AB Economic Fundamentals 2008-11

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1108CALG
Million dollar babies

When the overpass was built as an extension to 50th Avenue S. W.--or Mount Royal Gate as it prefers to be called--it certainly helped the flow of traffic that pours constantly up and down Crowchild Trail. But I was guilty of expressing my concerns that it didn`t go anywhere as it flows past Central Memorial High School and disappears into Sandy Beach Park at 14A Street.

It divides two of this city`s nicest communities, Altadore and Garrison Woods, from the equally desirable North Glenmore Park. Altadore was established back in 1945, so there is a good mix of housing to be found within its borders.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/l...5f-d5f4fa4b5427

 

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1108CALG
Calgary retail scene shines

Despite the current economic turmoil and slumping consumer confidence heading into the busy Christmas shopping season, Calgary is expected to be a bright spot in Canadian retailing.

"It will be business as usual across the greater Calgary region during the pre-Christmas sales period this year with retail sales levels expected to be equal to last year," said Michael Kehoe, an Alberta-based retail specialist with Fairfield Commercial Real Estate Inc.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...8f-89717fcee505

 

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1108CALG
Selling our city at the Grey Cup

By the time Sunday`s CFL championship game kicks off, a hardy gang of Calgarians will have completed their Grey Cup mission.

That task will have been to "sell" Calgary to visiting and Montreal-based corporate decision-makers attending what is arguably the country`s biggest, truly Canadian, sporting festival.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...8f-e49fb53e7657

 

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1108ALTA
Alberta inflation drifts below national average

Consumer prices in Alberta lost some of their torque in October, rising just 2.4 per cent from a year ago, with cost increases in staples like food and rental accommodation driving up costs.

On the flip side, slower price increases for gasoline, along with cooling prices for new vehicles, natural gas and housing, were the main forces pushing inflation lower in October.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...b8-27efe823fd1d

 

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1108CALG
Market to stabilize

The word of the day? Stabilization.

That is how Richard Corriveau, regional economist with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., characterizes the housing market facing Calgarians and Albertans in the upcoming year.

At the recent annual CMHC Housing Outlook Conference, Corriveau told about 500 industry officials that Calgary`s housing market probably won`t see another slide like that of this year.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/n...30-4e36cb8ecfb9

 

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1108ALTA
Prairies to remain on `strong footing`

Let me just check to be sure: Yep, the sun is still rising in the east.

And Alberta, with a strong economy based on natural resources much in demand on a global basis, is still a good place to live and work.

OK, right now the oil market is softer than it was, but prognosticators are calling for a rise back to $100 or more per barrel next year.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/n...55-b8cea52f5812

 

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1108ALTA
Royalty tweak discounted


The government`s tweaking of the royalty structure to spur drilling in Alberta was a political rather than practical move, an industry observer said the day after Premier Ed Stelmach announced concessions in the new royalty framework. Moreover, collapsing commodity prices, as well as a cheaper royalty structure, make the U.S. an even more attractive place to invest energy dollars.

http://calsun.canoe.ca/Business/2008/11/21/7486176-sun.html

 

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1108EDTN
Councillors concerned with transit to Fort Road

More than one city councillor had questions about the city`s new transportation master plan last week after council met to discuss the further development of Edmonton`s public transit system.

The plan, which promotes a denser urban form, had some questioning the level of accessibility of the public transit system for those living in areas outside of downtown such as Fort Road.

Coun. Tony Caterina says he sees a contradiction with the city`s plan to promote a denser city as developers are encouraging people to locate to new neighborhoods where there may not be transit service.

http://www.edmontonexaminer.com/ArticleDis....aspx?e=1304602

 

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1108EDTN
Residents stress safety, beauty for new LRT

EDMONTON - A few dozen Edmontonians told transit designers Saturday what they think stations along a new northern LRT line should look like, asking for stops that are safe and visually appealing.

The line will run from Churchill Station above ground to NAIT, with stops at Grant MacEwan College and Kingsway.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...48-85a2e824738c

 

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1108ALTA
No parole for scam man

Convicted mortgage-fraud kingpin Gohar Pervez plans to dive right back into the real estate business just as soon as he is released from prison, National Parole Board documents indicate.

The same documents detail the reasons for denying Pervez`s request for early release, citing the 46-year-old`s high risk for reoffending and lack of remorse as examples.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/20...505861-sun.html

 

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AB Small Town Updates: 2008-11-23

 

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1108EDTN
Residents along little-used transit routes deserve to miss the bus

City councillor Don Iveson travels the city mostly by bus, LRT and a big-seat bicycle that only Napoleon Dynamite could love.

Does Iveson feel cool travelling on those, uh, sweet rides of his?

"No, just smug," says Iveson with a laugh. "I think there`s an element of leading by doing, I hope."

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...30-22e404c5e303

 

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1108EDTN
Local shops riding out crisis

Rychelle Langer wonders how much longer the good times will last.

So far, customers still feel financially stable enough to buy the funky boots, smart jackets and brightly coloured scarves on display at Red Ribbon, the store she has owned for six years.

But Langer is nervous she will eventually feel the pinch.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Edmonton/2...513481-sun.html

 

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1108CALG
Transit plan alarms residents

When residents of Southwood and Willow Park first saw signs advertising city-sponsored open houses for "LRT redevelopment" earlier this year, few bothered showing up.

Were they going to repaint Anderson station, or maybe rebuild the train platform to fit a fourth passenger car? Big deal.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...72-2a9369563ce7

 

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1108REDR
Lacombe County to discuss pressure on public access to lakes

Development pressure on Central Alberta lakes has Lacombe County scrambling to ensure future housing projects don`t swamp existing beaches and boat launches.

The issue was most recently put in the spotlight because of a proposal to build a 423-unit recreational vehicle resort next to the Summer Village of Sunbreaker Cove on Sylvan Lake.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradv...s_to_lakes.html

 

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1108EDTN
Copper oval inspired by city`s flower

EDMONTON - Edmonton architect Gene Dub unveiled a scheme Monday to put up a $300-million arena he sees as a focal point for revitalizing the rundown east side of downtown.

The oval arena would be built south of police headquarters on about two hectares of land now used mainly for parking lots, he said following a video presentation at a city council hearing into the Quarters redevelopment plan.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...e9-dc4fa6009210

 

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1108ALTA
Alberta well-anchored to withstand stormy financial seas, experts say

EDMONTON - Hang in there -- the oilsands aren`t going away and Alberta should receive only a glancing blow from deep recessions elsewhere.

And it`s not necessarily a bad thing for the superheated economy to go through a cooling-off period.

That was the message to Edmonton businesses Monday from some of the region`s heavy hitters at Edmonton Economic Development Corp.`s economic forecast luncheon.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news...74-58c19eb0f5dc

 

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1108CALG
New park-and-ride fee causes concern

The $3 charge next year for park-and-ride lots may send transit users to try freebie parking on residential streets, fear neighbours of the city-run lots.

That could exacerbate drivers` antics in areas such as Vernon Place, near the perennially full Brentwood park-and-ride lot. In the Vernon cul-de-sac, people crowd in by parking cars at an angle.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/s...9e-539cea61e6dd

 

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1108ALTA
Pine beetle infests southwestern forests

There is reason for both celebration and despair among those fighting to prevent the dreaded mountain pine beetle from spreading east and destroying further billions of trees.

According to the Alberta government`s aerial surveys con-ducted in August and September, the number of infected trees has dropped significantly--by 35 per cent--in the northwestern part of the province thanks to on-the-ground work and some particularly cold days last winter.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...5f-04025198f2f5

 

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1108CALG
Aldermen delay plan to redraw city`s electoral map

Council has delayed a decision on a major redrawing of ward boundaries, giving in to the concerns of a few aldermen unhappy with the new map.

"What`s envisioned is unprecedented," said Ald. Andre Chabot, whose Ward 10 would disappear fromtheeast sideundertheredistribution. A new Ward 10 would be created on the city`s northern edge to try to accommodate the rapid growth in the northeast.

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/c...4c-3db3ed6267b6