."
Equifax Canada says the average national delinquency rate at the end of June rose to 1.56 per cent - a jump of 24 per cent over the same time last year.
read full article here
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- Oct 12, 2007
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Canada bleeds more jobs in July, recovery in doubt
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian job losses in July were more than double what had been expected as employers cut workers even though the economy is commonly thought to be on the mend after its worst recession since the early 1990s.
Statistics Canada said on Friday the economy suffered net job losses of 44,500 in the month, compared with the market`s consensus forecast of a 17,500 decline. The construction industry bled the most workers, followed by food and accommodation services, while factory workers were largely spared.
The unemployment rate remained unchanged from June at an 11-year high of 8.6 percent as fewer people stayed in the labor market looking for work.
read full article here
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian job losses in July were more than double what had been expected as employers cut workers even though the economy is commonly thought to be on the mend after its worst recession since the early 1990s.
Statistics Canada said on Friday the economy suffered net job losses of 44,500 in the month, compared with the market`s consensus forecast of a 17,500 decline. The construction industry bled the most workers, followed by food and accommodation services, while factory workers were largely spared.
The unemployment rate remained unchanged from June at an 11-year high of 8.6 percent as fewer people stayed in the labor market looking for work.
read full article here
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- Mar 24, 2009
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GM`s Electric Clunker
According to an announcement yesterday from GM, the Chevy Volt, which it claims will be on lots by the end of 2010, is expected to achieve city mileage of 230 per gallon (around 92 kilo-metres per liter).
Wow. But hang on. The Volt is an "extended-range electric vehicle," which is meant to run up to 64 km without any gasoline at all. So if you run it less than that distance every day, then plug it in while you get a good night`s sleep (the length of time it takes to recharge), it would use ... Let me work this out ... Er, carry the two... zero gasoline: infinite miles per gallon!
Still, we know the fuel consumption figures are definitely all kosher and above board because they were calculated according to the "methodology" of the Environment Protection Agency, which confirmed yesterday that it is firmly behind Government Motors.
While noting that it hadn`t actually tested a Volt, the EPA applauded "GM`s commitment to designing and building the car of the future -- an American-made car that will save families money, significantly reduce our dependence on foreign oil and create good-paying American jobs."
Is barf a biofuel?
Read the full article here.
According to an announcement yesterday from GM, the Chevy Volt, which it claims will be on lots by the end of 2010, is expected to achieve city mileage of 230 per gallon (around 92 kilo-metres per liter).
Wow. But hang on. The Volt is an "extended-range electric vehicle," which is meant to run up to 64 km without any gasoline at all. So if you run it less than that distance every day, then plug it in while you get a good night`s sleep (the length of time it takes to recharge), it would use ... Let me work this out ... Er, carry the two... zero gasoline: infinite miles per gallon!
Still, we know the fuel consumption figures are definitely all kosher and above board because they were calculated according to the "methodology" of the Environment Protection Agency, which confirmed yesterday that it is firmly behind Government Motors.
While noting that it hadn`t actually tested a Volt, the EPA applauded "GM`s commitment to designing and building the car of the future -- an American-made car that will save families money, significantly reduce our dependence on foreign oil and create good-paying American jobs."
Is barf a biofuel?
Read the full article here.
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2009
- Messages
- 16,743
Toronto Home Prices Stabilize
The prices of new homes in the Toronto and Oshawa area stabilized in June as the market may have found a bottom, according to figures released by Statistics Canada today.
Prices remain unchanged in June compared to May, bucking the national trend, which saw contractor selling prices decrease by 0.2 per cent nationally.
However, new home prices in the Toronto and Oshawa market are still down 1.1 per cent from a year ago at the same time. That compares to the national average where prices are down 3.3 per cent.
Developers in the Toronto area report more traffic and sales at their sites as the resale market has tightened up because of fewer listings.
Prices declined the most in Western Canada, with Vancouver down 0.9 per cent month over month, followed by Edmonton at 0.8 per cent and Victoria at 0.5 per cent.
Read the full article here.
The prices of new homes in the Toronto and Oshawa area stabilized in June as the market may have found a bottom, according to figures released by Statistics Canada today.
Prices remain unchanged in June compared to May, bucking the national trend, which saw contractor selling prices decrease by 0.2 per cent nationally.
However, new home prices in the Toronto and Oshawa market are still down 1.1 per cent from a year ago at the same time. That compares to the national average where prices are down 3.3 per cent.
Developers in the Toronto area report more traffic and sales at their sites as the resale market has tightened up because of fewer listings.
Prices declined the most in Western Canada, with Vancouver down 0.9 per cent month over month, followed by Edmonton at 0.8 per cent and Victoria at 0.5 per cent.
Read the full article here.
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- Mar 24, 2009
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Rebound Surprises Top Builder
During the worst December in recent memory, when the recession had firmly bludgeoned consumer confidence, Brian Johnston sold a mere eight homes. Those aren`t stellar numbers for a company that typically sells 70 to 80 homes a month.
"That was truly desperate times," says the president of Toronto-based Monarch Corporation, Canada`s oldest home building firm.
"It was a tough time for the entire industry."
In January, the company laid off staff and prepared for the worst. With a substantial investment of 15 lowrise and eight highrise housing projects across Ontario, the stakes were high.
But over the last few months, the rejuvenating impact of low interest rates and a tighter-than-expected resale market started to lift the new home market.
Read the full article here.
During the worst December in recent memory, when the recession had firmly bludgeoned consumer confidence, Brian Johnston sold a mere eight homes. Those aren`t stellar numbers for a company that typically sells 70 to 80 homes a month.
"That was truly desperate times," says the president of Toronto-based Monarch Corporation, Canada`s oldest home building firm.
"It was a tough time for the entire industry."
In January, the company laid off staff and prepared for the worst. With a substantial investment of 15 lowrise and eight highrise housing projects across Ontario, the stakes were high.
But over the last few months, the rejuvenating impact of low interest rates and a tighter-than-expected resale market started to lift the new home market.
Read the full article here.
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2009
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Niagra Site Plans for 250 Homes
The lakeside town of Beamsville boasts more than its share of pluses.
It`s perched on the south shore of Lake Ontario, far enough from the mayhem but close enough for a commute.
The Niagara escarpment rises dramatically on the south border serving as both backdrop and a highlight of the region.
Situated in the greenbelt of Niagara, vineyards, orchards and wineries abound. In addition, the small town ambience of ample green space, tree-lined streets and a shopping district welcomes families.
Here`s where builder Losani Homes planted Discovery, a master-planned community of about 250 homes.
(Niagara builder Mountainview Homes shares the site and has constructed a fully-decorated model. Mountainview predominately sells the 40-foot lots, but also a series of townhouses.)
Read the full article here.
The lakeside town of Beamsville boasts more than its share of pluses.
It`s perched on the south shore of Lake Ontario, far enough from the mayhem but close enough for a commute.
The Niagara escarpment rises dramatically on the south border serving as both backdrop and a highlight of the region.
Situated in the greenbelt of Niagara, vineyards, orchards and wineries abound. In addition, the small town ambience of ample green space, tree-lined streets and a shopping district welcomes families.
Here`s where builder Losani Homes planted Discovery, a master-planned community of about 250 homes.
(Niagara builder Mountainview Homes shares the site and has constructed a fully-decorated model. Mountainview predominately sells the 40-foot lots, but also a series of townhouses.)
Read the full article here.
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2009
- Messages
- 16,743
PM Launches Economic Agency to Help Southern Ontario
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced on Thursday the launch of a new agency to boost economic development in southern Ontario.
Harper said the Federal Economic Development Agency for southern Ontario, which will be headquartered in the city of Kitchener, will support economic development, innovation and diversification. The creation of the agency had been previously announced in the federal budget.
"This new agency will help southern Ontario`s communities, workers and businesses position themselves to take advantage of exciting new economic opportunities when the recovery eventually and inevitably takes hold," Harper said.
Harper said Minister of State Gary Goodyear will be responsible for the agency and will embark on a tour of the region in the coming weeks.
The agency will have a $1-billion budget over five years.
Read the full article here.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced on Thursday the launch of a new agency to boost economic development in southern Ontario.
Harper said the Federal Economic Development Agency for southern Ontario, which will be headquartered in the city of Kitchener, will support economic development, innovation and diversification. The creation of the agency had been previously announced in the federal budget.
"This new agency will help southern Ontario`s communities, workers and businesses position themselves to take advantage of exciting new economic opportunities when the recovery eventually and inevitably takes hold," Harper said.
Harper said Minister of State Gary Goodyear will be responsible for the agency and will embark on a tour of the region in the coming weeks.
The agency will have a $1-billion budget over five years.
Read the full article here.
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- Mar 24, 2009
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Kitchener `Fit the Bill` for new Development Agency: Harper
KITCHENER, Ont. — Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the launch Thursday of a regional development agency in southern Ontario, one of the areas hardest hit by the economic downturn.
The agency, which was previously announced in the federal budget, will be headquartered in Kitchener.
The Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario has a $1-billion budget over five years.
"Our objective is not to tie up the programming funds here in the head office or in a bunch of regional offices," Harper said.
"We want as much of the money available for programming and as little on bureaucracy as we possibly can have."
Read the full article here.
KITCHENER, Ont. — Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the launch Thursday of a regional development agency in southern Ontario, one of the areas hardest hit by the economic downturn.
The agency, which was previously announced in the federal budget, will be headquartered in Kitchener.
The Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario has a $1-billion budget over five years.
"Our objective is not to tie up the programming funds here in the head office or in a bunch of regional offices," Harper said.
"We want as much of the money available for programming and as little on bureaucracy as we possibly can have."
Read the full article here.
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2009
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- 16,743
Toronto Mayor Nixes new Taxes, but not Hikes
Toronto Mayor David Miller ruled out creating new taxes yesterday, even as he hinted property tax increases are inevitable and his critics warned user-fee hikes are also likely.
Next year`s pre-election budget could have a shortfall of as much as $300-million, according to one councillor, as city finances are battered by the recession. Mr. Miller, speaking to reporters at the opening of a new Scarborough media lab funded with a $1-million donation from Microsoft Canada, said he does not foresee using new tax powers again ahead of the 2010 vote.
"We`re not going there," he said of implementing new taxes on theatres or parking lots. "No, not at all."
In 2006 the city received new taxation powers under the province`s City of Toronto Act, and in 2007 controversially implemented a vehicle-registration and land-transfer tax.
The Mayor noted twice yesterday that Toronto`s property tax levels are the most favour-able in the region, and did not rule out raising them, as city council has every year since Mr. Miller took power.
Read the full article here.
Toronto Mayor David Miller ruled out creating new taxes yesterday, even as he hinted property tax increases are inevitable and his critics warned user-fee hikes are also likely.
Next year`s pre-election budget could have a shortfall of as much as $300-million, according to one councillor, as city finances are battered by the recession. Mr. Miller, speaking to reporters at the opening of a new Scarborough media lab funded with a $1-million donation from Microsoft Canada, said he does not foresee using new tax powers again ahead of the 2010 vote.
"We`re not going there," he said of implementing new taxes on theatres or parking lots. "No, not at all."
In 2006 the city received new taxation powers under the province`s City of Toronto Act, and in 2007 controversially implemented a vehicle-registration and land-transfer tax.
The Mayor noted twice yesterday that Toronto`s property tax levels are the most favour-able in the region, and did not rule out raising them, as city council has every year since Mr. Miller took power.
Read the full article here.
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- Mar 24, 2009
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1 Bloor Condo Dreams Alive
The condominium property site at 1 Bloor may have been sold, but the dream of putting a high-rise building at one of Toronto`s most prestigious addresses lives on.
Industry speculation is that Toronto-based Great Gulf Homes is the likely buyer of the property.
"They are an established builder familiar with the area and with a good track record,`` said one source.
The company will likely commit to developing some form of high-rise condominium, although the hotel component may no longer be a part of the building, according to sources.
Read the full article here.
The condominium property site at 1 Bloor may have been sold, but the dream of putting a high-rise building at one of Toronto`s most prestigious addresses lives on.
Industry speculation is that Toronto-based Great Gulf Homes is the likely buyer of the property.
"They are an established builder familiar with the area and with a good track record,`` said one source.
The company will likely commit to developing some form of high-rise condominium, although the hotel component may no longer be a part of the building, according to sources.
Read the full article here.
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2009
- Messages
- 16,743
Rights Commission Targets `Blatant Discrimination` in Rental-Housing Market
If you are a student, senior, disabled person or a single parent and looking to rent, good luck.
There`s obvious discrimination in rental housing, says the Ontario Human Rights Commission`s annual report released yesterday, identifying the problem as a key area that needs immediate intervention.
"We are very early on in our work on housing but it`s very clear there is widespread and blatant discrimination," chief commissioner Barbara Hall said yesterday. "It was brought to our notice by different groups and when we started looking into complaints, we realized how serious (human rights) violations these are."
The report says access to inexpensive housing is even more important in these harsh economic times but is just as tough to find.
"We were shocked when we heard of cases where seniors were denied housing because landlords were concerned their older tenants would acquire disabilities and they (landlords) would have to make accommodations," said Hall.
There were also instances in which single-parent families were told the buildings are "only for adults. Many people actually believed that," said Hall. "The number of (such) cases we have seen is alarming."
Read the full article here.
If you are a student, senior, disabled person or a single parent and looking to rent, good luck.
There`s obvious discrimination in rental housing, says the Ontario Human Rights Commission`s annual report released yesterday, identifying the problem as a key area that needs immediate intervention.
"We are very early on in our work on housing but it`s very clear there is widespread and blatant discrimination," chief commissioner Barbara Hall said yesterday. "It was brought to our notice by different groups and when we started looking into complaints, we realized how serious (human rights) violations these are."
The report says access to inexpensive housing is even more important in these harsh economic times but is just as tough to find.
"We were shocked when we heard of cases where seniors were denied housing because landlords were concerned their older tenants would acquire disabilities and they (landlords) would have to make accommodations," said Hall.
There were also instances in which single-parent families were told the buildings are "only for adults. Many people actually believed that," said Hall. "The number of (such) cases we have seen is alarming."
Read the full article here.
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2009
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- 16,743
McGuinty admits Harmonized Tax is a tough Sell
OTTAWA – Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is acknowledging he`s got a tough sales job ahead after his pitch for a harmonized sales tax was met with stony silence by the province`s municipal leaders.
McGuinty told the annual conference of the Association of Ontario Municipalities that combining the federal GST and the provincial sales tax is good for business and the right thing to do.
He noted that single sales taxes are "a fact of life" in 130 countries and four Canadian provinces – adding that anywhere sales taxes have been harmonized the decision has never been reversed. He apparently forgot Saskatchewan`s short-lived and unpopular experiment with a combined sales tax back in 1991.
While parts of McGuinty`s 17-minute speech were greeted with warm applause by Ontario`s mayors, the crowd sat on its hands throughout his sales tax appeal.
Municipal leaders are worried they`ll be hard hit next year by a harmonized sales tax that applies to more goods and services than the current Ontario PST.
Read the full article here.
OTTAWA – Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is acknowledging he`s got a tough sales job ahead after his pitch for a harmonized sales tax was met with stony silence by the province`s municipal leaders.
McGuinty told the annual conference of the Association of Ontario Municipalities that combining the federal GST and the provincial sales tax is good for business and the right thing to do.
He noted that single sales taxes are "a fact of life" in 130 countries and four Canadian provinces – adding that anywhere sales taxes have been harmonized the decision has never been reversed. He apparently forgot Saskatchewan`s short-lived and unpopular experiment with a combined sales tax back in 1991.
While parts of McGuinty`s 17-minute speech were greeted with warm applause by Ontario`s mayors, the crowd sat on its hands throughout his sales tax appeal.
Municipal leaders are worried they`ll be hard hit next year by a harmonized sales tax that applies to more goods and services than the current Ontario PST.
Read the full article here.
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2009
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- 16,743
Raincoat for your Basement
On the fourth anniversary of the most costly natural disaster the city has ever seen, the non-profit Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction teamed up with the city yesterday to highlight steps that homeowners can take to guard against basement flooding.
The four-hour storm of Aug. 19, 2005 flooded highways and washed away a large section of Finch Ave. W. It caused more than $500 million property damage, much of that related to basement flooding. More than 13,000 residents complained of backed-up sewers.
In advance of this year`s fall storm season, here are some things you can do to protect your home. Some renovations fall under a city program that offers flood-prevention rebates.
WEEPING TILE
Weeping tile – a perforated plastic pipe – is installed under the ground, parallel to the side of a house, to carry water away from the foundation. It`s a solution for any house subject to seepage or dealing with a troublesome water table.
Read the full article here.
On the fourth anniversary of the most costly natural disaster the city has ever seen, the non-profit Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction teamed up with the city yesterday to highlight steps that homeowners can take to guard against basement flooding.
The four-hour storm of Aug. 19, 2005 flooded highways and washed away a large section of Finch Ave. W. It caused more than $500 million property damage, much of that related to basement flooding. More than 13,000 residents complained of backed-up sewers.
In advance of this year`s fall storm season, here are some things you can do to protect your home. Some renovations fall under a city program that offers flood-prevention rebates.
WEEPING TILE
Weeping tile – a perforated plastic pipe – is installed under the ground, parallel to the side of a house, to carry water away from the foundation. It`s a solution for any house subject to seepage or dealing with a troublesome water table.
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