Retail sales in Saskatchewan soared upward by a nation-leading 14.4 per cent in April, compared to April 2007, according to Statistics Canada information released Friday.
That increase was more than double the national increase of 7.1 per cent and higher than Newfoundland and Labrador, which experienced an 11.4 per cent increase in retail sales -- the second-highest among the provinces.
Close to $1.2 billion in retail sales were made in April in Saskatchewan.
Canadian Green Fuels has selected its technology process, environmental assessment and electrical and mechanical contractors for its proposed biodiesel plant in McLean, east of Regina, the Regina-based company announced Friday.
Greenline Industries was chosen to provide the biodiesel processing technology for the planned McLean facility. P3 Architecture of Regina is providing environmental assessment services, while Dynamo Electric and Mechanical were named project development partner and project lead.
Saskatoon`s eighth bridge will cost more if it`s to become an architectural attraction, but Mayor Don Atchison says it may be worth the expense.
The new six-lane south bridge and seven kilometres of connecting freeway is expected to be open by 2012, after funding commitments Friday from Ottawa and the provincial government.
"I think when you design major structures like this that they have to be architecturally pleasing," Atchison said after a news conference at Prairieland Park. "They actually identify your community for the future as well. Look what they`ve done in Boston, Vancouver, San Francisco. Sometimes it costs a little more."
The house is finally finished, the renovation is paid for, and now it`s time to tackle the garden. It`s always better to plan the inside and outside of your renovation at the same time, but for most of us, the outdoors is a second priority that is left to last.
The decision to tackle exterior landscaping is a big one. The best route, if you can afford it, is to hire a landscape architect and go through an entire summer of planning and talking. Just like a renovation, you start with a file of clippings that you`ve collected to convey what you like and what you don`t, and shots of your garden in all four seasons. Expect to pay a $500 to $1,500 design retainer and then an hourly rate or flat fee kicks in. Ask to be billed monthly for fees and out of pocket expenses, like surveys, through the design process.
Town `n` Country Mall owners are disappointed with the city`s decision not to locate the multiplex sporting facility at the neighbouring Civic Centre, but it will be business as usual at the shopping centre.
Daniel Kolber, Retrocom Mid-Market REIT assistant management vice-president, said the the company was very eager to keep the WHL rink near its property and even offered the project money and free land in order to see that happen.
Apparently nothing brings out Moose Jaw politicians like free food and Starbucks coffee.
That`s what awaited all six municipal councillors and both local MLAs during Safeway`s official unveiling of its newly renovated First Avenue Northwest store on Thursday afternoon.
While sipping on their javas and nibbling on various produce samplings, Saskatchewan district manager Todd Leibel led the dignitaries crew through the renovated store, which features expanded produce, bakery and meat sections, as well as Moose Jaw`s first Starbucks.
"What happened was on June 12th, at about 7 p.m., we received a phone call from the health authority. Due to the high volume of rain that we have got in the last couple of weeks, there was some physical damage and potential for continued damage that created unsafe environments for the existing tenants," explained Trevor Koot, Broker at Century 21 which is also the Property Manager for the downtown condemned building.
"As a result, the public health has condemned the building with the understanding that there would need work to the building before it can be up and running again. We started action right away and of course have been in contact with the owners, the insurance company, and the health region to determine what the best course of action would be."
Koot explains that even though they may look like the bad guys, they have done everything in their power to help the tenant`s find alternative housing.
Estevan residents will get an update on the progress of the new arena/events centre Thursday night.The committee tasked with making the proposed facility a reality is holding an open house at 7 p.m. in the multi-purpose room at the Souris Valley Aquatic and Leisure Centre.City manager Jim Puffalt said all of the people and groups involved with the project will be on hand for the meeting and will answer any questions the public may have."The architects, construction managers, people from the committee and council members will all be there," said Puffalt."The new boards will also be there showing what the re-design looks like on the new facility."Puffalt said there have been concerns in the public that a number of the important facets in the events centre have been removed in the cost-cutting stage. He said that is not the case at all and the public will get a chance to see that first hand Thursday night.
Job guarantee and mentorship to keep and attract nurses
Saskatchewan is increasing its efforts to keep and attract nurses for the province, as part of the government`s commitment to health, workforce retention and recruitment.
Last Thursday, June 19 Health Minister Don McMorris announced $7.4 million in funding to guarantee new graduates with a position to work full-time alongside experienced nurses, thereby enabling them to transition into a permanent position. This job guarantee is coupled with a $5 million provincial nursing mentorship program.
"We are committed to exploring every opportunity to fill an existing 600 registered nurse vacancies and to hire an additional 200 registered nurses within our first term of office,"
McMorris said.
The City of Prince Albert`s water department is looking into introducing water meters that can be read by a wireless device.
This will allow for reading water meters without going into a house.
Roberta Sinclair, water treatment plant manager, submitted a report on the matter to the city`s executive committee.
"Currently the water meter system we have requires us to visit the home to get the meter reading, but we are looking at different technologies currently available for water meters," said Robert Cotterill, city manager.
Greenpeace Canada is warning taxpayers to hold on to their wallets if nuclear power gets the go-ahead in Saskatchewan, even with the provincial government pledging not to put public money into any project.
Greenpeace energy co-ordinator Dave Martin questioned how serious Bruce Power LP is about the province`s nuclear prospects after the company announced last week it would undertake a feasibility study in Saskatchewan.
SASKATOON -- Financial assistance is on its way for residents in the Saskatoon and Regina areas who are struggling to afford a place to live.
There`s just one thing missing now -- affordable housing.
"Availability is a serious concern and we will be looking at those recommendations as soon as we can," said Social Services Minister Donna Harpauer, referring to the Task Force on Housing Affordability report, which contained 36 recommendations for dealing with the crisis.
A proposed development that could include a private health clinic is headed back to a city council committee for another examination.
On Monday night, Regina City Council voted unanimously to send parts of the plan for a plot of land east of Prince of Wales Drive and north of Eastgate Drive back to the planning commission for review.
The current plan by Kanosis Business Development Corporation involves the development of a residential and commercial site which would include multi-family residences and a $10-million health centre with an MRI unit, laboratory, pharmacy and dental and optical facilities.
SASKATOON -- Peter Mansbridge recalls a time when selling Saskatchewan potash to China was a difficult task. "I remember going with premier (Allan) Blakeney to China, where he was trying to sell it in 1976, trying to break through to the China market, and it was just a really difficult trip for him on that front," said the award-winning CBC news anchor.
Clearly, times have changed. Back then, Mansbridge said, a tonne of potash sold for $40. In April, the largest distributor of fertilizer products in China -- Sinofert Holdings Ltd. -- agreed to pay $576 US per tonne for the rose-hued nutrient.
SASKATOON -- A surge in the price of natural gas may result in higher costs for SaskEnergy customers this winter.
At present, residential customers are paying $6.57 per gigajoule (GJ) for natural gas, which was reduced from $7.17 last fall. Since January, however, natural gas has steadily risen in price, hovering between $12 and $13 on the NYMEX exchange during June.
SaskEnergy tends to follow the AECO monthly index in Alberta, which trends lower than the NYMEX; but the AECO price was still $10.50 per GJ on June 10.
Another Vancouver-based junior mining company is getting into the burgeoning "coal rush" in the east-central part of the province.
Weststar Resources Corp. has acquired 55,944 hectares of land for $1.15 million about 70 km northwest of the recent coal discovery of Goldsource Mines.
In April, Goldsource caused a flurry of trading in its stock by announcing the discovery of "high-grade`` coal in the Hudson Bay area while exploring for kimberlite, a host rock for diamonds.
City council has agreed to let a developer build River Landing`s hotel four storeys higher than zoning guidelines allow despite suggestions it`s unfairly bending the rules.
The maximum building height for a hotel at the corner of Second Avenue South and Spadina Crescent was eight storeys. On Monday, council passed an amendment to the site`s special zoning allowing the hotel to rise to 12 storeys.
That amendment passed 6-4, with councillors Pat Lorje, Bob Pringle, Charlie Clark and Darren Hill opposed. Coun. Tiffany Paulsen had declared a conflict of interest and didn`t vote.
The City of Saskatoon is reminding property owners that property taxes for 2008 must be paid by Monday to avoid penalty.
Payment can be made in person at City Hall Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Other options to avoid last-minute lineups include paying online through Internet banking, making payments at financial institutions, paying by mail (postmarked by June 30) or dropping off payments (cheques only with payment stub) at the City Hall drop boxes.
