Ontario Economic Fundamentals

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Region of Peel gets into the mortgage biz

Peel Region is set to launch a mortgage loan initiative aimed at helping low income residents buy a home.

But as the May start date draws closer, councillors acknowledge the roughly $208,000 cap being made available per home buyer won`t buy much in Peel`s housing market.

"First off, where you going to find a home for $208,000 in Brampton, in Peel?" asked Elaine Moore, regional councillor for Brampton wards 1 and 5.

http://www.thebramptonguardian.com/news/article/45910

 

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Two developments got automatic sewage allocations

Residential development possibilities in Orangeville may not be as plentiful as once thought. When you add two "as of right" projects to those council endorsed for construction in 2008, the sewage treatment plant can only handle an additional 82 homes, not 250. "The reason all of this wasn`t front and centre with council is that not all of this was for certain at the time," says Doug Jones, director of environmental and development services, referring to development projects on Elizabeth Street and Broadway. "Until such time as they break ground and they start to actually build the thing, these projects can still die. As they proceed, they become less uncertain and more certain."

http://www.orangevillebanner.com/news/article/46091

 

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Art centre construction begins in April

Construction fences go up in April as workers begin to turn Stouffville`s old town hall into an arts, culture and entertainment centre.

For 10 years, groups have attempted to turn the building into a theatre or cultural centre.

Called 19 on the Park, the building will cost around $3.4 million to renovate and have an addition of around 1,200 square feet.

Although some of its space was rented out, the building has been substantially empty since the town offices moved in 1998 to the Imperial Centre at the corner of Main Street and Sandiford Drive.

http://www.yorkregion.com/News/Whitchurch-...e/article/72186

 

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39% of factory workers living outside region

About 39 per cent of York Region`s 77,000 manufacturing jobs are being filled by workers living outside the region.

York`s soaring home prices and high cost of living are the most likely contributors to a trend that sees about 30,000 manufacturing workers, fanned out across suburban areas, funnel into the region every morning, said Joseph D`Cruz, professor at the University of Toronto`s Rotman School of Management.

http://www.yorkregion.com/News/Regional%20News/article/70588

 

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King awaits funds for marsh canal project

Bradford West Gwillimbury and King Township are anxiously awaiting the announcement of which projects will receive grant money from Ontario`s Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative, as these funds are crucial to begin reconstructing the Holland Marsh canal.
The two municipalities jointly applied for $10.2 million earlier this year to fund the municipal and land owners` portions of the project. The total cost of the project is estimated at $16.7 million.

http://www.yorkregion.com/News/King/article/71433

 

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Golf course ruling shows OMB bias, residents say

Developer — 1

Residents, environmental groups and Aurora council — 0

This is the score following a decision this week that left some residents, environmental groups and politicians shaking their heads.

The Ontario Municipal Board — an appointed provincial body that makes decisions on developments that often over-ride politicians — decided this week a more thorough environmental review of a planned Aurora golf course and condominium development is not necessary.

http://www.yorkregion.com/News/Aurora/article/72247

 

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`Chasing down` pipes, wires, ducts

Once a new home under construction is totally closed in, the rooms framed and the interior partitions up, the heating and plumbing contractors can come in and do their work. For the plumbers, this includes rough-ins for bathtubs and other fixtures, as well as installing piping. For the heating contractors, this means installing the ductwork. These tradespeople start from the top of the house, cut the appropriate holes in the flooring and work their way down to the basement, following the path the water takes as it flows down. This is called "chasing down" to the basement.

http://www.torontosun.com/NewHomesandCondo...123286-sun.html

 

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Airpark development in position for takeoff

Imagine getting out of bed in your home just west of Ottawa, spending a leisurely afternoon on Toronto Island and returning in time for dinner.

This is what developers have in mind for future residents of Tailwind Estates.

West Capital Developments is gearing up for a spring start for construction of the fly-in community at the Carp Airport, a short drive from Scotiabank Place.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/c...98-dbddc0efbd66

 

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Mouldmakers heading south for work prospects

Members of Canada`s mouldmaking industry will be heading south next week to sniff out work prospects at an international plastics show in Mexico City.

The Windsor area contingent will include Canadian Association of Mold Makers president Dan Moynahan, of Platinum Tool Technologies, vice-president Mike Hicks, of DMS Components, and Jan Schooley, of Windsor Mold.

The week-long Plastimagen Mexico show attracts companies from across the globe.

http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/bus...29-626032877b74

 

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City looks for ways to attract, keep immigrants

Local leaders are looking outside of Hamilton`s borders for ways to attract visible minorities to the city.

Hamilton is taking its cue from Toronto with plans for a new website aimed at helping newcomers with settlement issues.

The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce is looking to diversify its membership and studying other models -- like Brampton`s Board of Trade, whose website offers information in Punjabi and Portuguese.

http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/348943

 

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Region shifts some tax burden from industry to homeowners

Regional councillors have hiked taxes on your home, in order to cut taxes on industries and apartments.

The increase is about one per cent on regional, city and township taxes. This will add up to $23 to the property taxes of an average home, valued at $203,000.

This is on top of 2008 budget increases that saw $65 added, on average, to residential taxes in Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge.

http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/331386

 

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Local: New owner for Kitchener plant unlikely: Gencor

CAMBRIDGE - Gencor officials aren`t holding out much hope that its Kitchener plant will continue operations with a new owner.


That was the message from executives of the Guelph-based co-operative earlier today. The farmer-owned business shut down its Kitchener-based Gencor Foods Inc. slaughterhouse yesterday, putting 124 people out of work.


Gencor held its annual general meeting in Cambridge this morning, where farmers heard of the plant`s deteriorating financial situation.

http://news.therecord.com/News/BreakingNews/article/331029

 

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Residents complain, but Town says nothing it can do

AJAX -- Residents of a south Ajax neighbourhood can`t understand why the Town`s noise bylaw can`t be used to deal with a motorist riding a motorcycle at 4 a.m.

But, the Town`s bylaw services manager says the statute can`t be used on a vehicle licenced by the Province. Cyril Mobbs says about a half-dozen residents in the Lawrie Drive area have approached the Town about a resident riding a motorcycle to work in the summer.

http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/ajax/article/96240

 

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Hospital redevelopment clears another hurdle

BOWMANVILLE -- A proposed redevelopment of Bowmanville`s hospital has cleared another hurdle, winning approval from the Central East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN).

Now the project awaits final approval from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, before the Touching Lives campaign will go to the public to begin raising funds. "It`s terrific news for our Touching Lives campaign," said Darlene Bastianelli, executive director of the Memorial Hospital Foundation -- Bowmanville.

http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/clarington/article/96322

 

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Developers need to go back to the drawing board

BROOKLIN -- Residents in a local neighbourhood are concerned about what they say is a lack of privacy taller homes would cause and councillors are backing them up. Sorbara/Tribute Holdings is in the middle of creating a new subdivision in Brooklin Meadows west, at Columbus Road west of Hwy. 12. The company wants to change a bylaw that would allow for higher roofs on the bungalows they wish to build, but residents of the street backing onto the development aren`t content with the proposal.

http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/whitby/article/96296

 

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Numbers show little jump in five years; Innisfill aims to keep residents working closer to home.

Despite the explosive growth in Barrie since 2001, the percentage of people who commute to their jobs has remained virtually unchanged.

According to Statistics Canada, which released new data yesterday, approximately 34.3 per cent of Barrie residents commuted more than 20 kilometres for work in 2006. In 2001, that number stood at 33.8 per cent. (In that same time frame, the city`s population also jumped by 24,000).

"That is a very slight increase and it`s nice to see we`re not losing more ground," said Robert Brindley, Barrie`s director of economic development. "Having said that, we`re continually looking to make up ground."

And that means enticing new employers, Brindley said.

http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDi...uth=Dave+Dawson

 

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Township surprised by extra cash

An extra $450,000 in government funding means Ramara council will be taking another look at the 2008 budget before it is finalized.

The township will receive more than $1.3 million from the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund, up from the 2007 total of $864,000.

The budget was determined using the funding level from 2007, meaning council must now determine how to use the additional money.

Township treasurer Margaret Black told council Monday night the budget will be back in front of general committee April 14.

http://www.orilliapacket.com/ArticleDispla...Courtney+Whalen

 

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Stormwater plan has residents concerned

A pond can provide a scenic setting for a community, but residents of a Thornhill neighbourhood are concerned about a plan being considered to create a body of water in a nearby park.

Vaughan is evaluating a consultant`s proposal to construct a stormwater retention pond in Gallanough Park, in the Yonge Street and Clark Avenue area.

http://www.yorkregion.com/News/Richmond%20Hill/article/72425

 

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$535,000 for town roads

Shortly after the grant for the new arts and culture centre was received by the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, another grant of more than $535,000 came in.

http://www.yorkregion.com/News/Whitchurch-...e/article/72465

 

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WILL WE EVER CATCH THE GO?

The wheels of government turn slowly.

That may be the best explanation of why GO Transit hasn`t been extended to Niagara Falls from Hamilton almost five years after the province announced plans for bus service as a prelude to a permanent rail link.

And while Ontario Transportation Minister Jim Bradley can`t say when GO service might come this way, he believes there`s a need for it.

"I think there`s a great appetite for people to use public transit in light of a lot of things, certainly as the price of gasoline goes up it becomes a little more attractive to people," says Bradley.

"I`m optimistic that we`re going to see this happening within the foreseeable future."

http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/ArticleDi...th=JOHN+ROBBINS