Ontario Economic Fundamentals 2008 Q2

[joeiannuzzi]

Plant expansion creates 100 jobs

LAKESHORE - It`s one of the bright spots outside the doom and gloom of the local economy`s automotive sector.

VistaPrint North American Services Corp. has a $20-million expansion planned in Lakeshore that will soon add another 100 jobs, says plant director Paul Henderson.

Town council approved a site plan Tuesday for an expansion that will almost double the existing plant of 160,000 square feet. It`s located in the Rosati Group`s Advance Industrial Park.

http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/sto...11-8801cc3aeb31

 

[joeiannuzzi]

$100M in cuts for city

The city has found what it`s been looking for -- $100 million.

At the instruction of Mayor Larry O`Brien, city staff have come up with a comprehensive plan to save taxpayers $100 million over the next three years.

$25M THIS YEAR

The plan, obtained by the Sun last night, outlines $25 million in savings this year, $29.5 million in 2009 and $45.5 million in 2010. The report, expected to be introduced at next week`s corporate services and economic development committee, says savings and efficiencies can be found in several ways, including reducing the number of city employees, overtime, operating costs, fleet vehicles and by making investments in IT and revamping the procurement process.

http://www.ottawasun.com/News/OttawaAndReg...558521-sun.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

City won`t get lanes



Residents of Roman Ave. might get to keep their homes, but could lose part of their backyards.

That`s according to a confidential e-mail sent to city council last night by deputy city manager Nancy Schepers.

Last week, members of the city`s transit committee told staff they weren`t interested in seeing 25 homes demolished to make way for the West Transitway project. Instead, council told staff to determine whether one lane in each direction within the 417 corridor could be used to complete the transitway and avoid demolition of the homes.

http://www.ottawasun.com/News/OttawaAndReg...558491-sun.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Renfrew County poised to cash in on Ontario`s pledge to wind power

In pioneer days, the highlands of Renfrew County broke many a promise, maybe the odd back.

Settlers found land that was thin-soiled, rocky and full of pitch. Logging was arduous, winters long and the views isolating, if beautiful.

But today, finally, there may well be gold in them there hills -- in the very air they breathe.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/s...ab-d689d81381f5

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Homeless housing project slated for Riverdale hotel

A new kind of homeless shelter is to be built in South Riverdale, but some in the quickly gentrifying neighbourhood are concerned the area is already at a limit for social housing.

The dilapitated New Edwin hotel is undergoing a $5-mil-lion makeover into ``transitional`` housing for about 30 homeless, who will live there for up to three years as they adapt to permanent housing.

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/to....html?id=512917

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Natural gas bills to soar by 20%

Utility customers could see a sharp jump in their natural gas bills starting July 1.

As oil prices hit record highs on world markets, natural gas is going along for the ride.

Enbridge customers may face a 40 per cent increase in the gas commodity price and a 20 per cent increase in the total gas bill, says Malini Giridhar, director of energy policy and analysis for Enbridge Gas Distribution.

http://yourhome.ca/homes/article/425195

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Auto giants living up to word: Pupatello

Despite thousands of assembly-line layoffs, such auto giants as General Motors that got millions in taxpayer help have not broken faith with the government, Ontario`s trade minister insists.

"Every one of our assemblers is in full compliance with their contract," Sandra Pupatello said yesterday.

The government was coming under fire for a second day over $235 million in aid to General Motors Corp.

http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/425093

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Greyhound says bus service to core will continue

KITCHENER

Greyhound says it will continue running all its buses from downtown, after adding a Sportsworld Drive terminal in July.

"We will continue to have every schedule operate through downtown," senior vice-president Stuart Kendrick said yesterday.

Pending negotiations, the company hopes to continue using a platform at the Grand River Transit terminal on Charles Street.

http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/350090

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Plans to close Kitchener Frame revealed

KITCHENER

Martinrea International Inc. laid out a multimillion-dollar closure plan for its Kitchener Frame plant yesterday, the clearest sign yet that the facility`s days are numbered.

During a conference call to discuss its first-quarter results, company executives said Martinrea will pay between $24 million and $28 million in severance costs to Kitchener Frame workers beginning in 2009 as production begins to wind down.

Those costs will be accounted for in Martinrea`s second quarter this year.

http://news.therecord.com/Business/article/350007

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Loblaw pays $16.4M for Pioneer Park Plaza

KITCHENER

Loblaw Cos. Ltd. has purchased the Pioneer Park Plaza shopping centre for $16.4 million.

The Brampton-based grocery giant, which owns or franchises all Zehrs stores, bought the shopping centre from Co-operators General Insurance Co. on April 30.

The main building at the corner of Homer Watson Boulevard and Pioneer Drive consists of a small Zehrs store attached to 10 smaller retailers. A second building houses a Home Hardware store and two other businesses. Two fast-food outlets and a small professional building also sit on the property.

http://news.therecord.com/Business/article/350008

 

[joeiannuzzi]

RIM reveals expansion plans

WATERLOO

Research In Motion Ltd. yesterday revealed plans for a new office campus that could allow it to hire thousands more employees in Waterloo.

RIM representatives showed residents of the Eastbridge neighbourhood images of a development that will include at least two and likely about four office buildings, plus a training centre and a parking garage.

The first office building, on which construction should begin in the next few weeks, will be four storeys and cover 185,035 square feet. Up to 1,200 RIM employees could work in the new building, scheduled to open in the middle of next year.

http://news.guelphmercury.com/Business/article/327635

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Town, developer battle over housing proposal

The future of Oak Ridges Moraine land on the east side of Bathurst Street between Mulock Drive and St. John`s Sideroad is driving Newmarket and a developer to the Ontario Municipal Board. Mademont Investment Ltd., is asking the board to allow residential development on the land, which politicians turned down earlier this year.

http://www.yorkregion.com/News/Newmarket/article/74669

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Landlord exemptions stand, despite outrage from neighborhood

Oshawa

http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/oshawa/article/98794

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Local managers buy metal stamping plant

A London automotive parts plant has been saved from shut down by a team of managers who have bought the business.

Nagata Automotive has become London Automotive and Manufacturing Ltd., after the managers recently received financing to save the operation. "We see growth in the automotive industry," said Greg Ducharme, one of the partners in the firm. "It is not without its pains, but we are willing to step up to the plate and take that challenge."

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/200...571261-sun.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Community doesn`t want it, so don`t build it, planner says; Admits he was anti-tower before city hired him to defend its position

The tower development proposed for Port Dalhousie`s commercial core should not be built because it doesn`t take the community`s wishes into account, the heritage planner hired by the city says.

"Neither the proposed development nor the previous council decision reflected the community consensus that led to the creation of the heritage district," said Bob Martindale, who was hired by the City of St. Catharines in October 2007 to defend its new anti-tower position at the Ontario Municipal Board.

The OMB hearing, which began in February, is being held to determine the fate of the ambitious Port Place development proposed for the lakeside community, which includes a 17-storey tower, hotel, theatre and shopping complex.

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/Article...Marlene+Bergsma

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Injunction sought to freeze sale

A former general manager of the Port Dover Board of Trade is seeking a court injunction to freeze the proceeds from the sale of the board`s building in downtown Port Dover.

Milly Coulthart, of Port Dover, sued the board of trade last year over the circumstances of her dismissal. In an affidavit sworn May 1, Coulthart asks the Ontario Superior Court of Justice for an injunction "restraining depletion or dissipation of the net proceeds" from the sale of the office at 17 Market St. W.

http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDi....aspx?e=1028566

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Growth plan a hard sell; City and county exchange political jabs

Simcoe County officials continue to pump their growth plan, while Barrie politicians and some county councillors, refuse to buy it.

Yesterday, the county`s corporate service committee supported the growth steering committee recommendation to adopt the area-wide growth plan, as amended through public consultations.

"I get quite a laugh that you talk about protecting agricultural land, but then in Innisfil and Bradford, which are mainly (agricultural) properties, you don`t mind covering it in cement," Tom Walsh, mayor of Adjala-Tosorontio told a representative of Hemson Consulting Ltd., the firm working on the growth plan.

http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDi...b+Kelly+McShane

 

[joeiannuzzi]

CAW reaches tentative deal with GM; talks with Chrysler continue

DETROIT -- The Canadian Auto Workers union and General Motors Corp GM.N have reached a tentative agreement on terms for a new contract after bargaining through the night, a spokeswoman for the union said on Thursday.

"We have a tentative agreement with GM," CAW spokeswoman Shannon Devine told Reuters, adding that the union was making arrangements to brief reporters on the pact.

http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=517288

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Toronto to be hot spot in cooling housing market

OTTAWA -- Toronto will be the housing construction hot spot this year, but more by default, as it will be the only major city in Canada where the pace of construction will increase, and the increase will be limited to condos, according to a new forecast.

And the overall pace of housing construction in Canada`s major cities will continue to slow next year as well, with only Calgary and Edmonton seeing some improvement, Altus Clayton, a Toronto-based research firm, says in its semi-annual national forecast on new housing construction.

http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=515182

 

[joeiannuzzi]

City moves to spare Roman Avenue homes

In a decision one councillor says could save the homes of Roman Avenue residents for 10 years, the City of Ottawa agreed yesterday to ask the Ontario government to allow the use of the Queensway for public transit.

The province has already indicated that it would agree to dedicated bus lanes on the Queensway as a temporary measure until it is ready to widen the provincial highway in an as-yet-undetermined timeframe. Councillor Clive Doucet said since the widening won`t be done for about 10 years, council should run the buses on the Queensway and save 25 Roman Avenue homes that face demolition to make way for the transitway.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/c...d6-2b62ebdeabdc