ON Economic Fundamentals 2008-09

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0908TNTO
Ryerson plan links old to Yonge

Here comes the neighbourhood.

Ryerson University, long known as the school behind Sam the Record Man, is poised for a breakthrough. Literally.

It`s taking over the former retailer`s site, securing a long-coveted Yonge St. address.

While the university`s new library and student learning centre will occupy only the upper floors of a couple of stores north of the Eaton Centre, it`s seen by many as a chance to offer a much-needed boost to a tired section of downtown`s most important street.

http://parentcentral.ca/parent/article/499240

 

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0908WIND
City pushes urban renewal

With a number of neighbourhoods across the city starting to look tired and in need of a boost, city council will explore introducing financial incentives to encourage upgrades.

And that can`t happen too soon, said Mark Imeson, president-elect of the Windsor-Essex County Real Estate Board.

"You want to beautify the neighbourhoods, get these homes cleaned up on the inside. Maybe give some financial assistance if they need windows or need a roof," he said.

http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/sto...aa-b17223eab16e

 

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0908OTWA
Not enough rail in transit plan, candidates say

The Conservative MP for Ottawa-Orléans and his Liberal challenger in the federal election say Ottawa`s latest public transit plan doesn`t go far enough with commuter rail.

MP Royal Galipeau says the new $4.7-billion plan relies too much on more buses and doesn`t extend light-rail to Kanata and Orléans, as it should. In a recent interview, Mr. Galipeau said for many years the city has been too caught up in expanding its bus network and the new transit plan reflects that.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/c...6f-4a1cdb036359

 

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0908KWCG
New facility boosts water cleanup

ELMIRA

A long-awaited treatment facility has opened, a key step in the uncertain cleanup of Elmira`s polluted water table.

The facility, run by Chemtura at its Elmira chemical plant, removes ammonia from groundwater polluted by industry.

It cost $4.5 million and began operating last month. That`s almost a decade after the need was identified, and four years since two industrial polluters struck a deal with the province to build it.

http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/414891

 

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0908YWSF
You will be able to play checkers, picnic in new-look square

A makeover for Civic Square has been given the go-ahead from council.

A design concept project was approved by council last week. The square is between Main Street and Nineteen on the Park in downtown Stouffville.

The plan, which includes an outdoor meeting place, information kiosk, picnic and checker tables, and a water feature, is slated to be completed for the grand opening for the arts and culture centre next spring.

http://www.yorkregion.com/News/Whitchurch-...e/article/81123

 

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0908TNTO
T.O. lurches along

Toronto`s economy is sputtering compared to other major Canadian cities, according to a new study.

The country`s largest city ranked 12th in a Conference Board of Canada projection of economic growth in 13 of Canada`s major metropolitan areas.

While Saskatoon and Regina topped the list, coming in with growth rates of 5.2% and 4.1%, respectively, Toronto surpassed only Hamilton, finishing with a projected 1.3 % increase in gross domestic product this year. Hamilton`s forecasted growth was 0.3%.

"Because of the woes in its manufacturing sector, Toronto is on pace to record its weakest economic growth rates since the early 1990s," said Mario Lefebvre, an economist with the board.

http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandg...777346-sun.html

 

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0908ONTR
PM blasted on economy

OTTAWA–Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion seized on the shock waves from North American financial markets yesterday to renew accusations that Stephen Harper`s Conservatives have sat back while Canada`s once-strong economy has gone into a tailspin.

"Stephen Harper has allowed what was a booming economy to hit a brick wall," Dion said during a campaign stop in St. John`s, Nfld.

http://www.thestar.com/FederalElection/article/499876

 

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0908LNDN
London Hydro urged to jump into action


The city`s economic development agency and other business leaders are calling for London Hydro to expand to survive, saying London will be left behind if the city-owned utility doesn`t act quickly.

"The status quo is going to put London at a disadvantage somewhere down the line. Just waiting is not going to work," said Peter White, head of the London Economic Development Corp. The comments come ahead of a public input meeting set for Thursday, when Londoners will have their say about the future of the utility.

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/200...776626-sun.html

 

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0908BTFD
Health centre, housing closer

A plan to replace a stretch of mostly vacant commercial properties on Colborne Street with a community health centre and affordable housing is a step closer to reality after gaining a first nod at city council.

Telephone City Developments Ltd. has acquired a stretch of properties on the south side of Colborne between Alfred Street and Park Avenue, east of the former Northway Mercury. The properties are mostly vacant except for a pawn shop and a used appliances shop.

The developer wants to stitch the hodge-podge of edifices into one building, with plans to refurbish the exterior to make it attractive, install the health centre on the ground floor and 34 apartments on the second level.

http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDi....aspx?e=1200916

 

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0908BAOR
Hydro decision stalled

Barrie Hydro won`t be swallowed whole by PowerStream just yet.

The proposed electrical utility merger got a political jolt last night when city councillors deferred their decision on the union for a week, until Sept. 22.

This happened when the merger vote was looking extremely close, close enough to lose.

"This is the wrong deal with the wrong company at the wrong time," said Coun. Mike Ramsay. "Once this deal goes through, you can`t change it."

Ramsay and Couns. Barry Ward and Alex Nuttall spoke against the merger. Mayor Dave Aspden did not speak, but has opposed the merger in the past.

http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDi....aspx?e=1200795

 

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0908WIND
Economy dragging down housing in Windsor-Essex

Windsor-Essex home prices and sales are down from a year ago, making it one of the most affordable housing markets in Canada but offering little comfort to those forced by job losses to sell and move.

"The thing is we`ve had a lot of houses on the market," said Mark Imeson, president-elect of the Windsor Essex County Real Estate Board.

Imeson, who has been in the real estate business for 23 years, said he hasn`t seen this combination of permanent job loss and high unemployment which is hammering the city`s struggling real estate market. "This time is very special."

http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/bus...95-c7af1e651305

 

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0908OTWA
Ottawa economy stagnating: report

Is the party almost over?

A new report says the Ottawa-Gatineau economy is poised for its weakest growth in 12 years -- despite strong job growth over the last four months, healthy consumer spending and a buoyant housing market.

The Conference Board of Canada predicted yesterday that a slowdown in technology and construction means the capital region economy will generate growth of just 1.8 per cent this year, compared to 2.5 per cent in 2007.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/c...13-7ddf0bdc62b0

 

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0908KWCG
Researchers try to determine how much our waste is damaging the Grand River

KITCHENER — Water experts don`t know how much more abuse the Grand River can take.

For the last two summers, research teams have been catching and examining fish, looking to see how they`re surviving or being changed by chemicals and sewage waste in the water. Studies will continue for years, because the more work they do, the more questions they find.

http://news.therecord.com/News/article/415157

 

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0908KWCG
New high-tech headquarters overtakes Superstore plan

WATERLOO

A Waterloo high-tech company has purchased seven hectares (18 acres) of land in the north part of the city that used to be owned by the massive grocer Loblaws.

This means that a 175,000-square-foot Real Canadian Superstore set for vacant land near King Street North and Weber Street has officially been axed.

The land will instead be the new home of Intelligent Mechatronic Systems, an automotive technology firm, currently located in a 4,000-square-foot building on Roger Street.

http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/415469

 

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0908ONTR
U.S. woes spill into Canada

TORONTO

A handful of Canadian companies have declared exposure to the problems of struggling U.S. investment bank Lehnan Brothers, chief among them insurance giant Sun Life Financial Inc.

Sun Life said yesterday it holds $334 million US worth of Lehman bond securities and about $15 million in Lehman derivative instruments.

Meanwhile, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce said it has about $25 million worth of exposure to Lehman, which filed for bankruptcy protection early yesterday, collapsing under the weight of $60 billion in soured real estate holdings and a tight a credit market.

http://news.therecord.com/Business/article/415413

 

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0908DOSH
Zoning change could ban new social services from main downtown streets

OSHAWA -- Social services agencies are part of the fabric of downtown Oshawa. That`s the message councillors and the City are trying to convey this week as rumours swirl over proposed zoning changes and the impact they could have on soup kitchens, outreach centres and other downtown services that help those in need.

http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/oshawa/article/108384

 

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0908DUXB
Township looks into tire dump site

UXBRIDGE -- The man who filmed a video 10 years ago showing countless tires dumped on an Uxbridge property does not share the same view today as others speaking out about possible contamination of the site. James Christie of Newmarket, who said he was once a neighbour of Ed Beach on Concession 2, taped a video of the Beach property a decade ago to ensure thousands of tires there would be ordered to comply with fire regulations, sending copies of the film to the Township and Ministry of Environment, he said.

http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/uxbridge/article/108385

 

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0908TNTO
Reno gone bad razed by city

By early morning it was obvious to everyone that the little green house didn`t have a leg – or in this case a solid foundation – to stand on.

The two-storey house at 185 Coleman Ave., in the Danforth Ave. and Dawes Rd. area, was demolished by city workers yesterday after it was decided that excavations in the basement during the weekend had destabilized the walls and rendered the building unsafe.

http://www.yourhome.ca/homes/article/500549

 

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0908TNTO
Fort York grounds to get $12.4M makeover

Know much about the War of 1812?

In four years, Toronto city officials are aiming to help you know a lot more, as the 200th anniversary of the start of the U.S.-British conflict rolls around on June 18, 2012.

The plans, endorsed yesterday by the economic development committee, will revolve around Fort York. The British garrison at the fort, close to what was then the shoreline, failed to prevent invading U.S. troops from occupying the nearby town of York in 1813. They stayed for six days, pillaging homes and burning public buildings, including the first Parliament building.

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/500530

 

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0908CATH
Lawyer slams city`s plan to take building

The City of St. Catharines is unfairly trying to expropriate the old Canada Hair Cloth building without a specific plan for its redevelopment, says a lawyer for the property owner.

"The city is speculating," Tom Richardson told a hearing into the expropriation plan Tuesday. "It has no idea how the land is to be used, but it`s decided to speculate by acquiring the land of my client."

The "hearing of necessity" was requested by property owner Jim Macfarlane who previously turned down a $1-million offer from the city to buy his downtown site.

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/Article....aspx?e=1204105