Ontario Economic Fundamentals

[joeiannuzzi]

Let us put transitway beside 417, city to ask province

Councillors on the city`s transit committee endorsed a plan yesterday that could see the west transitway built -- and save 25 homes on Roman Avenue from expropriation. But to achieve the goal, the provincial government will have to turn some space on Highway 417 over to the municipality.

At a committee meeting, councillors heard from roughly 20 people from the Ottawa neighbourhood abutting the 417. Most urged them to reject a study that could result in the expropriation of their homes but is estimated to save $46 million on the cost of completing the last link of the transitway.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/c...a8-2108d6de0242

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Airport handles 4 million passengers for the first time

The Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport Authority broke the four-million passenger mark for the first time in its history, according to the company`s 2007 annual report.

More than 4.088 million passengers passed through the airport last year, an increase of 7.4 per cent from 2006. The authority was created in 1997.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/c...35-4208fd2ced38

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Ontario hands over $50 million for new Congress Centre

The Ottawa Congress Centre has all of the Ontario government`s $50-million contribution to its new building in the bank and is about to issue its request for proposals to get the project under way.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/c...04-29b6eca40182

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Free trade lowered non-export output: report

Free trade with the United States only boosted the productivity of Canadian manufacturers who were also exporters, while hurting the rest by reducing output and employment, a Statistics Canada study has concluded.

The study "shows that productivity improvements occurred only in exporting plants, while non-exporting plants suffered a deterioration in output and employment growth and acquired no productivity benefits from the trade liberalization."

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/b...b7-b6f4e0d4cd7a

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Homeowners given reprieve

Roman Ave. residents have been saved from the wrecking ball -- for now.

The city`s transit committee unanimously agreed last night on a plan that would halt the expropriation of 25 homes and go ahead with building the final link of the southwest Transitway. But the plan hinges on the province handing over two lanes of the northern section of the Queensway to about Woodroffe from Pinecrest.

http://www.ottawasun.com/News/OttawaAndReg...502801-sun.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Major retail centre eyed

A local developer has plans to redevelop the large Union Gas regional centre on Division Road and the neighbouring former Home Depot into a major retail centre, as long as market conditions improve.

Rocco Tullio with Rock Developments has confirmed he expects to package the combined 24 acres into a major retail development. The site offers prospective retailers two key features: a busy thoroughfare and proximity to the regional shopping centre, Devonshire Mall.

http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/sto...ff-4b1e7af20be0

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Building permit values continue to slump

The value of building permits issued by the City of Windsor remains well behind last year, according to the building and development department.

So far this year, $29,525,600 in permits have been issued compared to $42,258,005 a year ago.

http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/sto...29-291213330782

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Prentice urges U.S. to ease border delays

Federal Industry Minister Jim Prentice urged the U.S. to invest more money to speed traffic at the Ambassador Bridge, saying security delays place the North American auto industry at a competitive disadvantage.

"The costs and delays of an automobile part as it travels across national borders on its way to final assembly add several hundred dollars to the price of a North American-built vehicle," Prentice said Wednesday in Washington.

http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/bus...63-b82500e0e766

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Burlington puts brakes on campus cash

McMaster`s governors face a good-news, bad-news scenario this morning as they ponder the university`s plan to build a $28-million business-school satellite in Burlington -- a plan that depends on a $10-million contribution from the city.

The good news is that all members of Burlington city council support the concept and recognize it would benefit their city.

http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/365798

 

[joeiannuzzi]

`Not good for the neighbourhood`

With St. Christopher elementary school to close, Rosedale residents worry about what will fill the scenic Greenhill Avenue site.

Trustees on Tuesday approved the Hamilton East accommodation review committee`s recommendation that St. Christopher close June 30, the first casualty of the Catholic board`s review of 17 schools.

http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/365764

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Big plans unveiled for West Brant area; Walkable community in works for west of Conklin Road

It`s not every day that city hall gets to plan a model community of 7,000 residents who can walk to most of their pursuits, so it`s important to get it right.

That is the sentiment around city council as it examines an ambitious plan to develop more than 1,000 acres west of Conklin Road, in West Brant.

The $180,000 plan was drawn up after extensive consultations over nearly two years with councillors, city planners, provincial officials, developers and residents. It was paid for by participating property owners according to their percentage of the area`s 1,042 acres, including the city, which owns 20 per cent.

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

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Hospice Simcoe digging in; Construction of new facility beginning

Barb Richards and the Hospice Simcoe team are ready to sling some soil in Barrie`s east end next week.

Members of the organization will have shovels poised to break ground on May 16 to make way for the future Hospice House.

"It`s very exciting for us," said Richards, Hospice House campaign director. "We`re the little engine that could and we`ve had to work really hard to get to this point.

http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDi...CKI+CRUICKSHANK

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Developers favour East Gwillimbury`€™s rural landscape

East Gwillimbury and its expansive rural landscape seems to be currying favour from developers as the site for a controversial power plant.

The province`€™s electricity planning agency `€" the Ontario Power Authority `€" has approved five developers to bid on building a two-acre, $250-million peaking power plant expected to fire to life in three years.

http://www.yorkregion.com/News/Regional%20News/article/74373

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Rising gas price could be boon for park

Sibbald Point Provincial Park opens this weekend and, with gas prices soaring, attendance could hit record highs if the weather co-operates.

Thanks to its proximity to Toronto, Sibbald Point`s attractive lakefront beaches, verdant nature trails and sprawling parkland are becoming increasingly popular, park superintendent Doug MacEachern said.


http://www.yorkregion.com/News/Georgina/article/74316

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Rona hopes to open in Stouffville in 2009

Another big box store, building supply retailer RONA, is coming to the Hoover Park Town Centre on Hwy. 48, south of Main Street.

But Ron Schell of Schell Building Centres, a family-run business that`s been in Stouffville since 1922, isn`t worried.

"We will have no trouble," he said.

He`s been anticipating the arrival of the giant retailer for some time.

http://www.yorkregion.com/News/Whitchurch-...e/article/74406

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Growing Baden subdivision may get new school

WILMOT TOWNSHIP

There`s some new thinking on the contentious Baden Public School boundary.

The ideas now being considered are to build a second new school in the area -- either one that goes from kindergarten to Grade 6 or kindergarten to Grade 8.

There isn`t yet a firm location for the new school, but it would be west of Baden and populated mostly by students from older areas of Baden and surrounding rural areas.

If the new school goes only up to Grade 6, it would have space for about 400 students. All would attend the current Baden school for Grades 7 and 8.

http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/347334

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Local house sales dip for third month

WATERLOO REGION

House sales decreased for the third month in a row in April in Kitchener and Waterloo, but prices continued to inch up.

A total of 691 residential dwellings were sold last month, a drop of 2.9 per cent compared to the 712 sold in April of 2007, according to figures released yesterday by the Kitchener-Waterloo Real Estate Board.

The average sale price for all types of homes was $261,865, an increase of six per cent compared to April 2007. For single-detached homes, the average price was $297,268, an increase of 5.9 per cent.

http://news.therecord.com/Business/article/347261

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Green tenants see red as building bans clothesline

KITCHENER

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty wants our laundry to flap outside, as proudly as the Canadian flag.

But not everyone in Kitchener has quite got that appreciation for energy-saving clotheslines. Take the sprawling red-brick apartment building at Onward Avenue and Weber Street in Kitchener, for instance.

http://news.therecord.com/News/CanadaWorld/article/347295

 

[joeiannuzzi]

U of G lands $2M for health research

GUELPH

Cancer, viral infections, aging and obesity are the target of new University of Guelph research.

The university announced $2.2 million in funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, a federal funding agency, in tackling these health issues through research.

It`s part of almost $300 million for 764 projects at universities and research centres across Canada announced yesterday.

http://news.guelphmercury.com/News/article/325472

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Townhouses next to church possible

Ajax

http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/ajax/article/98479