Ontario Economic Fundamentals

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GM in Oshawa laying off 1,000

The impact of the continuing strike at American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. in the United States will soon hit another General Motors plant in Oshawa.

General Motors of Canada Ltd. confirmed yesterday that temporary layoff notices have been sent to about 1,000 workers on the third shift at the Oshawa car complex, effective Monday.

Stew Low, GM`s director of communications, said the company is reducing car output because of a shortage of parts from American Axle, where a strike by 3,600 workers has closed five U.S. operations since late February.

http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/415347

 

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Hydro gives customers shock after updating accounts

Thousands of Hydro Ottawa customers have received nasty shocks in the mail after the utility`s billing staff reconciled five years` worth of power bills and discovered they were owed $4.9 million.

The bills were sent to 6,700 customers enrolled in Hydro Ottawa`s "budget billing" program, which allows people to pay their power bills in equal amounts based on their estimated annual electricity use. The program smoothes out seasonal variations and is supposed to make household budgeting more predictable.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/s...f1-d774467c8a4c

 

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`Investment` in Ottawa`s future

The mayor and the most senior transit official in the city say Ottawa can more than afford a $4-billion rapid transit system announced yesterday, without hitting taxpayers with massive tax increases.

The plan calls for a downtown subway and light-rail spine running east and west on the current transitway to the edges of the Greenbelt and south past the airport. Under the plan, the suburbs of Orléans, Kanata and Barrhaven would be connected to rail by bus transitways with transfer stations at Blair Road, Baseline Road and Lincoln Fields shopping centre.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/c...68-8034198b6f12

 

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Scrap metal thefts on rise

These days, even scrap metal isn`t safe.

According to the OPP, thieves recently made off with almost $35,000 in scrap metal -- four 20-foot I-beams, 60 24-foot trusses and a green steel conveyor system -- from a dilapidated commercial building along Highway 3 near Howard Avenue.

http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/sto...bf-c06c4c1cc8ca

 

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Ontario eyes no-development zones

Ontario is proposing a two-year moratorium on development on lands surrounding Six Nations.

It follows ongoing protests by natives upset with development on property they claim Six Nations owns in the Brantford area.

Six Nations chiefs and Haldimand Mayor Marie Trainer say details still have to be negotiated between senior provincial negotiator Murray Coolican and the parties involved.

http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/355544

 

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Crowd applauds bid to crush quarry plan

Hundreds of people jumped to their feet last night to applaud an appeal to the Ontario government to stop consideration of a huge limestone quarry proposed by St. Marys Cement.

Graham Flint, chair of the anti-quarry group FORCE, drew the applause when he said, "We call on the McGuinty government to step in and put an end to the waste of time and energy by all agencies involved ... put an end to this entire quarry application process."

http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/355719

 

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Redevelopment will be complex; City has many hurdles to clear to clean up Greenwich-Mohawk brownfield

City council will have to employ a combination of fancy stickhandling and precision playmaking if it hopes to achieve its goal of redeveloping the Greenwich-Mohawk brownfield area any time soon.

Councillors got that message loud and clear from an array of senior city staff members in a special meeting devoted to the project. They mostly listened or asked some questions during a two-hour briefing, led by Ted Salisbury, general manager of community development.

The Tuesday session concentrated on the complex mechanics of a draft agreement covering the long-sought $12-million federal grant toward the site`s remediation, and a series of bureaucratic hurdles and timeframes the city will have to clear to carry out a redevelopment with some combination of housing and other uses.

http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDi...el-Allan+Marion

 

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Prep work begins on West Street; Poles being moved before road widening

Crews from the Orillia Power Corporation have begun moving hydro poles on West Street North in preparation for a major road reconstruction project scheduled to begin in mid-June.

As part of the $2.25-million project, West will be widened to three lanes between Coldwater Road and Borland Street.

The hydro poles are being relocated to make room for a wider road surface on the city`s main north-south artery.

http://www.orilliapacket.com/ArticleDispla...uth=Colin+McKim

 

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Lighting costs to be shared by ratepayers

Instead of a flat rate for street lighting that would have been paid by 1,900 Ramara Township residents living in 11 designated areas serviced by streetlights, costs will come out of all taxpayers` pockets.

On Monday night, councillors voted 4-2 to have the approximately $53,000 cost to operate and maintain township-owned streetlights.

http://www.orilliapacket.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=989655

 

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Growth planning critical; warden; Simcoe County looking toward 2031

A blueprint on how development will unfold in Simcoe County is being proclaimed the most critical local planning document ever.

Open houses to give residents a look at a draft version of the Simcoe Area Growth Plan start next week.

"In my estimation, this is the most important planning document in the history of the county," Warden Tony Guergis said. "This plan is basically in place for first-time home buyers who are not even born yet.

"And we`ve never really had an opportunity like this, where it gives everyone a chance to look at the entire region," he added.

http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDi...th=RAYMOND+BOWE

 

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Lake`s health a top priority; Residents voice opinions about protecting Simcoe

Area residents jammed an east-end hall last night to have their say about how to save Lake Simcoe.

Organizers of the public information forum, which included Environment Minister John Gerretsen and Barrie MPP Aileen Carroll, entertained questions and comments from some of the 150 people gathered at the Lion`s Gate Banquet Centre.

http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDi...uth=IAN+MCINROY

 

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Arena, fire hall openings delayed

Stouffville`s new twin ice-pad arena and fire hall projects have ground to a halt, at least for now.

A decision on the projects was deferred at Tuesday night`s Whitchurch-Stouffville council meeting.

http://www.yorkregion.com/News/Whitchurch-...e/article/73185

 

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Newmarket looks to the future

In the future, Newmarket residents may point to a decision made Monday as the turning point in the town`s transformation.

The approval of Newmarket`s economic development strategic vision was made with little fanfare earlier this week, however, it will provide a road map of a Yonge Street/Davis Drive corridor that will eventually be lined with towering office buildings.

http://www.yorkregion.com/News/Newmarket/article/73150

 

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Hill delay won`t affect other plans, council told

Continuing uncertainty over future use of the recreational hill will not conflict with plans for the adjoining site containing softball diamonds, with the new baseball diamond under construction.

The land along Civic Centre Drive is also slated for a future BMX track and a splash pad.

http://www.yorkregion.com/News/Georgina/article/73091

 

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Project to revamp former Woolco building begins

Cambridge

Rejuvenation of the former Woolco building on Main Street starts today. Danielle Benning, co-owner of Cornerstone Furniture, and her partner, Martin Rawlinson, have picked up the keys from city officials.

http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/338004

 

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Council allows gravel pit

CAMBRIDGE

Cambridge council won`t formally object to a gravel pit in North Dumfries, even though it doesn`t like it.

Council voted this week to take no more action about the Tullis Estates proposal between Cedar Street and the CP Rail tracks, against the city limits.

http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/338097

 

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Desperate need for power

WATERLOO REGION

A 450-megawatt natural gas power plant is desperately needed in Waterloo Region to address the area`s explosive growth in demand for energy, says the chief executive of the Ontario Power Authority.

Jan Carr told a business gathering in Kitchener yesterday that demand for energy is growing twice as fast here as elsewhere in the province, thanks to population increases.

http://news.therecord.com/Business/article/338010

 

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South-end residents dealing with smelly problem -- skunks

GUELPH

If you live in Westminster Woods or Pine Ridge, it might be wise to buy some tomato juice, just in case.

Residents of those south-end neighbourhoods are complaining of skunks.

The black and white animals have been spotted in backyards and smelled in the area.

http://news.guelphmercury.com/News/article/317890

 

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March dip cools a heated market

Toronto finally saw some mild spring weather last weekend and real estate agents officially welcomed the spring market by throwing open the doors of houses listed for sale. Many house hunters, however, seemed to be off at the park.

It seems the enthusiasm of potential home buyers has remained cool even as the temperature outdoors heats up.

None of this is surprising to CIBC World Markets economist Benjamin Tal, who says economic indicators are pointing to a balanced market between buyers and sellers for the first time in 7 or 8 years.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...ory/RealEstate/

 

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Taking a second swing at suburbia

Gordon Baron lets his mind`s eye drift across the vast suburbs of Mississauga and Oakville and sees potential profit.

Mr. Baron is a renovator who specializes in overhauling the suburban houses of people who buy them based on a builder`s plans, then move in to find that it is dark, cramped and poorly designed. According to Mr. Baron, there are plenty of candidates.

"There are hundreds of thousands of these homes. There`s not a shortage."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...RealEstate/home