December 2009
- Thread starter Ally
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Ontario passes HST legislation
TORONTO — Ontario legislators on Wednesday passed controversial tax legislation that will result in higher costs on about one in five items beginning July 1.
The 13 per cent harmonized sales tax (HST) is part of a larger budget bill being debated at Queen`s Park. Provincial politicians are currently debating the measure.
Conservative MPP Lisa MacLeod acknowledged her party fought "an uphill battle" against the HST which roughly 75 per cent of people oppose, according to polls.
"We did everything we could to stop this $3 billion tax grab on families and the middle class," MacLeod said Wednesday morning in the legislature. "You should be ashamed of yourselves, Liberal party."
On Tuesday, Ontario native chiefs said they are about to launch a campaign against the HST, including road blockades and traffic disruptions and unspecified legal action.
The HST in Ontario would also eliminate the existing exemption for First Nations from paying the provincial sales tax.
Read the full article here.
TORONTO — Ontario legislators on Wednesday passed controversial tax legislation that will result in higher costs on about one in five items beginning July 1.
The 13 per cent harmonized sales tax (HST) is part of a larger budget bill being debated at Queen`s Park. Provincial politicians are currently debating the measure.
Conservative MPP Lisa MacLeod acknowledged her party fought "an uphill battle" against the HST which roughly 75 per cent of people oppose, according to polls.
"We did everything we could to stop this $3 billion tax grab on families and the middle class," MacLeod said Wednesday morning in the legislature. "You should be ashamed of yourselves, Liberal party."
On Tuesday, Ontario native chiefs said they are about to launch a campaign against the HST, including road blockades and traffic disruptions and unspecified legal action.
The HST in Ontario would also eliminate the existing exemption for First Nations from paying the provincial sales tax.
Read the full article here.
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Home Sales Jingling Along
The first week of December was a good week, economically speaking, for the Greater Toronto Area and Canada more broadly. We had two waves of positive financial news. First, Statistics Canada announced the Canadian economy grew in the third quarter --the first quarter of growth since the third quarter of 2008.
This was followed by encouraging employment numbers. In Canada, a whopping 79,000 jobs were created in November and the unemployment rate dropped slightly. In the Toronto area, we experienced the fourth straight month of job creation. This was the backdrop for another strong report from the Toronto Real Estate Board. November`s existing home sales in the Toronto area were up strongly on an annual basis to 7,446 (up 105% from a depressed November 2008, but within 2% of the total in November 2007), and the average home price climbed 14% to $418,460.
Jason Mercer, TREB`s senior manager of market analysis, points to the strong link between the housing market and renewed growth in the economy: "Economic recovery to date has been consumer driven, with housing playing a key role. The fact that the GTA housing market has remained affordable over the past decade, coupled with record low mortgage rates, meant that as consumer confidence recovered, home ownership demand rebounded very quickly. These transactions resulted in spending that benefited other sectors of the economy, including such financial and professional services as mortgage brokers and lawyers, renovation and repair contractors, moving and storage companies and home furnishings retailers to name a few."
By all accounts, when the final resale numbers are released for December, total sales will likely align with the healthy results we had in 2004 through 2006. This will represent quite a recovery from the lows in sales and price we hit at the beginning of the year.
With that said, however, it is important to point out we will not see sustained double-digit rates of growth in sales and average price moving forward.
Read the full article here.
The first week of December was a good week, economically speaking, for the Greater Toronto Area and Canada more broadly. We had two waves of positive financial news. First, Statistics Canada announced the Canadian economy grew in the third quarter --the first quarter of growth since the third quarter of 2008.
This was followed by encouraging employment numbers. In Canada, a whopping 79,000 jobs were created in November and the unemployment rate dropped slightly. In the Toronto area, we experienced the fourth straight month of job creation. This was the backdrop for another strong report from the Toronto Real Estate Board. November`s existing home sales in the Toronto area were up strongly on an annual basis to 7,446 (up 105% from a depressed November 2008, but within 2% of the total in November 2007), and the average home price climbed 14% to $418,460.
Jason Mercer, TREB`s senior manager of market analysis, points to the strong link between the housing market and renewed growth in the economy: "Economic recovery to date has been consumer driven, with housing playing a key role. The fact that the GTA housing market has remained affordable over the past decade, coupled with record low mortgage rates, meant that as consumer confidence recovered, home ownership demand rebounded very quickly. These transactions resulted in spending that benefited other sectors of the economy, including such financial and professional services as mortgage brokers and lawyers, renovation and repair contractors, moving and storage companies and home furnishings retailers to name a few."
By all accounts, when the final resale numbers are released for December, total sales will likely align with the healthy results we had in 2004 through 2006. This will represent quite a recovery from the lows in sales and price we hit at the beginning of the year.
With that said, however, it is important to point out we will not see sustained double-digit rates of growth in sales and average price moving forward.
Read the full article here.
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Toyota Hiring 800 for second shift in Woodstock
CAMBRIDGE – Toyota is hiring more than 800 workers for a second shift at its plant in Woodstock.
The company announced today that it is doubling the plant`s production of the RAV4 crossover vehicle to 150,000 a year. It said the second shift will start next March.
Hiring begins this month, the company said.
"Thanks to the high demand for this popular vehicle, we are able to increase production in Woodstock," Ray Tanguay, president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, said in a news release.
"This is a vote of confidence in the RAV4 product, the quality of our suppliers and the capability of our Canadian Team Members," Tanguay said.
"In addition, this move demonstrates Toyota`s continued commitment to North American production and to building where we sell."
Read the full article here.
CAMBRIDGE – Toyota is hiring more than 800 workers for a second shift at its plant in Woodstock.
The company announced today that it is doubling the plant`s production of the RAV4 crossover vehicle to 150,000 a year. It said the second shift will start next March.
Hiring begins this month, the company said.
"Thanks to the high demand for this popular vehicle, we are able to increase production in Woodstock," Ray Tanguay, president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, said in a news release.
"This is a vote of confidence in the RAV4 product, the quality of our suppliers and the capability of our Canadian Team Members," Tanguay said.
"In addition, this move demonstrates Toyota`s continued commitment to North American production and to building where we sell."
Read the full article here.
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Open Text doubling the size of its Waterloo headquarters
WATERLOO — Open Text Corp. will double the size of its Waterloo headquarters with the construction of a second building in the University of Waterloo Research and Technology Park and add as many 800 more people to its workforce here.
The company already employs about 1,000 people in Waterloo, between the building that is currently on Frank Tompa Drive and rented space elsewhere, said Tom Jenkins, Open Text executive chair and chief strategy officer.
The new building, expected to be complete in 2011, will give the company the capacity to have a total of 1,500 to 2,000 people on its campus in Waterloo, he added.
Construction of the new 120,000-square-foot, five-storey building will start in July and is expected to be completed in the summer of 2011. It will be joined to Open Text`s existing 113,000-square-foot, three-storey office by an elevated enclosed sky bridge.
Open Text creates the software that organizes and allows the sharing of digital text, video and audio content generated within corporations, media companies and government organizations all over the world.
Jenkins describes it as being akin to a Facebook or YouTube behind the protected computer firewalls of large organizations, allowing people in the organization to collaborate on work, and also manage websites that share digital media content with the outside world.
"People have not stopped using the internet during the recession, so we have had continued growth all the way through it," Jenkins said. We have had quite a lot of customer demand because what we do is the internet," he added.
The amount of content on the internet is rising exponentially, Jenkins said. "So what this represents is not just a belief in Ontario and Waterloo, but it is a big bet on the internet," he added.
Although he couldn`t be at the announcement, Open Text`s president and chief executive officer John Shackleton said in a statement that "it`s an exciting day for the Waterloo tech region and particularly for Open Text, our employees, customers and partners."
Shackleton said that despite the challenging economy, the company`s customers continue to view its enterprise content management software as critical to their operations.
Read the full article here.
WATERLOO — Open Text Corp. will double the size of its Waterloo headquarters with the construction of a second building in the University of Waterloo Research and Technology Park and add as many 800 more people to its workforce here.
The company already employs about 1,000 people in Waterloo, between the building that is currently on Frank Tompa Drive and rented space elsewhere, said Tom Jenkins, Open Text executive chair and chief strategy officer.
The new building, expected to be complete in 2011, will give the company the capacity to have a total of 1,500 to 2,000 people on its campus in Waterloo, he added.
Construction of the new 120,000-square-foot, five-storey building will start in July and is expected to be completed in the summer of 2011. It will be joined to Open Text`s existing 113,000-square-foot, three-storey office by an elevated enclosed sky bridge.
Open Text creates the software that organizes and allows the sharing of digital text, video and audio content generated within corporations, media companies and government organizations all over the world.
Jenkins describes it as being akin to a Facebook or YouTube behind the protected computer firewalls of large organizations, allowing people in the organization to collaborate on work, and also manage websites that share digital media content with the outside world.
"People have not stopped using the internet during the recession, so we have had continued growth all the way through it," Jenkins said. We have had quite a lot of customer demand because what we do is the internet," he added.
The amount of content on the internet is rising exponentially, Jenkins said. "So what this represents is not just a belief in Ontario and Waterloo, but it is a big bet on the internet," he added.
Although he couldn`t be at the announcement, Open Text`s president and chief executive officer John Shackleton said in a statement that "it`s an exciting day for the Waterloo tech region and particularly for Open Text, our employees, customers and partners."
Shackleton said that despite the challenging economy, the company`s customers continue to view its enterprise content management software as critical to their operations.
Read the full article here.
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City and Developer near deal for long-awaited Project
A Brampton-based developer says he will sign an agreement next month with the City of Kitchener for a project that will add 385 condos to the core.
Peter Smith, president of Andrin Homes, said an agreement should be in place by mid-January for the redevelopment of the city-owned half of Centre Block, which is bounded by King, Young, Duke and Ontario streets.
"We have agreed in principle and most of the document has been finalized," Smith said. "Lawyers are now crossing t`s and dotting i`s but there are no issues."
Next spring the company plans to build a sales office on the block fronting on King Street West.
"We intend to start our sales in August 2010," Smith said. "We are moving forward, we are encouraged by everything."
There are some changes to the phasing of the project.
Read the full article here.
A Brampton-based developer says he will sign an agreement next month with the City of Kitchener for a project that will add 385 condos to the core.
Peter Smith, president of Andrin Homes, said an agreement should be in place by mid-January for the redevelopment of the city-owned half of Centre Block, which is bounded by King, Young, Duke and Ontario streets.
"We have agreed in principle and most of the document has been finalized," Smith said. "Lawyers are now crossing t`s and dotting i`s but there are no issues."
Next spring the company plans to build a sales office on the block fronting on King Street West.
"We intend to start our sales in August 2010," Smith said. "We are moving forward, we are encouraged by everything."
There are some changes to the phasing of the project.
Read the full article here.
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Their Field of Dreams
Housing starts in Toronto fell in November — but fear not, condo lovers — analysts say it is just a pause for breath, a mere hesitation in the notoriously volatile "apartment" starts (as the number counters call condo units).
According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., the seasonally adjusted annual rate of total housing starts for the Toronto Census Metropolitan Area fell 25.4% to 25,500 units in November compared with the previous month.
"The decline came solely from the high-rise sector, which tends to have quite a bit of volatility on a month-to-month basis," says Shaun Hildebrand, CMHC`s senior market analyst for the GTA. "These sorts of dips are expected throughout the year — we don`t usually see a consistent trend in starts for the multiples sector."
The raw data — not taking seasonal factors into account — showed a 41% decline in multiple starts year-to-date in 2009 compared with the same period last year.
"We saw quite a bit of a slowdown in project openings … in the first half of 2009 and this is really a reflection of the fact that demand level slowed," Mr. Hildebrand says. "In the high-rise sector … there is quite a bit of a backlog for high-rise projects that are set to begin construction over the few months. It`s really a reflection of high sales levels two years ago. A lot of these projects have reached their 80% to 90% sales thresholds and they`re getting ready to start construction."
Read the full article here.
Housing starts in Toronto fell in November — but fear not, condo lovers — analysts say it is just a pause for breath, a mere hesitation in the notoriously volatile "apartment" starts (as the number counters call condo units).
According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., the seasonally adjusted annual rate of total housing starts for the Toronto Census Metropolitan Area fell 25.4% to 25,500 units in November compared with the previous month.
"The decline came solely from the high-rise sector, which tends to have quite a bit of volatility on a month-to-month basis," says Shaun Hildebrand, CMHC`s senior market analyst for the GTA. "These sorts of dips are expected throughout the year — we don`t usually see a consistent trend in starts for the multiples sector."
The raw data — not taking seasonal factors into account — showed a 41% decline in multiple starts year-to-date in 2009 compared with the same period last year.
"We saw quite a bit of a slowdown in project openings … in the first half of 2009 and this is really a reflection of the fact that demand level slowed," Mr. Hildebrand says. "In the high-rise sector … there is quite a bit of a backlog for high-rise projects that are set to begin construction over the few months. It`s really a reflection of high sales levels two years ago. A lot of these projects have reached their 80% to 90% sales thresholds and they`re getting ready to start construction."
Read the full article here.
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City to spend $1.9M on new land studies
BARRIE - Barrie is poised to spend $1.9 million on an array of studies for the Innisfil land it’s preparing to annex Jan. 1.
“This will make sure we don’t end up behind the ball,” said Coun. Jeff Lehman. “These times can get pretty adversarial, and if you don’t work with the landowners, the residents and the business community, things can go off the rails. It becomes a series of battles and no one wins.”
Barrie’s growth management co-ordinator Eric Hodgins noted the $1.9 million is a cost current taxpayers will pay until the city collects development charges as it isn’t receiving any compensation for the area that will immediately require snow removal, road maintenance, and garbage pickup.
To best plan for the 2,293 hectares that’ll be annexed Jan. 1, Barrie will conduct studies including an environmental assessment, secondary plans, transportation and parks.
Passing third reading Tuesday, Bill 196 expands Barrie by almost a third, with a band of land along the southern border.
Facing a planning process that’s much different than the one the city went through after annexing lands in the 1980s, Barrie must consider new rules as set out in the Lake Simcoe Protection Act, as well as Places to Grow, which requires communities be more dense to make best use of land, roads and other services.
Read the full article here.
BARRIE - Barrie is poised to spend $1.9 million on an array of studies for the Innisfil land it’s preparing to annex Jan. 1.
“This will make sure we don’t end up behind the ball,” said Coun. Jeff Lehman. “These times can get pretty adversarial, and if you don’t work with the landowners, the residents and the business community, things can go off the rails. It becomes a series of battles and no one wins.”
Barrie’s growth management co-ordinator Eric Hodgins noted the $1.9 million is a cost current taxpayers will pay until the city collects development charges as it isn’t receiving any compensation for the area that will immediately require snow removal, road maintenance, and garbage pickup.
To best plan for the 2,293 hectares that’ll be annexed Jan. 1, Barrie will conduct studies including an environmental assessment, secondary plans, transportation and parks.
Passing third reading Tuesday, Bill 196 expands Barrie by almost a third, with a band of land along the southern border.
Facing a planning process that’s much different than the one the city went through after annexing lands in the 1980s, Barrie must consider new rules as set out in the Lake Simcoe Protection Act, as well as Places to Grow, which requires communities be more dense to make best use of land, roads and other services.
Read the full article here.
- Joined
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Lexus is making its way to Barrie
BARRIE - In anticipation of a spring 2010 opening, Lexus of Barrie broke ground Tuesday on a new $7-million dealership at 281 Mapleview Dr. W.
“For over 20 years, we have been living and working in the area and we’re proud to introduce our neighbours in Barrie to Lexus,” says dealer principal John Chapman.
The 25,000-square-foot facility is expected to employ 30 employees when it opens its doors. The new dealership will offer new vehicle sales, Lexus certified pre-owned vehicles, and a parts and service operation.
“Community is very important to us and we look forward to joining the family of Canadian Lexus dealers who are creating more special moments for their guests,” Chapman added. “Our staff will offer friendly service and expert advice, and we look forward to welcoming everyone to our well-appointed new dealership.”
The state-of-the-art location will incorporate a 12-vehicle showroom, a unique indoor delivery area for new owners, 12 mechanical bays and an interior drive-through for added convenience.
With factory-trained technicians in the service department and knowledgeable associates in the showroom, Barrie residents will have the necessary assistance to learn about the entire product lineup including the new Lexus HS 250h hybrid sedan, and the advanced RX 350 SUV which is made in Cambridge and is the only Lexus manufacturing plant outside Japan.
Read the full article here.
BARRIE - In anticipation of a spring 2010 opening, Lexus of Barrie broke ground Tuesday on a new $7-million dealership at 281 Mapleview Dr. W.
“For over 20 years, we have been living and working in the area and we’re proud to introduce our neighbours in Barrie to Lexus,” says dealer principal John Chapman.
The 25,000-square-foot facility is expected to employ 30 employees when it opens its doors. The new dealership will offer new vehicle sales, Lexus certified pre-owned vehicles, and a parts and service operation.
“Community is very important to us and we look forward to joining the family of Canadian Lexus dealers who are creating more special moments for their guests,” Chapman added. “Our staff will offer friendly service and expert advice, and we look forward to welcoming everyone to our well-appointed new dealership.”
The state-of-the-art location will incorporate a 12-vehicle showroom, a unique indoor delivery area for new owners, 12 mechanical bays and an interior drive-through for added convenience.
With factory-trained technicians in the service department and knowledgeable associates in the showroom, Barrie residents will have the necessary assistance to learn about the entire product lineup including the new Lexus HS 250h hybrid sedan, and the advanced RX 350 SUV which is made in Cambridge and is the only Lexus manufacturing plant outside Japan.
Read the full article here.
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Barrie`s Boundary moves South
BARRIE - Developers and businesspeople can begin planning to invest and build a stronger region, Barrie MPP Aileen Carroll said after the Barrie-Innisfil Boundary Adjustment Act, Bill 196, passed third reading at Queen`s Park Tuesday.
"It has to receive royal assent and be proclaimed, but it`s automatic after third reading. We can move ahead," Carroll said in an interview.
"We need very much the stability this act will bring to our region. As long as things remained in a constant state of flux and (boundary) negotiations failed, it created a lot of angst for investors and business generally. Business needs to know the roles. They look for certainty and predictability."
Introduced in the legislature June 4, Bill 196 adds 2,293 hectares of land to Barrie. Some of that area had been set-aside for Barrie in the last round of annexations in the 1980s.
Barrie and Innisfil, with the help of the provincial development facilitator, tried to come to an agreement throughout 2006. In early 2007, however, Innisfil rejected the proposal that would have added those lands to Barrie, in exchange for servicing of the Innisfil Heights area.
Tensions grew early this year, as Innisfil mounted its Fair Growth campaign in April and May. It climaxed with a Queen`s Park rally May 28, in which several busloads of residents urged the province to maintain Innisfil`s boundaries, for fear of rising taxes in Innisfil and also for those residents who would become Barrie residents.
Read the full article here.
BARRIE - Developers and businesspeople can begin planning to invest and build a stronger region, Barrie MPP Aileen Carroll said after the Barrie-Innisfil Boundary Adjustment Act, Bill 196, passed third reading at Queen`s Park Tuesday.
"It has to receive royal assent and be proclaimed, but it`s automatic after third reading. We can move ahead," Carroll said in an interview.
"We need very much the stability this act will bring to our region. As long as things remained in a constant state of flux and (boundary) negotiations failed, it created a lot of angst for investors and business generally. Business needs to know the roles. They look for certainty and predictability."
Introduced in the legislature June 4, Bill 196 adds 2,293 hectares of land to Barrie. Some of that area had been set-aside for Barrie in the last round of annexations in the 1980s.
Barrie and Innisfil, with the help of the provincial development facilitator, tried to come to an agreement throughout 2006. In early 2007, however, Innisfil rejected the proposal that would have added those lands to Barrie, in exchange for servicing of the Innisfil Heights area.
Tensions grew early this year, as Innisfil mounted its Fair Growth campaign in April and May. It climaxed with a Queen`s Park rally May 28, in which several busloads of residents urged the province to maintain Innisfil`s boundaries, for fear of rising taxes in Innisfil and also for those residents who would become Barrie residents.
Read the full article here.
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No Quarry decision yet
STAYNER - The Township of Clearview said Thursday it`s not ready to take a position on Walker Industries` proposal to expand its quarry west of Duntroon.
One of the approvals required for the project to go ahead is an amendment to the township`s Official Plan, but municipal staffers say they aren`t ready to recommend whether council should grant that.
"We recognize the community`s interest in this application, but we are continuing our analysis of the proposal and do not yet have a report for council," said the township`s director of planning, Michael Wynia, in a news release issued Thursday. "We are completing our analysis and will have a report for council in the near future."
Mayor Ken Ferguson said in the fall that he expected council would deal with the application in late November or early December.
He said Friday that now the application won`t likely be decided on by council until sometime in January.
"But we`re not going to rush the issue," Ferguson said. "We want to have all of our information in front of us before we make a decision."
Read the full article here.
STAYNER - The Township of Clearview said Thursday it`s not ready to take a position on Walker Industries` proposal to expand its quarry west of Duntroon.
One of the approvals required for the project to go ahead is an amendment to the township`s Official Plan, but municipal staffers say they aren`t ready to recommend whether council should grant that.
"We recognize the community`s interest in this application, but we are continuing our analysis of the proposal and do not yet have a report for council," said the township`s director of planning, Michael Wynia, in a news release issued Thursday. "We are completing our analysis and will have a report for council in the near future."
Mayor Ken Ferguson said in the fall that he expected council would deal with the application in late November or early December.
He said Friday that now the application won`t likely be decided on by council until sometime in January.
"But we`re not going to rush the issue," Ferguson said. "We want to have all of our information in front of us before we make a decision."
Read the full article here.
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County to Barrie: Let`s start fresh
SIMCOE COUNTY - Simcoe County`s municipalities want to start afresh with Barrie.
In a special meeting Thursday morning, the region`s mayors and deputy mayors passed two resolutions – one that puts the Barrie-Innisfil boundary dispute in the past, another that clarifies the role they want the county to play in coordinating services.
For the past two years, relations between the county and Barrie have been strained. This spring, tensions escalated as Innisfil`s Fair Growth campaign urged Ontario to not resolve the long-standing boundary dispute. On June 4, the province intervened, and days later, Simcoe County Warden Tony Guergis blasted the province for rewarding Barrie for playing backroom political games.
Bad blood continued to flow as recently as the Nov. 24 county council meeting, when some mayors and deputy mayors lambasted a committee that had the county`s three growth nodes – Bradford, Alliston and Collingwood – meeting with Barrie and Orillia.
Some called the committee "divisive."
An emotional e-mail chain went so far as to call the growth node cooperation "reprehensible."
Orillia Mayor Ron Stevens said the growth nodes committee – which consists of Orillia, Barrie, New Tecumseth, Collingwood and Bradford West Gwillimbury – isn`t the divisive clique some county councillors have made it to be.
"The five growth nodes are in a position to help, providing we get help (from the province)," Stevens said.
Read the full article here.
SIMCOE COUNTY - Simcoe County`s municipalities want to start afresh with Barrie.
In a special meeting Thursday morning, the region`s mayors and deputy mayors passed two resolutions – one that puts the Barrie-Innisfil boundary dispute in the past, another that clarifies the role they want the county to play in coordinating services.
For the past two years, relations between the county and Barrie have been strained. This spring, tensions escalated as Innisfil`s Fair Growth campaign urged Ontario to not resolve the long-standing boundary dispute. On June 4, the province intervened, and days later, Simcoe County Warden Tony Guergis blasted the province for rewarding Barrie for playing backroom political games.
Bad blood continued to flow as recently as the Nov. 24 county council meeting, when some mayors and deputy mayors lambasted a committee that had the county`s three growth nodes – Bradford, Alliston and Collingwood – meeting with Barrie and Orillia.
Some called the committee "divisive."
An emotional e-mail chain went so far as to call the growth node cooperation "reprehensible."
Orillia Mayor Ron Stevens said the growth nodes committee – which consists of Orillia, Barrie, New Tecumseth, Collingwood and Bradford West Gwillimbury – isn`t the divisive clique some county councillors have made it to be.
"The five growth nodes are in a position to help, providing we get help (from the province)," Stevens said.
Read the full article here.
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Canada`s Auto Industry set to recover in 2010
OTTAWA — Canada`s auto industry will return to profitability in 2010 after enduring a year that shook the sector to its core, the Conference Board of Canada said in a report Tuesday.
The board forecasts auto manufacturing, a cornerstone of southern Ontario`s manufacturing hub, will deliver earnings of $263 million in 2010, after suffering a pre-tax loss of $2.3 billion in 2009.
"The Canadian auto industry appears to have turned a corner in the second half of 2009 and is expected to return to profitability in 2010," said board economist Sabrina Browarski.
"However, production will remain below historical levels. Manufacturers will have to make concerted and ongoing efforts to streamline product lineups, control costs, and innovate to maintain profitability."
Despite the Canadian sector`s relatively quick return to profitability, the fallout of the financial crisis will continue to be felt for years in the U.S., "creating a ripple effect that will be acutely felt by Canadian motor vehicle exporters well into the medium term," Browarski said.
Read the full article here.
OTTAWA — Canada`s auto industry will return to profitability in 2010 after enduring a year that shook the sector to its core, the Conference Board of Canada said in a report Tuesday.
The board forecasts auto manufacturing, a cornerstone of southern Ontario`s manufacturing hub, will deliver earnings of $263 million in 2010, after suffering a pre-tax loss of $2.3 billion in 2009.
"The Canadian auto industry appears to have turned a corner in the second half of 2009 and is expected to return to profitability in 2010," said board economist Sabrina Browarski.
"However, production will remain below historical levels. Manufacturers will have to make concerted and ongoing efforts to streamline product lineups, control costs, and innovate to maintain profitability."
Despite the Canadian sector`s relatively quick return to profitability, the fallout of the financial crisis will continue to be felt for years in the U.S., "creating a ripple effect that will be acutely felt by Canadian motor vehicle exporters well into the medium term," Browarski said.
Read the full article here.
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Council ignores ROAR
City council heard the ROAR last night, then moved on with its plan to redevelop the Allandale stations land, including a new YMCA.
The city will continue negotiating a deal to sell most of this land to the YMCA and the Correct Group of Companies, keeping the station and some land in city hands, while working out a lease deal with the `Y`.
"The question is do we stop the process at this point to allow additional consultation (with the public) in the matter of the lease with the YMCA," asked Coun. Jeff Lehman.
The answer was no, despite three deputations opposing the development including the YMCA, and the public consultation process that has led to it.
Cathy Colebatch, of Residents for Old Allandale Revitalization (ROAR), said that only about 180 people of the city`s population of 135,000 have been consulted.
"Did we get enough people participating? Not in my estimation," she said. "The community needs to be involved in every step of this process."
Read the full article here.
City council heard the ROAR last night, then moved on with its plan to redevelop the Allandale stations land, including a new YMCA.
The city will continue negotiating a deal to sell most of this land to the YMCA and the Correct Group of Companies, keeping the station and some land in city hands, while working out a lease deal with the `Y`.
"The question is do we stop the process at this point to allow additional consultation (with the public) in the matter of the lease with the YMCA," asked Coun. Jeff Lehman.
The answer was no, despite three deputations opposing the development including the YMCA, and the public consultation process that has led to it.
Cathy Colebatch, of Residents for Old Allandale Revitalization (ROAR), said that only about 180 people of the city`s population of 135,000 have been consulted.
"Did we get enough people participating? Not in my estimation," she said. "The community needs to be involved in every step of this process."
Read the full article here.
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Successful redevelopment of Uptown Waterloo means no more subsidies for builders
WATERLOO — This city is poised to pass a milestone in the decade`s long struggle to redefine, redevelop and rejuvenate its downtown.
City planners believe there is now enough interest, momentum and optimism about their downtown`s future that developers should no longer be subsidized by taxpayers for building there.
On Jan. 1, the City of Waterloo ends a program that waived millions of dollars in fees for development in the core. It is the first city in this region to drop the waiver of downtown development charges since the programs were put in place in the 1990s.
Before building permits are issued, the fees — also called development charges — are collected by the city. Residential or commercial, big or small, fees are collected and used to help pay for infrastructure to service new growth.
In Waterloo for every single-detached or semi-detached house built, the developer pays $13,372 to the city, almost half of which will be spent on roads to service new homes.
For apartment buildings, the development charge is $9,302 per unit. Non-residential developments pay $51 per square metre in development charges. On a large project these fees can add millions to the cost.
Read the full article here.
WATERLOO — This city is poised to pass a milestone in the decade`s long struggle to redefine, redevelop and rejuvenate its downtown.
City planners believe there is now enough interest, momentum and optimism about their downtown`s future that developers should no longer be subsidized by taxpayers for building there.
On Jan. 1, the City of Waterloo ends a program that waived millions of dollars in fees for development in the core. It is the first city in this region to drop the waiver of downtown development charges since the programs were put in place in the 1990s.
Before building permits are issued, the fees — also called development charges — are collected by the city. Residential or commercial, big or small, fees are collected and used to help pay for infrastructure to service new growth.
In Waterloo for every single-detached or semi-detached house built, the developer pays $13,372 to the city, almost half of which will be spent on roads to service new homes.
For apartment buildings, the development charge is $9,302 per unit. Non-residential developments pay $51 per square metre in development charges. On a large project these fees can add millions to the cost.
Read the full article here.
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2009
- Messages
- 16,743
GO Transit launches six more eastbound routes between UW and Mississauga`s Square One
WATERLOO REGION — GO Transit is rolling out more options for travellers looking to head to Mississauga for the weekend.
Starting on Saturday, GO is expanding its Kitchener-Waterloo route to include six more eastbound trips between the University of Waterloo and Square One mall in Mississauga on Friday afternoons as well as three new trips from the mall back to the university on Sundays.
"Students are our customers so we try and service wherever the demand is," said GO Transit spokesperson, Robin Alam.
The commuter service started offering bus trips from the region to Mississauga and the Milton GO train station in October.
November ridership numbers show that about 325 people a week on average are using the buses, the majority heading to the Mississauga terminal.
December ridership numbers haven`t been released.
Read the full article here.
WATERLOO REGION — GO Transit is rolling out more options for travellers looking to head to Mississauga for the weekend.
Starting on Saturday, GO is expanding its Kitchener-Waterloo route to include six more eastbound trips between the University of Waterloo and Square One mall in Mississauga on Friday afternoons as well as three new trips from the mall back to the university on Sundays.
"Students are our customers so we try and service wherever the demand is," said GO Transit spokesperson, Robin Alam.
The commuter service started offering bus trips from the region to Mississauga and the Milton GO train station in October.
November ridership numbers show that about 325 people a week on average are using the buses, the majority heading to the Mississauga terminal.
December ridership numbers haven`t been released.
Read the full article here.
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2009
- Messages
- 16,743
Waterloo Region`s Blackberry Decade
Let the history books record and future generations duly note that the past 10 years in Waterloo Region have been the BlackBerry decade.
To say this is, of course to acknowledge and celebrate the enormous impact that the hand-held electronic communications marvel made by Waterloo`s Research In Motion has had on the world as well as this region. But if you also recognize the BlackBerry as the most famous symbol of Waterloo Region`s flourishing high-tech sector, you will see it stands for even more than RIM`s greatest success story. It stands for the region`s future as a key player in the new knowledge-based, technology-based economy that is emerging in Canada and rapidly transforming it.
Not so many years ago, few people had heard of RIM or knew that a BlackBerry wasn`t an edible fruit. Indeed, the first BlackBerry device was introduced to the world just 10 years ago in 1999 as a two-way pager. Within a few years, the BlackBerry had evolved into a smartphone that served as a mobile phone, handled email, did text messaging, internet faxing, Web browsing and more. Today, it is known around the world and is responsible for Waterloo Region being a recognizable name in the farthest reaches of the planet. It has made us a contender in a globalized world economy
But remember, too, what Waterloo Region was like 10 years ago. Even then, much of the region`s traditional manufacturing base had collapsed. The Seagram distillery, the Labatt brewery, the massive Uniroyal tire plant on Strange Street in Kitchener and many other industries were casualties of the devastating recession of the early 1990s. But the industrial decline continued in the first decade of the 21st century when marquee businesses such as Kaufman Footwear, BF Goodrich, MTD and Kitchener Frame went out of business.
The result of all this could have been disastrous for Waterloo Region`s economy and, indeed, the standard of living enjoyed by its citizens. But it wasn`t, in large part because of RIM, the BlackBerry and the high-tech sector in general. They saved us from turning into a southern Ontario rust belt.
Today, 575 technology companies make their home in this region. That`s a dramatic increase from the 310 local high-tech firms in 2004. But it`s absolutely incredible growth when you remember than in 1997, there were just 50 such companies in Waterloo Region.
Read the full article here.
Let the history books record and future generations duly note that the past 10 years in Waterloo Region have been the BlackBerry decade.
To say this is, of course to acknowledge and celebrate the enormous impact that the hand-held electronic communications marvel made by Waterloo`s Research In Motion has had on the world as well as this region. But if you also recognize the BlackBerry as the most famous symbol of Waterloo Region`s flourishing high-tech sector, you will see it stands for even more than RIM`s greatest success story. It stands for the region`s future as a key player in the new knowledge-based, technology-based economy that is emerging in Canada and rapidly transforming it.
Not so many years ago, few people had heard of RIM or knew that a BlackBerry wasn`t an edible fruit. Indeed, the first BlackBerry device was introduced to the world just 10 years ago in 1999 as a two-way pager. Within a few years, the BlackBerry had evolved into a smartphone that served as a mobile phone, handled email, did text messaging, internet faxing, Web browsing and more. Today, it is known around the world and is responsible for Waterloo Region being a recognizable name in the farthest reaches of the planet. It has made us a contender in a globalized world economy
But remember, too, what Waterloo Region was like 10 years ago. Even then, much of the region`s traditional manufacturing base had collapsed. The Seagram distillery, the Labatt brewery, the massive Uniroyal tire plant on Strange Street in Kitchener and many other industries were casualties of the devastating recession of the early 1990s. But the industrial decline continued in the first decade of the 21st century when marquee businesses such as Kaufman Footwear, BF Goodrich, MTD and Kitchener Frame went out of business.
The result of all this could have been disastrous for Waterloo Region`s economy and, indeed, the standard of living enjoyed by its citizens. But it wasn`t, in large part because of RIM, the BlackBerry and the high-tech sector in general. They saved us from turning into a southern Ontario rust belt.
Today, 575 technology companies make their home in this region. That`s a dramatic increase from the 310 local high-tech firms in 2004. But it`s absolutely incredible growth when you remember than in 1997, there were just 50 such companies in Waterloo Region.
Read the full article here.