Saskatchewan Economic Fundamentals 2008 Q2

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Westjet bets on vegas

WestJet has called a news conference in Saskatoon today where the airline is expected to announce a direct flight to Las Vegas.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...9d-7ba7ac435037

 

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Rotary Trail inches along

The Multi-Use Trail is taking one more step toward encircling the city.

About 3,000 metres of trail will be laid this year at a cost of $384,000.

"I`m pleased," said Coun. Shawn Williams, who is the member of city council who represents Ward 4, where most of the trail construction will be taking place.

"I`m way too busy to go wandering on the trail," he said, "but I see people on it all the time."

The trail ends at River Street and 15th Avenue East, said Ray Morgan, parks and open space manager.

http://www.paherald.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=139001&sc=4

 

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It`s curtains for Luseland grocery store

A group of residents in Luseland hopes management of the town`s Co-op grocery store reconsiders plans to close the business.

But the building that houses the store is in such disrepair it`s difficult to justify expensive renovations. Construction of a new building in the town of just under 600, which already has a competing grocery merchant, doesn`t make sense, says Joe Reddekopp, general manager of the store.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...0d-ac58f935a3c7

 

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Headhunting secures foothold in Saskatoon

There are a multitude of ways you can tell things have changed in Saskatoon and they revolve around how people make money and spend money.

Earlier this week, I chronicled the unhappiness of Dean Rumley, the vice-president of Pleasure-Way Industries Ltd., who is angry some of his supervisors have been phoned at work to see if they are interested in working elsewhere. Rumley figured out the headhunting firm was hired by Superior Cabinets, made his wrath known to Superior management and then went public with his disappointment at such tactics.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...79-776f9d5d7608

 

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Premiers target U.S. for trade mission

First they`ll take Prince Albert, then they`ll take Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles.

Western Canadian premiers wrapped the second day of their three-day conference with an agreement to undertake a joint mission to a number of United States cities to promote the benefits of U.S.-Canada trade directly to the American public and political leaders.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...37-08102a806d28

 

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Sask. payrolls increase

Saskatchewan saw the second-highest year-over-year increase in earnings and payroll growth among the provinces in March, according to Statistics Canada.

Alberta and Saskatchewan posted the strongest earnings growth in March over March 2007, posting increases of 6.3 per cent and 5.6 per cent, respectively, the federal agency reported Thursday

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...78-c993410e9038

 

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Stewart trying to lure Ontarians

The province that prides itself on offering workers short commute times might one day see southern Ontarians travelling all the way to Saskatchewan to fill jobs.

Enterprise and Innovation Minister Lyle Stewart departs Sunday for Windsor, Ont., a city whose mayor earlier this spring pitched the idea of sending workers to Saskatchewan during the work week, and returning them to their Ontario homes for their days off.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...7e-de533b9b0ceb

 

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Sask., Alta. taking carbon capture lead

PRINCE ALBERT -- Saskatchewan and Alberta have been elected to take the national lead in advancing carbon capture and storage, a technology with both big promise and big questions as Canada tries to fight climate change.

The three-day Western Premiers Conference -- dominated by discussions of energy and greenhouse gas emissions -- wrapped Friday with an agreement to recognize the capture of CO2 as a national priority that should be discussed further at the July Council of the Federation meeting in Quebec City.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...ea-8ac48071225e

 

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West back in the saddle again

CALGARY -- Juggernaut: (1) A huge or overwhelming force or object. (2) an institution or notion to which persons blindly sacrifice themselves or others. -- Canadian Oxford Dictionary

Listening to Premier Ed Stelmach and his partner in optimism Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall talk about building a western Canadian economic juggernaut this week, it was hard not to feel a touch of that old western pride.

And, to quietly utter one of those Yesssssssssssses!

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...47-c4b63d6b0aef

 

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WestJet leaves Regina on tarmac

WestJet passengers in Saskatoon are humming "Viva Las Vegas" after an announcement by the airline on Thursday, but Regina flyers may have a different tune in mind.

Starting Sept. 10, WestJet will be offering two non-stop flights from the John G. Diefenbaker International Airport to Las Vegas each week.

The announcement has left a bitter taste in the mouths of many Reginans as they hum the first notes of "Don`t Be Cruel."

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...1b-6b4170c9a91b

 

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Wall remains optimistic about potential of nuclear power

PRINCE ALBERT -- Premier Brad Wall downplayed any potential nuclear rivalry with Alberta even as Saskatchewan and its western neighbour are both being eyed as a potential site for a nuclear power plant by private operator Bruce Power LP.

Speaking at the end of the three-day western premiers conference with Alberta`s Ed Stelmach standing by, Wall spoke positively about nuclear energy and said its potential may stretch beyond one province.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...13-2d0a4fe56b98

 

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Canola plant to be built in Yorkton

REGINA (SNN) -- A major canola processing plant will be built in Yorkton, James Richardson International Ltd. announced Friday.

Construction of the plant, which will cost in excess of $100 million, will begin immediately. The plant is expected to go into production in 2010.

Plans for the plant were announced in September 2006 but concerns about rising construction costs had caused uncertainty about whether the project would proceed.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...c9-4e55a74d7f20

 

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Buzz brewing around coal seam in eastern Sask.

The buzz created by finding what appears to be a large seam of thermal coal in eastern Saskatchewan has created some market traction for a Saskatoon junior exploration company.

People who have invested in Wescan Goldfields Inc. (WGF on the TSX Venture) have seen their shares quadruple in value in the past month after the company announced it was seeking a land position 50 kilometres northeast of the town of Hudson Bay, where Goldsource Mines Inc. of Vancouver created a national stir by finding bituminous coal after drilling holes in what it believed might be a kimberlite deposit.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...cd-26bcb1adf8e8

 

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Modular homes could offer affordable housing: owner

Entrepreneur Dan Rawlyk is betting some strategic imports from the United States could help bring a more affordable new house into the local residential market.

The owner of Mid Canada Modular Inc. says he wants to convince local buyers that a factory-built house, composed of two modules assembled on a wood basement, could put people into a new home for about $200,000, plus the price of a lot.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...1d-f76c3bd737b8

 

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Multiplex steering committee still a meeting away

After almost 2 1/2 hours in an in-camera meeting Thursday morning, multiplex steering committee members said they still need at least another meeting to finalize their report. The group, however, hopes to present its recommendations by the June 16 council meeting. Bevin Leipert, committee vice-chairman, said his group is in the "final throes" and can hopefully wrap up the long recommendation process within the next couple weeks.
For now he`s remaining tight-lipped about what was discussed during this week`s closed-door meeting.

http://www.mjtimes.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=139391&sc=3

 

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Lack of existing houses main reason homeowners built or brought construction in Moose Jaw: survey

A lack of existing houses on the market was the main reason homeowners built or bought new constructions in Moose Jaw from 2003-2007, according to a recent city survey.
In late 2007/early 2008, the city clerk office, which handles local land administration, undertook a survey of 178 homeowners who had bought or built new homes between the years of 2003 to 2007.

http://www.mjtimes.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=138021&sc=3

 

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Truck route and resource money....again

Oh let`s see what we can rant about this week.How about truck route stuff.We had an open house about a proposed truck route, and me, a self-described expert on the subject, was unable to attend due to previous working commitments. But I sent my best regards. What bedazzles and amazes me is that this original proposal for a truck route north of Estevan, which might be completed before 2031, but don`t count on it, is going to be designed as a two lane trail.

http://www.estevanmercury.ca/data/stories/...orm%20Park.html

 

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Town council enacts new water and sewer bylaw

A new Water and Sewer Bylaw passed quietly through council last week, but will have a big impact on the town.

The third reading of the bylaw was approved by council at their latest meeting on May 26, with no members of the community speaking against it.

The bylaw provides, regulates and sets rates for water and sanitary sewer services to residential, commercial, institutional and industrial users in the town of Meadow Lake.

http://www.meadowlakeprogress.com/This%20W...ess/404626.html

 

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Construction season has arrived

Construction season has arrived
By Melissa Mangelsen
Journal Staff
The $3.5 million paving project, which was slated for Nipawin began May 22 with the milling and May 27 the paving began.
The plan for the project is to work straight through, seven days a week, commencing at 7 a.m., until 9 p.m., until June 13, when they will be leaving because of another job they are committed to out of town. The crews will be gone for a couple of weeks and are scheduled to return to town around July 2 and continue to work through until they complete the project.
The project is scheduled to be complete July 12, however, that depends on the weather and any equipment failure the crew`s experience. During the 2005 project there was 20 days of rain, out of 30.

http://www.nipawinjournal.com/News/403681.html

 

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Cabinet minister promotes Sask. on Windsor trip

REGINA -- The province that prides itself on offering workers short commute times might one day see southern Ontarians travelling all the way to Saskatchewan to fill jobs.

Enterprise and Innovation Minister Lyle Stewart was scheduled to departed Sunday for Windsor, Ont., a city whose mayor earlier this spring pitched the idea of sending workers to Saskatchewan during the work week and returning them to their Ontario homes for their days off.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...6c-85d63650865b