Ontario Economic Fundamentals 2008 Q2

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Rental vacancy rate down

WATERLOO REGION

Prospective homebuyers are increasingly opting for apartments, which has helped slice the local rental vacancy rate in half from last year, according to a new report released yesterday.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. said the vacancy rate in the Kitchener census metropolitan area sunk to two per cent in April from four per cent last April.

That gives the region the second lowest vacancy rate in Ontario, after Sudbury`s 0.7 per cent.

http://news.therecord.com/Business/article/362451

 

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Group reveals waste goals for city

GUELPH

The city should keep 70 per cent of its trash out of landfill through programs like recycling and composting by 2021. That`s the suggestion of a committee mapping out the future of garbage in Guelph for 25 years.

The committee, made up of councillors, businesspeople and residents, suggests aiming at achieving zero waste in 2033.

http://news.guelphmercury.com/News/article/337671

 

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City in talks with Loblaw; may avoid OMB hearing

GUELPH

City hall and Canada`s largest food distributor are seeking to resolve outstanding planning issues on two local supermarket proposals before formal hearings begin this fall at the Ontario Municipal Board, a quasi-judicial appeals tribunal that can overturn city land use decisions.

It`s put the city in an awkward position, with city councillors eager to see these supermarkets built in areas that either lack alternatives or could benefit from more.

http://news.guelphmercury.com/Business/article/337727

 

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Building fun for students

---Richmond Hill

When parents at Windham Ridge Public School found the concrete surrounding the building left much to be desired as a play area, they set out to change things.

Originally built to teach grades 4 to 8, when primary students and grades 1 to 3 were added, it became apparent to parents a full-fledged play structure was needed.

"We have nothing in the kids playground,"said Janis Shean, a parent on the playscape committee.

"People began to ask where the kids were going to play."

http://www.yorkregion.com/News/Richmond%20Hill/article/76028

 

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Clarington will need more rec services as it grows: consultant

CLARINGTON -- The Municipality will need more ice pads and gymnasiums, among other services, as its population changes and grows, says a report on how to ensure proper recreational services are available in coming years.

"By 2016, we expect your population to surpass 100,000 with the greatest rate of growth in the 20 to 34 and 55-plus" age ranges, said Todd Brown, of Monteith Brown Planning Consultants. The consultants did a number of surveys and other forms of community consultation before putting together a strategic plan, which they unveiled to Clarington councillors Monday.

http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/clarington/article/100064

 

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Housing help sought across north Durham

NORTH DURHAM -- No fewer than 600 families and individuals across north Durham needed help finding a place to live or to keep their home last year -- an astounding figure that Janet Ries figures won`t be decreasing anytime soon. As north Durham`s homeless prevention outreach worker, Ms. Ries told Scugog councillors on Monday that there is no end in sight for the need to secure increased affordable housing across the northern three townships of Durham Region.

http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/scugog/article/100047

 

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Taxi fare hike shifts into high gear

Taxi riders won`t be spared gas pains.

The city`s licensing committee -- driven by rising fuel prices -- approved new fare hikes yesterday that will see the initial pickup fee jump by $1 to $4 and the meter rate rise to 25 cents every 155 metres from a quarter every 170 metres. The increases, expected to kick in by mid-July if approved by council later this month, will see the cost of a 5-km trip rise to $11.75 from $10.

http://www.torontosun.com/News/TorontoAndG...801031-sun.html

 

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the basement: part 8

TV makeover shows would have us believe that hanging drywall takes no time at all. In reality, expect this step in your basement renovation project to take at least a few weeks, if not months, depending on how much time you can devote to the project on a daily basis.

A professional could easily hang all the drywall, mud and tape the joints and sand everything for you in a matter of days. But if you want to save the expense and do it yourself, be patient.

http://www.torontosun.com/ResaleHomesandCo...06/5796936.html

 

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London`s jobless rate climbs

The unemployment rate in the London area climbed to 7.2 per cent in May from seven per cent the previous month -- matching the highest level in five years.

It hasn`t been higher since July 1997. That`s no surprise to the people at the Goodwill Career Centre in London who have witnessed first-hand the impact of a steady stream of layoffs and plant closings.

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/200...802331-sun.html

 

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London bridges keep falling down

Concerns over the state of London`s infrastructure -- and how closely it`s being monitored -- flared up again yesterday with the abrupt closure of an east-end bridge.

One week after a Londoner notified city hall about the alarmingly decayed state of iron supports beneath the Gore Road bridge sidewalk, the entire structure has been shut down for repairs. "You don`t have to be an engineer (to see) it`s not safe," said Murray Willits, 55, who noticed the rust-ravaged understructure while walking in a nearby park.

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/200...802481-sun.html

 

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Area housing sales strong

Despite the sputtering provincial economy, the housing market in London-St. Thomas is still strong, with resale homes and apartments both in demand. The London and St. Thomas Association of Realtors (LSTAR) says 1,021 homes sold in May, the third best total for any month since record-keeping began in 1978.

And the apartment vacancy rate in London fell to 3.0 per cent from 3.7 per cent in the last year, according to a new survey released by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

http://lfpress.ca/cgi-bin/publish.cgi?p=23...les&s=homes

 

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Proposed hydro merger raises ownership concerns for city councillor

A St. Catharines councillor says the city should be careful to get its fair share if local electricity provider Horizon Utilities merges with Guelph Hydro Electric Systems later this year.

The merger should mean higher dividends for the city each year, Joe Kushner said, but the current plan would see Guelph owning 25 per cent of the merged utility, while St. Catharines, which is comparable in size, would only own 16 per cent.

"It`s the ownership I`m worried about," said Kushner, a St. Catharines Hydro director.

There will be a public information session Monday on the proposed merger, which would see Horizon Utilities — formed in 2005 from the merger of St. Catharines Hydro and Hamilton Hydro — join forces with Guelph`s utility. If the merger goes through, it will likely be implemented by early fall.

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/Article....aspx?e=1063178

 

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Homeowner charged for not having working smoke alarms

The St. Catharines fire department charged a Roehampton Avenue homeowner late Friday morning for not having working smoke alarms in the house.

A small fire started in the house located in the complex at 56 Roehampton Ave. because of an electrical problem in a wall around 11:30 a.m., the fire department said.

Although it was quickly put out, the fire caused $40,000 in smoke damage.

The smoke also sent a gerbil to the Lincoln County Humane Society for treatment. It was later released in healthy condition.

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/Article...+Standard+Staff

 

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Township puts Boyd Road decision on hold

Residents protest plan to close stretch of road

Severn Township council is reconsidering plans to close Boyd Road at the CN rail crossing after 185 opponents signed a petition and urged a look at other options.

At Thursday night`s council meeting, Cambrian Road resident Clive Sharpe presented a deputation asking council to review the entire situation, including the costs and the impact on traffic flow.

A bylaw to close Boyd Road had been prepared for the meeting, but council voted to defer the matter.

"They told staff to go back, redo their homework and present options," said Sharpe.

http://www.orilliapacket.com/ArticleDispla...ACKET+AND+TIMES

 

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Shopping tops list in fairgrounds plan

Council to ponder proposal on Monday

Attention shoppers, Barrie has more new retail on the horizon.

Osmington`s site plan for the former fairgrounds property, 400,000 square feet of commercial space, will be considered for initial approval by city councillors Monday.

There`s little question it will transform those 38 acres at the corner of Essa Road and Highway 400, and the neighbourhoods and streets around it.

http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDi...h=BY+BOB+BRUTON

 

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Foreign-trained doctors to get a break in Ontario

Ontario`s latest bid to ease the doctor shortage could soon have physicians trained elsewhere getting a "bypass" of their own.

Health Minister George Smitherman will propose legislation later this month aimed at getting more doctors into the province`s clinics and hospitals by cutting red tape now standing in the way.

http://healthzone.ca/health/article/439115

 

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GM insists truck plant to close, anger rises

A union leader called for more militancy yesterday as workers fortified a blockade of the General Motors of Canada headquarters in Oshawa after its parent rejected pleas to keep a nearby truck plant open.

Keith Osborne, plant chair of the Canadian Auto Workers at GM`s Oshawa complex, told cheering members in front of GMC headquarters that the union needs help to reverse the automaker`s decision to close the truck plant in 2009.

http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/439013

 

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Potential not realized in Liberty Village

Like so much of the contemporary city, Liberty Village succeeds despite the damage done by developers, planners and architects. Their failure to understand the larger context means that the old industrial enclave will never realize its potential as a 21st-century residential neighbourhood.

http://www.yourhome.ca/homes/article/437105

 

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Ultra-green homes come to market

Canada`s first subdivision houses built to the highest green home rating in North America came to market today.

For the grand opening, a community barbecue will be held starting at 10 a.m. today at the sales office at 896 Mulock Dr. in Newmarket. Builders, technical representatives and town officials will be on hand from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to discuss the project`s technical elements and environmental features.

The homes will be constructed to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum status, which requires builders to meet an extensive list of criteria and for the houses to undergo third-party testing. The EcoLogic project strives to reduce household water draw by 25 per cent and reduce water discharge, solid waste, greenhouse gas production and energy consumption by 60 per cent over conventionally built homes.

http://www.yourhome.ca/homes/article/437263

 

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City aims to cut red tape by moving all development approvals to one office

The City of Ottawa is moving all of its development approvals to one department to reduce the red tape at city hall.

In a memo sent yesterday, city manager Kent Kirkpatrick said all development approvals will come under the department of planning, transit and the environment by the fall, in an effort to bring "one-stop service" to Ottawa.

Currently applicants may be required to go to different departments for their approvals on building projects. Some citizens and businesses have complained that the process is not only very expensive but also confusing, because different city authorities don`t always work in tandem.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/c...07-cbbadbea877b