The city is in something of a holding pattern as it awaits a July decision by Metrolinx on the face of local rapid transit in the years ahead.
Most of the decisions on where stations will be, and what they will look like, depend on which form of rapid transit Metrolinx awards to Hamilton, the city says.
Hamilton police will examine an initiative where it can demolish homes used for marijuana grow operations.
The initiative, practised in British Columbia and Niagara Falls, follows Councillor Terry Whitehead telling the police services board about a home in an affluent part of his west Mountain ward that sat vacant and boarded up after being used as for a marijuana grow op a few years ago.
One of the biggest and most expensive land purchases ever made by the City of Kitchener was quietly closed last month, about six months later than originally planned.
The city`s finance committee was told yesterday that the city took possession of 18 hectares (45 acres) at the former B.F. Goodrich site and 300,000 square feet of the old tire factory on Dec. 19. The cost: $22.4 million.
The northeast corner of Yonge Street and Green Lane could be the site of a new retail centre similar to the collection of big box stores and restaurants at the southwest corner of the intersection in East Gwillimbury. Fieldgate Commercial Properties, the developers of the Lowe`s hardware store, submitted an official plan amendment application to the region and the town to redesignate about 18 hectares of agricultural lands to urban and commercial land use at the intersection.
0109RHL Dunlap Observatory `remarkable,` should be protected, says expert
The case for preserving the David Dunlap Observatory site is finally before a provincial Conservation Review Board.
Board chairperson Peter Zakarow and colleague Karen Haslam will hear arguments and then recommend how the town should write its heritage protection by-law.
The fate of 190 acres of prime Richmond Hill land is at stake.
UXBRIDGE -- Councillors are now aiming for a two-per cent hike in taxes this year as they come down to the wire in the budget process. Following a week of intense reviews of each of the Township`s departments, about $1,840,000 has been cut from 2009 spending, said Al Shultz, treasurer. But Township officials hope to find another $365,000 to arrive at the two per cent figure. Previous to last week, three per cent was the target mentioned by some councillors.
The winds of skepticism gusted through the auditorium of Sir Wilfrid Laurier Collegiate last night as about 500 Scarborough residents gathered to learn more about a proposed wind power development off Toronto`s eastern shoreline.
Ontario`s draft Lake Simcoe Protection Plan will create a healthy future for the lake by limiting shoreline development, decreasing pollutants and returning its fish population to vigorous levels, says Ontario`s Environment Minister John Gerretsen.
Gerretsen, who calls the protection plan the first of its kind in Canada, released a draft report recently, predicting it will turn around the beleaguered lake, one environmentalists say has long been ignored by various governments, developers and recreational boaters.
Northern Ethanol has gassed its own plans for a Barrie plant.
The Ontario government`s environmental registry shows the company has withdrawn its application for a certificate of approval for emissions needed to operate at the city`s former Molson brewery site, at 1 Big Bay Point Rd.
"Wow, I`m speechless. Wow!" Carl Rabinowitz, of Citizens Against Refining Ethanol (CARE) in Barrie, said when told of the withdrawal. "If it means what I think it means, it`s great news."
UXBRIDGE -- Uxbridge has approved a 1.9-per cent hike in taxes for 2009. But exactly what that will equate to this year as far as added cost to Uxbridge homeowners is "very difficult to say," said the Township`s treasurer.
0109TNTO Airport link plan tackles fears in Weston area, premier says
Metrolinx has released a new plan to build a privately operated rail link from Union Station to Pearson airport that should address the concerns of Weston community residents who have long argued that the project would be a disaster to their neighbourhood, says Premier Dalton McGuinty.
The transportation agency announced six open houses next month to present the $875 million plan that it says would provide all-day, two-way service on the GO Georgetown line and offer the capacity to run a train service to the airport.
The TTC has dotted the i`s on its agreement to build and operate a 6.8-kilometre extension of the Yonge subway to Richmond Hill, sending it on to city council for approval next week.
After that, the plan moves to the Ministry of the Environment.
The city`s executive committee has already placed conditions on the TTC`s participation in the $2.4 billion project, which York Region has strongly promoted. Before it`s built, Toronto wants its Transit City light-rail lines funded, more platform capacity built at the Bloor-Yonge station, and a new signalling system in place to improve train frequency and ease congestion.
0109TNTO GTA Developer sees upside as market looks down
At a time when large commercial real estate developments are slowing dramatically, Lisa Lafave is bucking the tide.
The portfolio manager for the Hospitals of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) is responsible for about $4 billion worth of real estate and is one of the few developers breaking ground on properties in the Greater Toronto Area.
NEW YORK–Japan`s Toyota Motor Corp. sold more cars and trucks last year than General Motors Corp., stripping the Detroit automaker of the No. 1 global sales crown for the first time in 78 years.
But it`s a victory made hollow by the industry`s continued struggle for viability amid one of its worst sales declines ever.
Mike DiGiovanni, GM`s executive director of global market and industry analysis, downplayed the drop to No. 2, saying the American automaker is more focused on profitability than volume.
0109LNDN London mayor expresses optimism despite economic downturn
In the face of a global recession and thousands of regional job losses, London Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best delivered her state-of-the-city address this morning, expressing optimism for the future but only able to point to two business expansions this year that will create 15 jobs. "I am optimistic and I believe London is well positioned to deal with these challenges," the mayor told more than 1,500 business and civic leaders gathered at the London Convention Centre.
0109HAMN (Burlington) Mac campus in Burlington a go for this year
McMaster University expects to start building a satellite campus of its business school this year, now that Burlington and Halton have each committed $5 million to the project.
Halton regional council committed yesterday to contributing toward the campus, to be built on the South Service Road near the QEW and Walkers Line.
PICKERING -- It would be premature for the federal government to allocate $2 billion for a future airport in Pickering before a proper business case is presented, says Pickering Council. At Monday`s meeting, Council unanimously passed a motion put forward by Ward 1 Regional Councillor Bonnie Littley that "the Federal Minister of Finance and the Regional Chair of Durham Region do not advocate for federal infrastructure funding for an airport in Pickering until such time as a viable and accepted business case can be presented."
0109DOSH City says economy not impacting downtown businesses
OSHAWA -- With the shaky economy front and centre on people`s minds, it`s natural to assume the "R word" is responsible for any number of woes, including businsses that have closed up shop in downtown Oshawa. But the City`s downtown authority says that`s not the case.
