Ontario Economic Fundamentals

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Centre study plan rapped

A proposal to spend $70,000 studying whether London needs a performing arts centre has drawn a scathing review from one politician, who predicts a dramatic debate today.

City council`s board of control will discuss a staff recommendation to pay for a "feasibility and business plan" for the proposed centre that Controller Bud Polhill says most Londoners don`t want. "It`s a bad time to be even thinking about this," he said.

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/200...493951-sun.html

 

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Market tips in buyers` favour

For years home sellers have had the upper hand in the London real estate market.

But a growing number of listings are staring to tip the balance toward homebuyers, according to figures released by the London and St. Thomas Association of Realtors (LSTAR). There were 1,783 properties for sale in the London-St. Thomas market in April, up more than 20 per cent from the same month last year.

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Business/2008/...493936-sun.html

 

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Tories blamed for Ontario struggles

OTTAWA -- The Conservative government of Stephen Harper will pay a stiff price in a future election if Ontario`s economic struggles endure and plunge the province into have-not status, a poll suggests. The CP-Harris/Decima poll conducted in the first week of May shows that while Ontarians lay the blame for the poor economy on the door steps of both the federal and provincial governments, when push comes to shove, more choose Ottawa as the bigger culprit.

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/National/...494051-sun.html

 

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A lot at stake in GM talks: CAW boss; Proposed investment at St. Catharines plant a top local issue in negotiations

There are nearly 300 General Motors workers from St. Catharines whose employment in Oshawa could be in jeopardy.

Meanwhile, a huge proposed investment at GM`s engine plant in the Garden City might be worth $400 million and bring new jobs here.

These are two top local issues that will be raised by the Canadian Auto Workers as bargaining with GM kicks off in Toronto on Thursday, says the union`s top leader.

With concerns like those, and mounting worries about the Big Three domestic automakers` dwindling market share, much is at stake in this round of negotiations, CAW national president Buzz Hargrove said.

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/Article...auth=DON+FRASER

 

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Builder put on hot seat; Residents don`t want `row houses` along river;; native activist vows to stop them

Nearly 70 people who turned out to a ward meeting about a controversial project along the Grand River made it clear Tuesday that they don`t want a "precious" natural asset diminished by row housing.

Meanwhile, builder Mike Quattrociocchi confirmed that negotiations have begun since he informed city hall that he is willing to sell the land for $850,000. The two parties are awaiting an appraisal before talks proceed.

Most at the boisterous meeting, called by Ward 1 councillors Jennifer Kinneman and Mark Littell, at Brantford Collegiate Institute, also said they want city council to proceed with a waterfront master plan to protect open spaces along the Grand. Many would prefer that the city buy out the developer, rather than allow an unwanted houses to go ahead.

http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDi...el-Allan+Marion

 

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Residents see deferral as `win`; Brant County puts off decision on possible urban expansion until July

Brant County politicians won`t make a decision on a controversial development strategy until July, leaving environmentalists and business interests wondering where the county`s official plan review is headed.

Council late Monday deferred a decision on whether to accept a recommendation from staff and county consultant MMM Group Ltd. that no expansion to urban boundaries be considered as part of an ongoing review of Brant`s official plan.

The plan, which is reviewed every five years, dictates where development will take place in coming decades.

http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDi...ohn+Paul+Zronik

 

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Feeling railroaded; Severn residents irate stretch of road may be closed to accommodate crossing upgrades

Residents in the Canal Road area of Severn Township plan to fight a proposal to close a portion of Boyd Road where it meets a CN rail line at a level crossing.

Closing the sparsely inhabited road will force traffic to detour onto Canal Road where there are 95 residences, mess up bus routes and restrict emergency access through the area, says Cambrian Road resident Clive Sharpe.

"The whole thing is just stupid."

Sharpe, a mortgage agent, has started a petition opposing the closure. In less than a day, he had garnered close to 50 signatures. Ben Wuttke also opposes the Boyd Road closure, which council has approved in principle.

"I take that road every day to get to the highway," Wuttke said.

http://www.orilliapacket.com/ArticleDispla...uth=Colin+McKim

 

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City pans growth plan; Councillors say county heading in wrong direction

Two thumbs, both way down.

That`s Barrie`s official early reaction to the County of Simcoe`s draft growth plan.

"At a time when the province has called on municipalities to change the way we grow, the county is proposing this area go in exactly the opposite direction," said Barrie Coun. Barry Ward, chairman of the city`s ad hoc growth committee.

"It is time for the County of Simcoe to embrace this change and reconsider their draft growth plan."

Released in mid-April, it looks forward to 2031 and includes information on jobs, where people will live and specific population allotments for each municipality.

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

 

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County growth plan moving ahead; Public forums beneficial: officials

Simcoe County`s growth plan is moving to the next phase and officials say the response from the public consultation process has been favourable.

"In the 10 years I`ve been doing this, I have never had someone approach me and say, `Wow, it looks like you guys listened.` They said they wanted us to do something about sprawl - and you`ve gone ahead and done it.

"It`s a huge achievement for the county," members of the county`s growth process steering subcommittee were told yesterday by Antony Lorius, the county`s growth consultant, from Hemson Consulting.

http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDi...h=Kelly+McShane

 

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City talks partnership options with province

GUELPH

The city is planning to divert more than 60 per cent of its trash from landfill, and it wants the province`s help in approving a new municipal composter so that can happen.

The city wants to set up a joint process with the province to redevelop the former jail lands on York Road.

And it wants to help other cities implement some of the ideas in its community energy plan.

http://news.guelphmercury.com/News/article/325017

 

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Window makers see the big energy picture

WATERLOO

Bob and Dennis Strassburger don`t look through windows.

They look at them.

"We don`t look at the tree out there," says Dennis, co-president of Strassburger Windows and Doors. "We look at what holds it together," says Bob, his partner.

You can tell a lot from looking at a window, Bob adds: The coating of the glass, the type of vinyl in the frame, the quality of hardware accessories like cranks and balances.

http://news.therecord.com/Business/article/346762

 

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Region racks up building projects

WATERLOO REGION

Builders and renovators in Waterloo Region were as busy in March as they were at any time in the past 19 years, according to figures released yesterday by Statistics Canada.

Local municipalities issued building permits for projects with a combined value of $144 million, the highest figure for any month since at least 1989, when StatsCan adopted its current methodology.

http://news.therecord.com/Business/article/346767

 

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Winchester expansion brings students too close says neighbor

http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/Breaking%...s/article/98445

 

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West end development to be unveiled in May

http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/scugog/article/98383

 

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Home buyers hit hard by development charges: Report

May 7, 2008 10:29 AM - A new report released yesterday by the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) says skyrocketing development charges threaten to push the cost of homeownership out of reach for many families in the Greater Toronto Area.
"We`ve concluded that the dramatic increase of development charges across the GTA is excessive, unsustainable and counterproductive," said BILD president Michael Moldenhauer, whose company builds homes in Mississauga.

http://mississauga.com/article/13822

 

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Home reno scams alive and well this time of year
May 7, 2008 03:55 PM - Peel Regional Police and Halton Regional Police are warning residents to be cautious of home and property maintenance companies canvassing their neighbourhoods offering their services.
"At this time of year senior citizens may fall prey to over inflated and unnecessary repairs or maintenance to their homes and property,` said Halton Sgt. Brian Carr. "We would like to encourage people to refrain from agreeing to services on impulse."

http://mississauga.com/article/13856

 

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Big users get paid

TORONTO -- Ontario`s biggest electricity consumers found themselves paying negative prices for power last Sunday -- an anomaly that stems from too much supply and too little demand, the province`s Independent Electricity System Operator said yesterday. At one point, large consumers -- those that pay market prices for electricity and consume more than $2,000 worth of power a month -- were actually earning $9.41 for every megawatt hour.

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/200...503541-sun.html

 

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Mississauga looking for new identity

The city of Mississauga has embarked on a mission to find itself.

City council yesterday decided finding a city-wide identity is a top priority for a community born as a suburb but aiming to grow into a mature urban adult.

Ward 2 Councillor Patricia Mullin said Mississaugans are sure they want a clear identity, but the city needs to decide what this identity will be, and what it will highlight about the city. "We only have probably one more opportunity to do it right. We`re looking for something concrete we can get our head around," she said.

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/to....html?id=500405

 

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Parking spot key to condo resale

If you`re looking to buy a condominium as an investment, or are concerned about resale value, make sure you get that parking spot.

Lack of parking was the number one reason cited by 71 per cent of Toronto area buyers for not buying a particular condo, according to a TD Bank Financial Group poll released yesterday.

"Parking can definitely be a deal breaker," says Darren Ford, an agent with Right At Home Realty.

http://yourhome.ca/homes/article/422711

 

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Africentric school plan expands

Toronto school board trustees will vote on a plan later this month to open an Africentric alternative high school in 2010.

The motion was approved last night by a school board committee as an extension of a proposal to open an Africentric alternative school from kindergarten to Grade 5 in September 2009. The high school program could be located in an unused part of an underenrolled high school.

http://parentcentral.ca/parent/article/422811