ON Economic Fundamentals 2008-11

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1108DURH
East GTA property values up just 3.3%

Despite large jumps in property values in Uxbridge and Brock townships, Durham Region will see an average assessment increase of just 3.3 per cent in 2009 – the lowest of all GTA regions.

The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) has now mailed assessments to more than 201,000 property owners in Durham, for the first time since the province froze assessments in 2005.

http://www.yourhome.ca/homes/article/529917

 

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1108ONTR
We`re now `have-not,` but for how long?

Ontario is joining the ranks of Canada`s poorest provinces by receiving an equalization cash handout from Ottawa for the first time.

Starting next year, the province will receive $347 million from the $14.2 billion wealth-sharing program, federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced yesterday.

Ironically, Ontario`s new "have-not" status was confirmed at the same time it was revealed oil-rich Newfoundland, long the nation`s economic basket case, is no longer a poor province and will not qualify for equalization in 2009.

http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/529974

 

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1108ONTR
Low sale price for ORC land sparked probe

The former chief executive officer of the Ontario government`s real estate arm triggered a sweeping investigation into internal corruption after seeing a low sale price on land involving the Gabriele group of companies, a court has heard.

Tony Miele, who led Ontario Realty Corp. from the spring of 1999 until early 2006, told a civil trial yesterday that shortly after taking office he noticed the sale of a 27-acre parcel in Brampton for $90,000.

Miele said he asked his staff if the price was for each acre but they informed him it was for the entire parcel. "That is totally wrong," he recalled telling staff. "There`s a mistake here."

http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/529854

 

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1108LNDN
Subdivision guidelines approved

London city council bucked the opposition of the development industry last night, voting overwhelmingly to move ahead with new guidelines that planners say will make for subdivisions that favour people and variety over cars and cookie-cutter houses. In a 15-2 vote, council approved plans to encourage developers to preserve trees, hills and other features that make landscapes unique where people can easily walk to stores or public spaces.

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/200...296391-sun.html

 

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1108CATH
Announcement on future of downtown forthcoming: mayor

After decades of failed dreams for using the low-level parking lot to save the downtown, Mayor Brian McMullan says he`s confident a performing arts centre is finally coming to the core.

There will be a series of announcements "very soon," he said.

"There is good news coming," assured the St. Catharines mayor after Monday night`s city council meeting. "There will be a series of events pointing to good news."

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/Article....aspx?e=1279559

 

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1108CATH
Residents want to keep city green: planner

St. Catharines might be forced to cram more development into its urban boundaries, but residents want to revive the city`s green image.

A year-long public consultation process into the future of the city resulted in the surprising finding that people like the decades-old Garden City moniker, said Bruce Bellows, one of the policy planners who is working on the review of the city`s Official Plan.

People also want to be able to give their input and have their voices heard, Bellows said in a presentation to city council Monday night.

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/Article....aspx?e=1279554

 

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1108TNTO
Where the new T. O. is being born

The 28 years that Anne Johnston spent in municipal politics in Toronto did not end gracefully. In 2002, Ms. Johnston, then councillor for Eglinton-Lawrence, made a late-night deal with Minto, an Ottawa-based developer, that city council ratified the next day, approving twin towers at Yonge Street at Eglinton Avenue, 40-and 54-storeys high.

Outraged neighbours who had fought the project bought an ad in a local newspaper: "Councillor Needed." Karen Stintz answered the ad and in 2003 defeated Ms. Johnston.

Ms. Johnston left town, finding solace and peace at her farm near Pontypool, about 30 kilometres northeast of Oshawa, where she now lives.

http://www.nationalpost.com/todays_paper/s....html?id=930253

 

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1108BTFD
$500M Oak Park project in jeopardy

City council is killing a controversial incentive program for companies trying to develop disused quarry lands, after being informed that the $500-million Oak Park North project has suffered a major financial setback.

Council repealed Monday its so-called northwest area extraction rehabilitation program, which could have given up to $3 million in tax rebates to developer King and Benton for preparing quarry lands for its industrial and commercial project, north of Highway 403.

The unexpected move came after council huddled in closed session on the matter Monday afternoon.

http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDi....aspx?e=1279043

 

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1108BAOR
Allandale decision delayed

The train hasn`t left Barrie`s old Allandale Station just yet.

Instead of choosing between two plans to develop this property, city councillors put the brakes on any decision, last night. The matter was instead sent to the city`s corporate services committee, which will meet in late November or early December.

"I have a lot of questions that are financial in nature," said Coun. Jerry Moore, chairman of the corporate services committee. "I encourage members of council to send their questions to me."

The meeting will be open to the public, and Moore said there may be an opportunity for questions from interested citizens. The meeting date is to be publicized.

http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDi....aspx?e=1278976

 

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1108WIND
City eyes tax-base growth

Increasing the city`s tax base and industrial growth were identified Monday as the top priorities for Windsor`s success in the next couple of years.

"We have to diversify our economy," said Ronna Warsh, the city`s general manager of social services. "If we don`t do that, we are not going to have the taxes we need and we are all going to fail."

http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/sto...e1-05cd998e2268

 

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1108OTWA
Ottawa in the market for farmers

The City of Ottawa, which lost its ability to police its farmers` markets in a 1995 court decision, is reasserting its control over the ByWard and Parkdale markets and planning to lure area farmers back.

The city will later this month introduce proposed bylaws for the two markets that will give area farmers better deals on their market stalls while increasing rents for vendors who simply re-sell produce and products grown and made by others. The idea is to meet the growing demand for locally grown food, artistic and craft products without kicking longtime re-sellers out of the markets.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/c...0a-f8d53ad804b0

 

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1108HAMN
Airport locks out flying school in rent dispute

Hamilton`s only flying school has been shot down in flames.

Peninsulair, which has been teaching commercial and weekend pilots to fly since 1946, was locked out of its hangar at Hamilton airport on the weekend after a 10-month dispute over its lease.

The action grounds the hopes of up to 100 student pilots who were studying with the school.

"We`ve been negotiating with them since the beginning of the year and we finally reached a point where neither side was in a position to continue," said Hamilton airport spokesperson Steve Howse.

http://www.thespec.com/News/Business/article/460735

 

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1108KWCG
Council approves south-end retail

GUELPH

Loblaw Properties Limited will withdraw its Ontario Municipal Board appeal slated to start later this month, after Guelph city council approved the Phase 1 development of secondary retail space at its south-end property last night.

The appeal scheduled to start Nov. 24 was site-specific to the Gordon Street and Clair Road development, and was in response to a change in Guelph`s large mixed-use planning policies that effectively rescinded an early 2006 approval for the site.

Loblaw already withdrew its similar appeal on an east-end development last week, said Stacey Laughlin, a development and urban design planner with the city.

http://news.guelphmercury.com/News/article/400001

 

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1108YVGN

Connector road to link Hwys. 7, 427

Vaughan takes pride in being one of the best cities in the country to do business and things are getting even better with the opening of a new connection to Hwy. 427.

An 800-metre road connecting the highway from Hwy. 7 to Zenway Boulevard will open tomorrow.

It is intended to relieve traffic congestion until the northern extension of Hwy. 427 is constructed.


http://www.yorkregion.com/News/Vaughan/article/83817

 

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1108DAJX
Assessment should be good news in Ajax

AJAX -- Assessment notices are in the mail and for most Ajax property owners the news is good.

In Durham Region, the average assessment increase is 15.4 per cent. But, in Ajax, the average assessment increase is 13.4 per cent. Speaking to Ajax council last week, Joe Regina of the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation said a four-year assessment cycle replaces the annual cycle.

http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/ajax/article/112024

 

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1108DSCG
Transportation plan fails to recognize Scugog`s needs, says mayor

SCUGOG -- Rural communities appear to be the largely forgotten distant cousins of their bigger, urban counterparts in the recently-released Metrolinx draft plan, a slight that shouldn`t be overlooked by the municipality, warned Scugog`s mayor last week. As the Oct. 27 council session wrapped up, Mayor Marilyn Pearce called on staff to whip together a report on the Metrolinx proposal, prior to the Nov. 14 deadline for public input, detailing the Township`s criticisms of the transportation plan.

http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/scugog/article/111983

 

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1108ONTR
MPs neglecting Ontario, Duncan says

Stung by Ontario`s plunge into "have-not" status, the province`s Liberal government is blaming MPs from all parties for not doing enough to help Canada`s one-time economic titan.

One day after the revelation that Ontario is now among Canada`s poor provinces, qualifying for $347 million in federal equalization handouts for the first time, Finance Minister Dwight Duncan was in fighting form.

"We have 106 federal members. We need to have them start standing up for Ontario," Duncan complained yesterday.

http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/530716

 

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1108ONTR
Realtor offers free car with home purchase

A free plasma TV. A trip to Paris. A break on land taxes. A new car.

With housing sales down dramatically in the Greater Toronto Area this year, developers and real estate agents are playing Let`s Make A Deal, and buyers stand to benefit.

"Everyone is doing what they can to attract buyers; there is so much doom and gloom," says Kelly Collins, chief operating officer for CountryWide Homes. "Anything you can do to differentiate yourself from the competition helps."

http://www.yourhome.ca/homes/article/530671

 

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1108ONTR
Ontario delays picking reactor builder

Ontario`s push to build a new nuclear power plant at Darlington has hit another snag.

The deadline of March 31 to pick a company that will build the new reactors has been pushed back to "late spring` because of the global financial crisis, said Energy Minister George Smitherman.

"Obviously quite a bit has happened in the world," he told reporters, adding the deadline for submission of bids has also been changed, from Dec. 31 to an unspecified date early in 2009.

http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/530598

 

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1108CATH
Tax assessment shock for some property owners

Property owners in St. Catharines and Niagara Falls are the winners in the assessment game in Niagara, while those in Wainfleet are the losers.

Assessment notices are landing in mailboxes across Ontario, and although the size of the increase might seem shocking, it`s how you fare compared with your neighbours and with those across Niagara that will ultimately determine your next property tax bill.

In Niagara, the average increase in residential property values between Jan. 1, 2005, and Jan. 1, 2008, is 21 per cent. But some municipalities are up more than average and some are less.

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/Article....aspx?e=1281701