Welcome!

By registering with us, you'll be able to discuss, share and private message with other members of our community.

SignUp Now!

March 2013 Prairie Economic Fundamentals

Ally

Research Assistant
Registered
Joined
Mar 24, 2009
Messages
16,743
News articles for March 2013.
 

Ally

Research Assistant
Registered
Joined
Mar 24, 2009
Messages
16,743
Regina real estate, rentals remain tight




Dale Griesser chuckled as he explained how tough it is to do a deal in finding high-quality office buildings in Regina for investors to add it to their portfolio.




It's not for of lack of demand, but because "investors are keeping hold of them," the president of Avi-son Young Commercial Real Estate's Saskatchewan arm told a news conference at which the firm's 2013 Market Report for Regina was released.





Read the full article here.
 

Ally

Research Assistant
Registered
Joined
Mar 24, 2009
Messages
16,743
Regina tenants shocked by 77% rent hike






REGINA - For 17 years, Darlene Keks has called 2221 Robinson St. home.






But on Thursday, Keks found out her rent will be going up by 77 per cent on Sept. 1.






Given she only receives about $1,400 a month in fixed income, Keks said she has no other choice but to move.





Read the full article here.
 

Ally

Research Assistant
Registered
Joined
Mar 24, 2009
Messages
16,743
No rental controls for Saskatchewan, government says





The provincial government says it will not implement a system of rent control in Saskatchewan, when asked at the legislature about the plight of a group of tenants in Regina who received notices of steep rent hikes.




The residents of an apartment building on Robinson Street were given notices of rent hikes, to take effect in six months, that average around 77 per cent.





Read the full article here.
 

Ally

Research Assistant
Registered
Joined
Mar 24, 2009
Messages
16,743
Conference Board expects strong job gains in Saskatachewan




OTTAWA - The Conference Board of Canada says it is looking for a rebound in job creation for February when the new employment statistics are published Friday.




The think-tank says its national help-wanted index jumped by the largest margin in almost two years in January with every province except Newfoundland trending up.




This suggests a major job boost in February, but given the roller-coaster results in the index the past few months, the Conference Board believes employment gains will be more modest.





Read the full article here.
 

Ally

Research Assistant
Registered
Joined
Mar 24, 2009
Messages
16,743
We're moving to Saskatchewan




VANCOUVER, March 5, 2013 (Financial Press) - We all remember the brain drain in the 1980s and `90s of people moving from Saskatchewan to other provinces, namely Alberta, in search of a better life. A better life meant access to jobs, higher wages and ultimately higher quality of life.




Things have clearly changed.





Read the full article here.
 

Ally

Research Assistant
Registered
Joined
Mar 24, 2009
Messages
16,743
University of Regina economist says rent control policies a bad idea






REGINA ` A Regina economist is cautioning that recent calls for rent control legislation is not the best way to deal with the availability of affordable rental units.




`The short answer ` not really,` said Jason Childs, an associate professor of economics at the University of Regina. He explained rent control legislation can be divided into two types ` those that set a cap on rent and those that control rent increases gradually.





Read the full article here.
 

Ally

Research Assistant
Registered
Joined
Mar 24, 2009
Messages
16,743
Total employment up in Saskatchewan




REGINA ` Statistics Canada says employment in Saskatchewan hit 546,200 in February, an increase of 900 from the previous month and 24,400 from February 2012.




That made Saskatchewan`s unemployment rate 3.8 per cent in February, 0.3 percentage points lower than in January and 1.5 points lower than in February 2012.





Read the full article here.
 

Ally

Research Assistant
Registered
Joined
Mar 24, 2009
Messages
16,743
Saskatchewan recruiters head to Ireland and England




Having gone to Ireland last year to look for skilled workers and professionals, Saskatchewan recruiters are going back there - and also adding a new stop.




The provincial Ministry of the Economy and 13 employers will be at the Working Abroad Expo in Dublin and another in Cork on March 6. As well, "some will also exhibit in Manchester, United Kingdom, March 9 and 10," the ministry says.





Read the full article here.
 

Ally

Research Assistant
Registered
Joined
Mar 24, 2009
Messages
16,743
Low unemployment a good problem to have, says Regina mayor


Saskatchewan has the lowest unemployment rate in Canada and Regina is leading the way for unemployment rates in cities.




Figures from Statistics Canada showed that Saskatchewan has the lowest unemployment rate in Canada at 3.8 per cent. The national rate is 7 per cent. In terms of cities, Regina has the lowest rate in Canada at 3.7 per cent.







Regina's Mayor Michael Fougere said that the title can be a double edged sword. When many of the people are already working employers can find it difficult to fill vacancies especially in trade positions like mechanics or electricians.





Read the full article here.
 

Ally

Research Assistant
Registered
Joined
Mar 24, 2009
Messages
16,743
Saskatchewan real estate a good investment




Saskatchewan has transformed from one of the most undervalued places in the country to a real estate hot spot.




"Right now it's cheaper to buy a condominium or a standard two-storey house in Edmonton or Calgary than it is in Saskatchewan as a whole," said Don Campbell with Real Estate Investment Network.




It's not the price of the home that matters, but rather the ability for people to buy and live in those properties, he said.





Read the full article here.
 

Ally

Research Assistant
Registered
Joined
Mar 24, 2009
Messages
16,743
Regina mayor says lowest unemployment rate in Canada is a "double-edged sword"






REGINA - Regina's Mayor Michael Fougere says having Canada's lowest unemployment rate can be a double-edged sword.







Read the full article here.
 

Ally

Research Assistant
Registered
Joined
Mar 24, 2009
Messages
16,743
Home builders critical of costs of serviced lots




A survey by the Canadian Home Builders' Association (CHBA) finds rising costs due to the price of serviced lots and municipal development charges is a major concern for new home builders.




The CHBA's annual Pulse Survey of its new home builders and renovator members found the level of concern about the cost of serviced lots and development charges has risen slightly in most regions since last year's survey. The survey, released at the association's 70th national conference, was conducted in December 2012 and January 2013 with the assistance of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and Natural Resources Canada.





Read the full article here.
 

Ally

Research Assistant
Registered
Joined
Mar 24, 2009
Messages
16,743
Regina home sales up 5.9% in February




Regina's 5.9 per cent increase in existing home sales from January to February bucked the national trend of a 2.1 per cent decrease during the same period, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA).




However, the home sales picture in the capital city looks less rosy when compared with last year. Home sales in Regina declined 26.5 per cent in February compared with February 2012, while sales were down 26.9 per cent for the year to date, CREA said Friday.





Read the full article here.
 

Ally

Research Assistant
Registered
Joined
Mar 24, 2009
Messages
16,743
Total employment up in Saskatchewan: StatsCan



REGINA ` Statistics Canada says employment in Saskatchewan hit 546,200 in February, an increase of 900 from the previous month and 24,400 from February 2012.





Read the full article here.
 

Ally

Research Assistant
Registered
Joined
Mar 24, 2009
Messages
16,743
Fewer immigrants living in Manitoba




Manitoba has been hit by the first major plunge in immigration in more than 15 years, running contrary to the trend in almost every other part of the country.




Manitoba's immigration fell 16 per cent to 13,391 in 2012 from the previous year. The big crash was in the provincial nominee program, which recruits immigrants who have job skills needed here. The number of PNP immigrants fell 23 per cent, or about 3,000 people, to about 9,500 in 2012.





Read the full article here.
 

Ally

Research Assistant
Registered
Joined
Mar 24, 2009
Messages
16,743
Jets effect heats up Winnipeg commercial real estate market




`If you build it, he will come.`




The memorable motto from Field of Dreams, urging Kevin Costner`s film character to build a baseball diamond on his Iowa farm, could just as easily describe Mark Chipman`s vision. More than a decade ago, the chief executive officer of True North Sports and Entertainment proposed building an arena in downtown Winnipeg.



Read the full article here.
 

Ally

Research Assistant
Registered
Joined
Mar 24, 2009
Messages
16,743
Relieving Regina's housing crisis to dominate city council's spring agenda




REGINA ` The City of Regina`s plan to ease its rental housing crisis is expected to come into full bloom this spring.




Starting Wednesday, city councillors are slated to discuss the proposed Comprehensive Housing Strategy that outlines several programs and policy changes to spur rental housing starts.





Read the full article here.
 
Top Bottom