SK Economic Fundamentals 2008-06

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Considering nuclear power a no-brainer, Wall says

Premier Brad Wall says the government would be "foolish" not to explore the possibility of a privately operated nuclear power plant in Saskatchewan.

But Wall pledged that all public opinion on the issue will be heard and that the government would be more of regulator than an advocate in the debate.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...d6-8072b35f691a

 

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AECL eyes reactor build

REGINA -- The day after Bruce Power LP announced plans to study the potential for nuclear power in Saskatchewan, "Canada`s nuclear energy company" made a pitch to build the province`s first reactor.

"If Saskatchewan decides to adopt nuclear, it is very well-positioned and it has choices," said Hugh MacDiarmid, president and CEO of Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL). "It has both public and private options for development.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...fe-bf8fdba94de4

 

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Condo conversion goes to vote

Tenants of Candlewood Apartments will make history this month, becoming the first to take part in a city-sanctioned vote on converting their homes to condos.

It may be the first election anywhere where vote-buying is encouraged.

The vote, slated for sometime before month`s end in the 58-unit City Park building, will be test a controversial city requirement that at least 75 per cent of tenants approve of a condo conversion.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...cd-1a8d6667dc42

 

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Agreement to increase jobs for Native people

An agreement signed in Warman on Wednesday will see more job opportunities for First Nations and Metis people.

The Saskatchewan government and the Prairie Spirit school division signed an Aboriginal Employment Development (AED) agreement to achieve a more representative workforce.

"This work of preparing the workplace for the potential to become representative will ensure more First Nations and Metis people can share in Saskatchewan`s economic prosperity," First Nations and Metis Relations spokesperson Victoria Gubbels said on behalf of minister June Draude.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...93-d535140bc69c

 

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Miners paid gov`ts $11B in 2006

TORONTO (CNS) -- A report released on Wednesday says the Canadian mining industry contributed almost $11 billion to the coffers of government in fiscal 2006, the most recent year to be calculated.

The sum is a 50 per cent rise over the roughly $5.5 billion paid to the federal and provincial governments by the industry in 2005 thanks in large part to soaring prices for metals around the world, according to the report from the Mining Association of Canada.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...28-414ee4733c61

 

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Growing interest in Sask coal properties highlighted by three announcements

VANCOUVER - A trio of announcements from Western Canadian companies on Thursday highlighted the growing interest in Saskatchewan-based coal properties, which one executive likened to a "modern-day coal rush." Three companies - WestCan Uranium Corp. (TSXV:WCU), Silver Fields Resources Inc. (TSXV:SF), and Cloudbreak Resources Ltd. (TSXV:CDB) - all said they`ve made applications for additional coal permits in the province, Canada`s third-largest producer of coal.

"The ministry office in Saskatchewan is overwhelmed with claim submissions and is working extremely hard to grant them on a timely basis," Cloudbreak Resources said in a release.

http://www.paherald.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=145566&sc=4

 

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Grow-op house list unlikely

Owners of dwellings that once housed drug labs or grow-ops don`t necessarily have to disclose the property`s criminal past when it is resold -- a problem which a representative of Regina`s realtors says could be avoided if a public list of such residences was available.

Gord Archibald, executive officer of the Association of Regina Realtors, said he would like to see officials in the Queen City follow the Calgary Health Region`s lead and publish a list of illegal drug operations. On the region`s Web site, all health inspection orders that have been issued for such properties are listed by the address, citing the problems in the dwelling and necessary clean-up.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...50-0fc505a37bc7

 

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Bruce proposal interests Areva

Saskatchewan`s recent nuclear buzz has another major industry player signalling an interest in supplying the nuclear reactor.

Areva Canada president Armand Laferrere said the company`s existing presence in Saskatchewan`s uranium industry could make it a "perfect fit" as the province considers its nuclear power options.

"Lots of markets are opening up to nuclear, or thinking about it, and so it`s a good time to be in this industry," said Laferrere, who made the comments in the wake of an announcement by Ontario-based Bruce Power that it will conduct a feasibility study into the potential for nuclear power in Saskatchewan.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...14-390d069d2971

 

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Mixed blessings for Sask. in report

More good news for Saskatchewan`s booming resource economy -- but not for motorists and other price-conscious consumers -- came when two economic reports were released Thursday.

The one report -- on the Scotiabank Commodity Price Index -- indicated there are ups and downs in prices for various commodities but the overall index is continuing to surge upwards.

"It`s great news for Saskatchewan, most of it at least,`` said Patricia Mohr, the vice-president of economics with Scotiabank.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...4e-eb35b48288b0

 

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Sask. firm gets contract

SASKATOON -- Eight years ago, Terminal Systems International (TSI) set its sights on working with the country`s largest airline.

A short 96 months later, the Saskatoon-based fight information systems company saw its goal turn into reality when it was awarded a contract to provide exclusive flight information service to Air Canada. The deal, which begins in the six-figure range and could move into the seven-figure zone if the contract is extended, is a testament to the company`s industry leadership, said David Reid, TSI`s CEO.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...21-614d2f2d304d

 

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Demand for goods good sign for economy

Saskatchewan`s wholesale trade jumped by a whopping 37.6 per cent in April over April of last year -- the largest increase among the provinces and surpassing the national average of 5.7 per cent, Statistics Canada said Thursday.

Year-to-date wholesale trade is up 30 per cent in the first four months of 2008 when compared to the same period last year. Nationally, wholesale sales are up only 0.4 per cent for same period.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...d4-bce5ab582936

 

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Stoney Lake land claim settlement won`t happen soon

A land claim for the several families living at the Stoney Lake settlement isn`t likely to happen any time soon.

"We`ve received mixed messages," said Indian and Northern Affairs Canada spokesperson Trevor Sutter.

The federal government representatives don`t know which family they should be dealing with. The last formal contact the federal government had with anyone living at the settlement was in 2001.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...d6-776cbc6757a3

 

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Province no fan of Dion-proposed carbon tax plan

REGINA -- The Saskatchewan Party government blasted in no uncertain terms Thursday the federal Liberal "green shift" proposals to introduce a carbon tax while cutting taxes on individuals, families and businesses.

Energy and Resources Minister Bill Boyd described the proposal as a repeat of the National Energy Program of the early 1980s, a "green shaft" and a "tax grab."

"This is clearly designed to take wealth from energy-producing provinces and transfer wealth to other jurisdictions," Boyd said in a telephone interview.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...a9-cc6b5ae06ae7

 

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Local businesses coping with tight labour market: Migneault

The closure of the Minacs call centre is not a sign of things to come in the Saskatoon business community, says Alan Migneault, CEO of the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority.

The labour market is certainly tight, but Migneault says most businesses are coping quite well.

"We have a low unemployment rate and we know things are tight, but our population is also growing year over year and month over month," he said in an interview from San Diego, where he is attending a biotech conference.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...6a-2ee8ca1ea55d

 

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TD to hold grand opening celebration

TD Canada Trust is celebrating the grand opening of its newest branch on Saturday with a barbecue, kids` activities and a charitable donation.

The Hyde Wetland Complex in south Saskatoon will receive $5,000 from the bank to commemorate the opening of the bank`s Stonebridge location on Clarence Avenue. This is the fifth TD location that offers longer hours, said Ryan Barclay, branch manager.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix...1f-aff4b47756f1

 

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City reports increase in building permits

Prince Albert`s construction activity in 2008 has shown a measureable increase from the previous year, according a release from the city.

The city`s Economic Development and Planning Department have issued 105 building permits, totaling $27.2 million. That is compared to 77 building permits with a construction value of just over $12 million issued in the same period in 2007.

The first five months of 2008 have seen a 36 per cent increase in the number of building permits and a 225 per cent increase in value in comparison to 2007.


http://www.paherald.sk.ca/index.cfm?sid=145889&sc=4

 

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Harper and Wall get cozy in closed-door meeting

The seemingly cozy relationship between Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Premier Brad Wall was evidenced again by a closed-door visit between the two leaders in Regina on Friday.

Wall emerged from the hour-long gathering saying they talked about uranium "value-added" opportunities his Saskatchewan Party government is exploring, including research and development that could take place in the province.

"We`re going to continue to make the case that this ought to be the place for a nuclear research centre of excellence," Wall said, adding they also talked about the economy and infrastructure in their "wide-ranging" discussion

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...95-6a96ef84b19a

 

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Labour shortage causes waitlist

A Regina clinic that performs ultrasounds on pregnant women is experiencing labour pains.

Currently expectant mothers slated to have an ultrasound at Radiology Associates of Regina have a five-week wait because the clinic doesn`t have enough medical sonographers, or ultrasound technicians as they`re more commonly known, to perform the procedure.

"The program (to train ultrasound technicians) is about 21/2 years but unfortunately there are no training facilities in Saskatchewan," said Larry Kliman, business manager at the private facility. "So basically the closest facilities are SAIT and NAIT in Alberta and in Winnipeg."

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...98-05e3a40fe3a0

 

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Businesses should be wary of scam

The Regina Police Service is warning business owners against giving out clients` personal and financial information in the wake of a possible scam.

On Friday, police issued an advisory after receiving information about a suspected scam. Police said in these cases a person calls a business owner, stating they represent a company and that they can provide the business owner with money if the owner makes available previous credit card sales.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...70-7bc90a1438dd

 

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Saskferco up for sale

The Saskferco nitrogen fertilizer plant at Belle Plaine -- perhaps the most successful economic development project of the Devine era -- is on the auction block.

The Mosaic Company and Investment Saskatchewan announced Friday they are seeking a buyer for Saskferco Products Inc.

"Saskferco is an excellent company and will have an exciting future under new ownership," Mosaic president and CEO Jim Prokopanko said in a press release.

http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/new...b6-0505bdf1a506