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Ontario Economic Fundamentals 2008 Q2

City plans 4.9% tax increase in `09 to counter rising costs

Another big property-tax increase is looming for Ottawa residents in 2009 as the city grapples with rising fuel, firefighting and police costs.

City finance officials are planning for a total tax-rate increase of 4.9 per cent, which includes $13 million more for police and $20 million in capital works to upgrade the city`s infrastructure. For a typical urban taxpayer, it would mean an additional $148 on the property-tax bill. For a rural homeowner with an average house, the increase would be $138.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/s...12-16f2304b919e
 
Ottawa`s urban condos should continue as value performers: study

The price of Ottawa condominium housing has jumped faster than the national average in the last decade.

A new study by Royal LePage Real Estate Services predicts that demand for condos in the urban core will continue to grow as a result of rising gas prices and the appeal of downtown living.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/b...8e-490da1eed2bc
 
Cost-cutting will help auto manufacturers turn profit

Increasing efforts by Canadian auto manufacturers to reduce costs will enable the industry to turn a profit of $155 million this year, according to the Conference Board of Canada.

"Continued savings on labour and material costs and increased production should help boost industry profits in 2009," said board economist Sabrina Browarski. "Production is expected to fall by 4.6 per cent this year, as Canadian auto manufacturers feel the pinch from weaker U.S. demand."

http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/bus...2a-78be72876345
 
Ford ups production at Oakville Flex plant

OAKVILLE - Ford Motor Co., the world`s third-largest automaker, will boost production at an Ontario plant by about 19 per cent next year by adding a third shift to build more Flex crossover vehicles.

Annual output at the Oakville factory will rise to about 320,000 autos, including 100,000 Flex crossovers, plant manager Ken Minielly said Tuesday in an interview. The plant will assemble about 270,000 Edge, Flex and Lincoln MKX vehicles this year, up from 225,000 autos in 2007, he said.

http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/bus...4b-edaad400fb34
 
Minivan sales in Canada booming

Led by the Windsor-built Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Canada has recorded its best May sales month in 10 years and extended its unprecedented streak of year-over-year sales increases to 22 consecutive months.

Sales rose by seven per cent to 27,325 units in May.

The Town and Country and Caravan topped 6,500 combined units for the first time last month, increasing by more than 50 per cent year-to-date over last year, said the company.

http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/bus...92-82aa4d0fdd10
 
Grimsby man nets 3 years for tax scam

A man from Grimsby who pleaded guilty in a $5.2-million tax fraud case has been sentenced to three years in penitentiary.

Peter Eickmeier, 64, was also ordered to repay nearly $3.3 million he admitted receiving from the federal government in false GST returns.

Eickmeier told St. Catharines court Monday he`s remorseful for orchestrating the crime.

http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/379972
 
Council rejects big-box proposal

GUELPH

City council unanimously rejected a proposal last night to rezone the former Lafarge lands to build a commercial development. But the debate is far from over.

The application to rezone the large, triangular piece of land bordered by two CN lines and the Hanlon Expressway was submitted more than two years ago. The space is currently zoned industrial. City staff had recommended rejecting the commercial proposal, and council agreed.

http://news.guelphmercury.com/News/article/336572
 
Up development charges to ease the load on taxpayers: study

CLARINGTON -- New homebuyers will have to pay more than 50 per cent higher development charge to ensure existing taxpayers don`t wind up footing the bill for growth-related infrastructure, says a report to Clarington councillors. "As each day goes by, you are not fully funding your growth-related works through your existing charges," said Craig Binning, of Hemson Consulting, the organization which looked into the matter for Clarington.

Clarington`s General Purpose and Administration Committee voted Monday to table the report for one week. The report calls for an almost-immediate 52 per cent increase in residential development charges, taking the charge to more than $15,000 per single or semi-detached homes. Under the proposal, industrial and commercial charges would also increase.

http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/clarington/article/99872
 
Clarington wants new nukes

CLARINGTON -- Municipal council is reiterating the community`s support for new nuclear reactors to be built at Darlington, in the wake of a 10,000-name petition signed by residents of Clarington`s rival for the potential economic boon. Reports indicate Premier Dalton McGuinty could announce by mid-June whether the proposed new reactors will be built here, on a site adjacent to the existing Darlington Nuclear Generating Station or at the Bruce Power site, 250 kilometres northwest of Toronto on Lake Huron, Mayor Jim Abernethy said Monday.

http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/clarington/article/99851
 
GM not the only game in town

DURHAM -- News of GM`s plant closure has some worried about Durham`s economic future but it should be remembered that the auto industry isn`t the only game in town, says the executive director of the Durham Strategic Energy Alliance. In fact, the energy industry is responsible for upwards of 15,000 jobs in the region, Doug Lindeblom said Tuesday.

"Days like today, it`s important for everybody to know that we have a very broadly based economy and a lot of opportunity," Mr. Lindeblom said. "That`s not to say GM`s announcement isn`t significant, but we do have a broad-based economy here in Durham Region."

http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/clarington/article/99853
 
Smart!Centres continues to tweak Wal-Mart plaza plan

SCUGOG -- The developer planning to bring a massive new shopping complex to Port Perry`s western edge is working on addressing site-plan concerns raised by councillors and is not yet prepared to return before council. Representatives from the development firm Smart!Centres are attempting to "resolve questions" brought up by municipal officials at the May 26 council session when councillors got their first official glimpse at the planning document and are not ready to present an amended draft of the proposal just yet, said Gene Chartier on Monday.

http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/scugog/article/99815
 
Downtown development parked

PORT PERRY -- An ambitious development proposal for Port Perry`s downtown core has been put in park by the municipality until concerns surrounding vehicles, and most importantly where to put them, have been worked out by the proponent. While Scugog`s elected officials applauded an idea floated by Glenn and Kelly Evans to develop a three-storey, multi-use building at the corner of Perry and Mary streets, the lack of available parking on-site left councillors collectively shaking their heads no to the plan at Monday`s council session.

http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/scugog/article/99816
 
Workers to get new job training

Premier Dalton McGuinty shaved 3 million cars off his estimate of North American auto sales yesterday as the opposition hammered the government over its $175-million, interest-free loan to job-shedding General Motors.

"North Americans are going to buy at least 15 million new cars every year," McGuinty said, only a day after telling reporters he expected sales would be around 18 million. The new number -- the lowest in the past dozen years -- is more in line with auto sector analysts, who have been downgrading the industry`s prospects lately as high gas prices push truck and SUV sales into freefall.

http://www.torontosun.com/News/Canada/2008...776836-sun.html
 
City stiffed on housing: Miller

The fact that the city is a slum lord is not news to Toronto`s mayor.

David Miller said yesterday Toronto officials have been aware of the terrible condition of public housing in the city for "a decade," but it`s not the city`s fault. "When these units were downloaded by the former (provincial) Conservative government, we were $300 million short in funding. That`s been said again and again ... and this is the consequence," he said.

http://www.torontosun.com/News/TorontoAndG...776866-sun.html
 
Makeover for troubled area

One of the city`s most problem-plagued public housing neighbourhoods is going the way of Regent Park, with a complete rebuild "from the ground up."

Yesterday city and affordable housing officials announced the consulting team, which has been working on the project for two years.

But no one knows yet what the new Lawrence Heights will look like, what it will cost, or where the funds will come from. The existing housing is 60 years old. "We don`t know how much it`s going to cost until we`ve finished the plan," said Derek Ballantyne, CEO of Toronto Community Housing Corp. (TCHC).

http://www.torontosun.com/News/TorontoAndG...776871-sun.html
 
City pulls plug on old water meters

The city plans to flush away its aging, inefficient water meters.

The public works committee yesterday approved a $219-million project that will see automated meters installed at 475,000 households over the next six years, including 72,000 homes in Etobicoke and the former city of Toronto where residents pay a flat rate for their water. The new technology eliminates the need for door-to-door meter readers and will save the city about $33 million a year once fully installed.

http://www.torontosun.com/News/TorontoAndG...776916-sun.html
 
Residents applaud new Port Credit vision

June 4, 2008 09:29 PM -
It`s a good place to be, but it could be great.
That was the message being delivered tonight to Port Credit residents by the Town of Port Credit Association (TOPCA) as a report detailing what`s needed to make the community an ideal "urban village" was revealed.
The 40-page document, titled "Port Credit: An Urban Village for the 21st Century: A model community for the world," was discussed in great length by the more than 100 residents who showed up at Clarke Memorial Hall and the authors of the report — VIVA (Village Inspired Vision Alliance) Port Credit.
"The knowledge that it is not too late — that Port Credit can indeed be an urban village in this new century and become a model community for the world — is a breath-taking concept and an inspiration for all who will participate in Port Credit`s renewal and growth," said Dorothy Tomiuk, chair of VIVA Port Credit.
VIVA Port Credit is made up of community leaders from a variety of organizations, including TOPCA, the Port Credit Village Project, the Mississauga South Historical Society and Heritage Mississauga.
The report includes a number of revamp and renovation projects that residents acknowledge require approval from City Council before any work can be done.

http://mississauga.com/article/14862
 
Planned pool prompts city policy shift

The City of St. Catharines is planning to build its new swimming pool by abandoning its policy of making a 10 per cent down payment on big-ticket items.

Instead, the city should dip into the interest from its hydro fund to make the down payment on the $15-million aquatic facility, city treasurer Shelley Chemnitz is recommending.

According to its borrowing policy, the city should have included roughly $1 million in this year`s operating budget as a down payment for the pool, says a report from Chemnitz.

But including the down payment in the operating budget would have boosted this year`s tax increase to 4.6 per cent instead of the 3.2 per cent approved by council.

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/Article...+STANDARD+STAFF
 
Derelict cat house brings Fixer to his knees

A North York family has for too long endured the sickening stench of dozens of cats left to fend for themselves after their owner passed away.

Of all the problems we`ve encountered as The Fixer, we have never experienced anything to compare with the stomach-turning odour coming from a duplex unit yesterday on Whitebread Cres., near Jane St. and Sheppard Ave. W.

http://www.thestar.com/GTA/Fixer/article/437326
 
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