An appeal by the city of Windsor against an Ontario Municipal Board ruling that awarded an extra $328,000 to the remaining expropriated property owner from the former Norwich Block has been dismissed by Ontario Divisional Court.
"We are disappointed by it," said lawyer Pat Brode, of the city`s legal department. "The city felt the board made fairly significant errors."
LAKESHORE - As residents obey demands to move their sheds and garages away from the Via Rail tracks, they`re only plunking them down a short distance away and potentially blocking access for emergency vehicles along the Lake St. Clair shoreline, council was warned Tuesday.
Crystal Beach resident Rick Teno said the turnaround space needed for police, fire trucks, ambulances, snowplows and garbage trucks is on Via lands in many areas.
1108OTWA Longstanding eyesores to be torn down `as early as spring`
For years, residents near two derelict houses in Bells Corners have been wondering about Ernest Daly and when he planned to tear down the buildings.
Mr. Daly and his family lived there for three decades or so before suddenly moving away in the mid-1990s.
The two houses, one of which Mr. Daly built for himself and his wife soon after they were married, sit within metres of each other, near where Moodie Drive connects to Richmond Road. The Dalys lived in the other, older house for some time, too.
Hamilton holds its place in the final version of Metrolinx`s regional transportation plan: it still has four rapid transit lines coming, more details about timing and great news for Stoney Creek.
Yesterday the provincial crown agency released a 25-year, $50 billion final draft plan for greater Toronto and Hamilton. It needs Metrolinx board approval Friday.
1108ONTR Auto sector to lose 15,000 jobs by end-2009
TORONTO — The Canadian auto industry will lose a staggering 15,000 jobs by the end of 2009 as a "maelstrom" of change sweeps through the sector, according to an economist with the Conference Board of Canada.
The latest projection from the non-profit research organization predicts Canada`s automakers will lose $1.7-billion this year as new vehicle production declines by 15.3 per cent.
An overall 50 per cent jump in bus ridership this past September and October over last year is spread across all of the city`s 21 bus routes, according to monthly statistics.
A shift in technology this past January now has drivers electronically counting every fare paid, explained Fred Gerrior, supervisor of scheduling and service planning for Guelph Transit. The hope is to soon be able to track where riders get on and off the bus and adjust service accordingly.
How do you plan during these uncertain economic times?
At a council workshop this week, Dan Stone, the town`s manager of policy planning, presented the goals behind the different sections of the ongoing Official Plan process.
Those goals included a 2:1 ratio between residents and jobs in town for the next 20 years.
The town expects to have about 15,000 jobs by 2016 and about 38,000 residents, as outlined by regional and provincial growth plans. That`s up from the current 7,300 jobs and 22,300 residents.
1108ONTR
Plan targets area around Pearson airport as unique eco-business zone
Eric Lange is proving that green business is good business. And not just for his company, Lange Transportation & Storage Inc., either. His 70,000-square-foot facility has become a showplace and practical teaching aid for the 12,500 businesses that make their home near Toronto`s Pearson International Airport.
Lange Transportation is at the heart of an innovative approach to corporate social responsibility and protection of the environment, called Partners in Project Green.
In simplest terms, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority has partnered with the Toronto Region Conservation Authority, 20 local companies and five separate governments to turn 12,000 hectares surrounding Pearson into a new green economic zone.
1108YORK Markham, Aurora mayors focus on growth industries
Mayors of Newmarket and Aurora greeted yesterday`s bombshell Magna job cuts with a mixture of concern for the workers facing unemployment and confidence in the economic futures of their communities.
"Whenever anybody loses a job, it`s a big deal," said Newmarket mayor Tony Van Bynen. "There is no question that the auto industry is an important part of our economy." But he said the extent of the impact is hard to determine: "We will have to wait and see."
1108CATH Councillors want to fast-track 2009 projects
Niagara Regional council could speed up $20 million in planned construction next year to help jump-start Niagara`s stalled economy.
Regional staff have pitched a $120- million capital budget for 2009.
Council hasn`t approved that budget yet, but some councillors are already asking the Region to fast-forward next year`s projects to get more workers working earlier.
1108BTFD Laurier plans to add 1,000 beds for students
Laurier Brantford is looking for a private partner to finance and construct two new residence facilities, with an estimated price tag of $50 million, which will house 1,000 beds for students.
The university has issued a "request for expressions of interest" from firms to build student residences at both the Brantford and Waterloo campuses.
The request for proposals calls for the Brantford project to include construction of a 500-bed residence by 2010, followed by another 500-bed facility in 2012.
The municipal heritage committee is looking to add a list of 22 properties with heritage features to its municipal registry.
Council committee approved a motion to add the 22 properties, including French`s stand, the Lightfoot Home, Northcourt Motel and Sundial Motor Inn, to the list.
The city currently has 27 designated heritage properties on the municipal register of cultural heritage properties. While the 22 properties of interest will be added to the registry, they will not be subject to the same restrictions when it comes to changes to the buildings.
Simcoe County approved its new Official Plan yesterday, but future growth issues involving Barrie and the Town of Innisfil are far from being resolved.
County politicians passed the plan by a 24-6 tally, and it now requires provincial approval to ensure it`s compatible with the province`s Places to Grow framework.
As a separated municipality from the county, Barrie didn`t provide input during Simcoe County`s growth studies and did not vote on the proposed plan. But that doesn`t mean the upper-tier municipality`s new plan won`t affect the city`s future growth pressures.
1108OTWA Universities, colleges see students with disabilities as a growth market
A couple of decades ago, Will Parkinson would not have been a candidate for a university education.
Although he had no problem with reading, his spelling and grammar were poor and he struggled to put his thoughts on paper. By the time he left high school, he was doing well in math and science, but his writing was at a Grade 8 or 9 level.
Students like Mr. Parkinson are one of the fast-growing segments of the university and college demographic.
City of Ottawa staff have a big plan to expand transit dramatically by 2031, but the question is, will city councillors still be debating it then? Judging by their inclination to spend entire days asking questions that have already been answered, the transit debate could easily stretch into 2031, if not to infinity.
GUELPH (Nov 27, 2008) Guelph`s largest employer, and the second-largest automotive parts maker in Canada, continued workforce reductions yesterday.
A leading automotive analyst said it is likely Linamar Corp. will shift its operations to make products for customers other than car makers. The company`s survival may depend on it.
Linamar, which operates more than 20 plants in Guelph, confirmed yesterday it had cut more jobs but said it won`t close any operations at this time.
Thousands more people will live in Markham Centre than originally planned, more than 300 residents who packed council chambers Monday were told.
Height densities for the area are also being reviewed, officials told the residents, who came to hear how the town will update the Markham Centre plan to accommodate further population growth.
Adopted in the mid-1990s, the plan will guide the growth of the area mainly contained between Rodick and Kennedy roads and highways 7 and 407.
