A record surplus of $3.67 million has city finance officials debating whether to redirect some of the money to reduce a looming property tax increase this year instead of funnelling it into a rainy day fund.
It would be the first time the city has used one-time funding toward its annual operations, following a similar move by the City of Regina last year. Some say it's a risky strategy that assumes more annual funding from the provincial government is forthcoming next year.
"Normally we would discourage that because using one-time revenues, you get hit the next year you have to backfill it," said city comptroller Kerry Tarasoff.
"Knowing that the promise of (the municipal operating grant) coming through next year is looming there is the potential that you could backfill and have some extra money available for 2011."
"It's being considered."
The city posted a $3.67-million surplus in 2009, according to a report going to council Monday, the largest on record after three years of deficits between $1 million and $2 million.
"I said (in fall) we might have a $1 surplus but a $1 surplus is still a surplus," said Mayor Don Atchison. "But we got 3.6 million of those dollars because everyone buckled down."
"It's a truly significant surplus."
The surplus was driven by belt-tightening spending constraints in all city hall departments beginning in late-summer, Tarasoff said.
"We were looking at a deficit almost of the same magnitude as the eventual surplus so that prompted us to start taking some drastic measures," he said.
The biggest contributor was the police service, which posted a $1.7-million surplus in 2009 that stemmed primarily from a number of vacant positions not being filled. The surplus will be put into the revenue stabilization reserve, which exists to help city council balance the budget, bringing the reserve to $6.7 million.
After the rainy day fund was depleted, the city dropped in $3 million from land sales in Willowgrove and Hampton Village in November.
The option exists for councillors to redirect some of that money toward this year's operating budget, which will be released in early April, to reduce a tax hike or increase services while the city waits for the province to kick in all of its promised funding next year, Tarasoff said.
The province backtracked earlier this year on a promise to pay cities the equivalent of a full percentage point of the PST. In next week's budget, the province is expected to hand over the same amount as last year to municipalities, which would mean around $29 million for Saskatoon, $9 million less than was anticipated.
The full amount will be handed over next year, Premier Brad Wall has said.
That puts the city in the difficult position of balancing a shortage of funds this year with a potential influx next, Tarasoff said.
Councillor Myles Heidt suggested putting aside money for city construction projects to stave off a property tax hike earlier this year and reiterated his belief the surplus could be used to help out next year's operating budget.
He said he would like to see the city increase funding to add needed routes to Saskatoon Transit. The transit department has proposed $1.2 million in increased services, including new routes to the north industrial area and the airport.
"I think first of all we have to make sure our stabilization reserve is in good shape," Heidt said. "But a little bit of the surplus needs to be put into the transit operation."
Using the one-time surplus funds toward the mill rate "is a mug's game," Atchison said.
"I don't think that's the best way of doing business," he said.
It's time to decide the future of the Traffic Bridge, a report going to city council on Monday recommends.
The city's oldest bridge, which opened in 1907, isn't in immediate danger of closure, but it's no secret that its life is limited, said Mike Gutek, acting general manager of infrastructure services, in an interview Thursday.
"We're at that point where the bridge is coming to the end of its service life and it's no longer a question of, 'Well, that's far enough in the future that we'll figure that out later.' We need to figure that out now," said Gutek.
Council is being asked to approve a needs assessment and functional planning study for the possible replacement of the Traffic Bridge, formerly named the Victoria Bridge, including "extensive public consultation."
The project would include: assessment of current traffic; pedestrian and cycling usage; recommendations for the number of lanes if it is to remain a traffic bridge; and how the bridge might be configured as a transit-only or pedestrian/cyclist-only structure.
An additional report to council recommends an inspection of the underside of the bridge, which would require $95,000 this year. While the bridge is inspected on an annual basis, there are some parts that require a closer look, said Gutek.
The future of the Traffic Bridge was hotly debated in 2005 and 2006, when a series of reports called its health into question. The bridge was closed in late 2005 due to concerns about corrosion in the steel trusses (it had been closed immediately prior to that during construction of the roundabout on its downtown side). It reopened in September 2006 after repairs that extended the life of the bridge for 20 years, to 2026.
Coun. Charlie Clark said it's important to have a public discussion about the future of the iconic bridge, which is part of the defining image of Saskatoon as the City of Bridges.
"My hope is we can still operate the bridge for years to come," he said. "It's a cherished bridge and we want to... make every decision about the bridge as carefully as we can."
Clark noted that it's unfortunate the bridge's life was shortened because of decisions in the past to neglect certain repairs, such as a recommendation in a 2003 report -- which never went before city council -- to re-coat the steel truss members to slow down the rusting process. The re-coating wasn't done.
The type of steel used in the Traffic Bridge is no longer used when building bridge structures precisely because of its susceptibility to corrosion. The riveted joints, rather than bolts, are also prone to corrosion.
The only other steel truss bridge still standing in the province, at St. Louis, is being replaced by a new bridge located two kilometres to the east. One of the options for the Traffic Bridge that's been put forward in the past is converting it to a pedestrian-only bridge, but the report to council notes that wouldn't extend its life in its current state any further as "remedial work would still be required."
However, making the repairs necessary to convert the bridge to pedestrian-only in the future will be an option considered in the planning study.
The closure of the Traffic Bridge for inspection later this year is expected to last two to three weeks, during regular working hours, said Gutek. The bridge sees about 7,000 vehicles per day.
It's hoped the planning study, including public consultations, will be complete by the fall.
Five new schools will be built in Saskatchewan, including new joint public and Catholic schools in Saskatoon's Willowgrove neighbourhood, Premier Brad Wall announced Thursday.
Also announced was a new middle school that will be built in Warman, new schools to consolidate St. Patrick Elementary School and St. Joseph Middle School in Swift Current, a replacement school for Ecole St. Thomas Elementary School in Lloydminster, and a major renovation to Regina's Ecole St. Andrew Elementary School.
"This is the largest number of new schools announced in a single day in Saskatchewan history," said Wall. "These new facilities will improve the lives of roughly 2,900 students and will represent a total investment of $95 million when they are completed."
The new Willowgrove schools have been on the Ministry of Education's capital request list since 2005 under the "critical space shortage" category. The public school division had initially planned to build a joint building with the City of Saskatoon, and the Catholic school was to stand alone. But last June, the government told the Catholic division its request would get speedier consideration if it built a joint public-Catholic school building.
Optimistically, a source told The StarPhoenix that the announcement means construction contracts could be ready for tender by early 2011, with the earliest possible school opening being fall 2013.
All six projects are now in the approval-in-principle stage and receive a total of $6 million dollars from the government to complete detailed plans and specs, which must be finished before construction can start.
In addition to those major projects, $5 million is being advanced to support facility maintenance projects in Churchbridge, Melfort, Loon Lake, Imperial, Rosthern, Swift Current and Lucky Lake.
Regina and Saskatoon Public School Divisions will also receive additional financial support to complete facility audits.
In the past two years, the Government of Saskatchewan has committed more than $300 million towards 28 major school capital projects and close to 400 smaller projects in schools across Saskatchewan.
Construction will soon be under way on the first Lowe's home improvement store in Saskatchewan at 4555 Gordon Road in Regina, Lowe's Canada announced Thursday.
"Lowe's commitment to expanding throughout Western Canada continues with our first location in Saskatchewan," Alan Huggins, president of Lowe's Canada, said in a press release.
The Regina store will have 103,000 ft2of retail space and offer more than 40,000 home improvement products under one roof.
The store will be located in the Grasslands commercial development, a project of Harvard Developments of Regina, south of Harbour Landing subdivision in southwest Regina.
A separate 32,000 ft2 garden centre will offer a wide selection of flowers, bushes, trees and garden supplies.
The store represents an investment of approximately $20 million and will create up to 150 new jobs, the release said.
With 2009 sales of $47.2 billion US, Lowe's Companies Inc. serves approximately 15 million customers a week. Lowe's operates more than 1,700 home improvement stores in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, North Carolina, Lowe's is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world.
Lowe's opened its first Canadian store in 2007 and currently has 16 stores and employs more than 2,800 in Canada.
Saskatoon's most-discussed real estate development may be revived by the University of Saskatchewan's largest-ever donor.
Karim Nasser, the man behind a $12-million property donation to the university last month, which is the institution's largest ever, says he is working on a plan to revive Lake Placid's $200-million River Landing megaproject.
"The project is a fantastic project for the city," Nasser said in an interview Wednesday. "We liked it from Day 1 and were disappointed when (Lake Placid CEO Michael Lobsinger) wasn't able to proceed with it."
Nasser, a retired civil engineering professor who heads Victory Majors Investment Corp., confirmed he has entered into negotiations with Lake Placid to restart the development. But he said everything hinges on whether city council decides Monday to consider reinstating an expired sale agreement with Lake Placid.
"If they agree, the money is available, whatever the city says is the amount... right away we will give them the cheque," Nasser said. "We'll be very happy to be able to do it."
Nasser, who said he would not go into details until negotiations are finalized, will speak to council Monday night alongside Lobsinger about their proposal for the site. A partnership agreement for the entire $200-million hotel-office-condo project is being negotiated, he said, and should be finalized by the end of the week.
"We'll be working together," Nasser said.
The city's agreement to sell the prime riverfront land to Lake Placid for $4.5 million ended in October, but many councillors said in November if Lobsinger was able to secure the money, they'd move to re-enter negotiations with the company.
At that time, Lobsinger told council he was "one signature away" from securing long-awaited funds for the entire project from overseas. He said the money had been tied up in regulatory limbo.
City officials have since begun crafting a new request for proposals for the land in an effort to make the requirements for developers more flexible.
That includes getting an updated appraisal on how much the land is now worth.
Sandi Schultz, special projects manager for the city, said regardless of what Lobsinger and Nasser propose, councillors "would not be in a position to accept outright whatever their proposal might be."
"The best their proposal could hope for is that it's referred to the administration to report back," Schultz said. "The proponents will make their case and answer any questions and councillors could accept it through a referral to administration or not entertain the proposal at all."
The proposal is different than others because it has already gone through the approval process once and could get moving faster, Schultz said.
"That puts this in a different light," she said.
Councillor Glen Penner, who backed selling the River Landing land directly to Lake Placid Developments in November if funding came through, said he's still interested in striking a deal but first needs assurances the money is actually coming.
"We would have to have the kind of assurance that is undeniable and absolutely secure and if that were the case, I'd be prepared to have another look," he said. "There can be no more playing around with this city or city council."
Nasser is not new to the city's development industry.
He built a real-estate portfolio of apartment buildings and commercial properties in Saskatoon during the 33 years he taught engineering at the University of Saskatchewan before forming Victory Majors Investment Corp., which went public in 1999, to manage the properties.
Last month, Nasser, his wife Dora and their five children donated $12 million worth of property to the university, the value of which will be channelled into student awards, two new campus buildings, the College of Engineering and the Edwards School of Business.
"We're basically very loyal to our university, as well to our community, and we would like to do all we can for both our university and our community whenever if there is chance," Nasser said.
Nasser said he hopes his involvement ends the 30-plus years of false starts developing the site and gives a needed boost to River Landing.
Saskatoon is ready for a megaproject of this scope, which he said has always reminded him of Rockefeller Center, which he recalls fondly from his time in New York City.
"It's something fantastic," he said. "The city has never had a project that has attracted everyone's attention like this."
Nasser's involvement "can only be seen as a positive," Penner said.
City councillors were united Monday in support of adding $1.5 million to the snow removal budget, including a new policy to clear residential streets when they become badly rutted.
But a proposal to give city crews the ability to clear snow part way onto sidewalks to free up room for parking on residential streets was widely criticized. Now, the question turns to how willing council will be to support the increase early next month in the face of operating budget pressures stemming from city growth.
Councillors approved the new spending during an executive committee meeting, sending the matter to an April budget meeting for final approval.
"I think it's obvious that council needs to be focusing more priorities on snow removal," said Councillor Tiffany Paulsen. "People are frustrated when you pay significant property taxes and they don't see a snow-plow down their street even once a year."
The additional cash for the city's snow and ice budget, which would put it above the $7-million mark for the first time, was pitched as part of a series of changes to policy after criticism flowed in following a January storm. The city needs a separate policy for dealing with rare storms that drop 15 centimetres of snow or more on the city, public works manager Wade Gasmo said.
The major change would be in how the city handles residential streets. Now, city crews only clear residential streets as needed after priority streets are cleared, but many residents complained in January of deep ruts and drifts, making it difficult to get around.
If the extra money is approved, residential streets would be cleared when ruts of greater than 10 cm appear either after a major storm or as that amount of snow accumulates over time. The city's administration also pitched a change that would give crews the ability to store snow on a one-foot width of sidewalk as long as two feet of sidewalk remains clear.
The idea, which mimics a Regina policy, was to give crews a place to pile the snow because of complaints from drivers that snow windrows were blocking parking, said acting infrastructure service manager Mike Gutek.
But councillors were cold to the idea of allowing snow storage on sidewalks, with some wondering how crews would ensure a portion of the sidewalk remains clear of snow.
"Is somebody taking a ruler out there?" said Paulsen. "I think it's a bad, bad idea."
"The message in there was pretty clear," Gutek said after the meeting. "The pedestrians get everything and don't worry about the parking on the street."
Councillor Charlie Clark also requested the city's administration report back at budget time on how to improve sidewalk clearing after the city was delayed in responding to and enforcing complaints following the last storm.
"I can see within a week we're not going to be able to respond, but within a month?" Clark said.
So, the question is: what do we get for $1.5 million more in snow removal? Well, here's what you get:
Residential streets cleared when 10 cm ruts appear.
Residential streets cleared two to four weeks after storms.
Taking Saskatoon Transit is relatively easy, right? Well, with Phone&Go, some services are limited, and with Click&Go, it's slow, and you're better off knowing the addresses of where you would like to go, since not every business is listed on there. Of course, it would be easier to use the service in conjunction with Google Maps or something like that.
Well, soon, Google Maps will be launching a 'public transit' feature when you are viewing maps in Saskatoon through the service. So, let's just say you were at the Real Canadian Superstore located at 2901 8th Street East and wanted to travel by bus to the Real Canadian Superstore on Confederation Drive. Well, you would simply choose the two stores on Click&Go, which is slow. But starting in June, that will be a lot more simple, as you can do it all on Google Maps.
The service is called Google Transit, and will launch in late June, according to Google, although no firm date has been confirmed.
Transit planner Kevin Sturgeon says that even when Google Transit launches, Click&Go will continue to run though.
It would be easier to get transit information on Google Maps, as virtually all businesses and residences in Saskatoon are on Google Maps.
There are currently ten Canadian cities that are under the service, including Calgary Transit, which also uses the same software as Click&Go for their Trip Planning feature. Their trip-planning feature is located at http://tripplanning.calgarytransit.com.
Calling it "a good day for victims of crime," Saskatchewan's justice minister applauded a court decision ordering killer-turned-author Colin Thatcher to turn over the profits of his book Final Appeal: Anatomy of a Frame.
In a decision released Monday, Court of Queen's Bench Justice Ted Zarzeczny upheld the provincial Profits of Criminal Notoriety Act. The law allows the government to seize any profits from those convicted of certain serious crimes who "directly or indirectly" recount their offences for profit.
"Victims of crime should be able to take some comfort knowing that people will not profit as a result of these things," Justice Minister Don Morgan told reporters.
Neither Thatcher nor a spokesman for ECW Press Ltd., his Toronto-based book publisher, could be reached for comment. Thatcher had argued the law was unconstitutional, impacting his free speech rights, and that his book didn't fit within the law's scope. Zarzeczny disagreed.
The Government of Saskatchewan had initially resisted enacting such a law last year before abruptly reversing itself. In the words of Zarzeczny, "Word of the proposed publication of such a book prompted a public and political uproar." When the government passed the act on May 14 last year, it was made retroactive to June 1, 2007 to encompass Thatcher's book, released last September.
"This is something we introduced on a very quick basis as you are aware. So we are pleased it was upheld," Morgan said.
Thatcher, who exhausted every legal remedy in fighting his murder conviction, has 30 days to file an appeal of the ruling.
Morgan was unsure exactly how much money is potentially at stake, but said the Justice Ministry will move quickly to clarify the amount. The book has reportedly been selling well. Under his contract, Thatcher received an initial advance of $5,000, to be applied against royalties of 10% of book sales on the first 5,000 copies sold, 12% on the next 5,000 and 14% on anything over 10,000 copies.
It's also unclear exactly what will become of the seized profits. The legislation provides for the money to be given to either the family of the crime victim or victim services. Morgan has acknowledged that could mean the recipients would be Thatcher and Wilson's three adult children, who are oddly supportive of their father. Wilson also has siblings in the U.S.
"I wouldn't want to see the money in Mr. Thatcher's hands either directly or indirectly. So we'll have to look at it and see what's appropriate. We have no past history of dealing with this so we are in new territory," said Morgan, adding the final decision will be made by the Saskatchewan Party cabinet.
Thatcher, the son of a former Liberal premier and a former Progressive Conservative MLA himself, was convicted in 1984 of first-degree murder in the shooting death of his ex-wife JoAnn Wilson. He was paroled in 2006 after serving 22 years.
Zarzeczny's decision opens with a bit of literary flourish, uncharacteristic of often dry, legal rulings, as he notes, "JoAnn Wilson was brutally murdered January 21, 1983 in the garage of her home in Regina across the street from the Saskatchewan Legislative Building. Her murder shocked the Regina and Saskatchewan community, as did her shooting and wounding at that same residence a year and one-half or so prior."
"This notorious homicide became even more so when, after a lengthy period of police investigation, Colin Thatcher was accused and ultimately, on November 6, 1984, convicted of her murder in the first degree."
In handling the challenge to his book himself, Thatcher told the court in December that he's been steadfast in proclaiming his innocence and that's part of the reason his book doesn't fit within the scope of the act.
"I'm hardly going to be recounting a crime I did not commit," he said, adding the book was intended to be an analysis from the defence's perspective, questioning the evidence that put him behind bars.
But Zarzeczny said Thatcher's book clearly falls under the law because it recounts the circumstances relating to Wilson's murder and Thatcher's feelings on the case. The judge also noted the ending of Final Anatomy "engages in what can only be described as either a chilling or bizarre recounting of a scenario" of how the murder could have taken place.
The judge ruled the law did not violate Thatcher's Charter rights since he can write the book, just not profit from it. If the law did violate his rights, "the Act constitutes a reasonable limit demonstrably justifiable in a free and democratic society," Zarzeczny added.
While four other provinces have similar laws, this is the first time such legislation had been challenged in Canada, and the ruling could establish a precedent.
The Saskatchewan Party government points out that the NDP Opposition is "obstructionist," while the NDP accuses the Saskatchewan Party of "bullying."
Another game of chicken is underway at the legislative assembly over sitting hours, and the ultimate result may be some long, talk-filled days ahead.
Saskatchewan Party House Leader Dan D'Autremont has tabled a motion that would allow the legislative assembly to sit from 8 a.m. to midnight.
He told reporters it's necessary because the NDP is not allowing legislation to proceed to committee and won't agree on a specified amount of time for debating each bill, meaning each must be allotted the maximum 20 hours.
The NDP has "given no indication whatsoever that any of the pieces of legislation will move forward in a timely fashion," said D'Autremont. "This is not something we want to do. My colleagues and I would prefer not to do this. But we need to be prepared if we have to go to extended hours."
But NDP House Leader Kevin Yates said the government is looking for something the NDP never asked for when it was in power.
He said he indicated in a meeting with D'Autremont that the NDP was prepared to work with the government but simply wanted more information on what it was bringing forward. The government then sprung the notion of extended hours, said Yates.
"We need to see everything before we know what it is. The other thing is, like I told him, is that each piece of legislation impacts various groups and we're consulting with those groups and there may be issues in these bills that we don't understand, so there may be amendments we want to make to those bills. All that work takes time," said Yates, noting the Opposition had co-operated with the government in passing three bills when the session began last fall.
While by agreement the legislative assembly has a set start and end date, Yates said there are provisions in the rules that allow for it to be automatically extended by five days. But D'Autremont said that's exactly what the Opposition wants -- to instead have the number of days extended to allow it more question periods to blast the government.
This is not the first time the two sides have wrangled over extended hours.
In the spring sitting of 2008, the legislature briefly adopted extended sitting times of 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. when the government wanted to ensure there was enough time for debate on the budget and six bills it wanted passed. The NDP resisted a unilateral change to the legislature rules that it said was the result of government bungling of the legislative schedule.
An agreement was reached after about ten days, although there were only extended hours used on three days. If an agreement isn't reached this time, the current motion will come forward for debate on Tuesday.
A Saskatchewan man is accused of uttering threats against Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Premier Brad Wall and Elwin Hermanson, chief commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission.
According to the RCMP, the threats were made by phone starting last June and the most recent call took place on February 14. There was no direct contact between the accused and any of the alleged victims, police said in a news release.
The Government of Saskatchewan has said that it has responded by boosting security around the premier during public appearances and for all members of government at the legislature.
"We did take some additional measures, I would say more in the area of just sort of heightened awareness. I'm not going to get into a lot of specifics as to what measures were taken for obvious reasons," Reg Downs, senior adviser to the premier, said Thursday.
The provincial government will likely conduct a review in the coming days to see if other changes are needed, he said.
Saskatchewan is one of the few provinces where the premier doesn't have a permanent security detail that travels with him. Former NDP premier Lorne Calvert used to take pride in being able to slip out to the hardware store by himself or with his wife, Betty.
Mr. Downs said there's never been heavy security surrounding Saskatchewan's premier and he'd like to keep it that way.
"I still hope even today there is no reason to change it because I just think it's better if our premier and our elected leaders are accessible to the people they serve," said Mr. Downs. "The vast, vast majority of Saskatchewan people are very gracious to the premier and to the other ministers and other MLAs -- even when they disagree with them. I realize that it just takes one individual to cause some trouble and you've got to watch for that, but I mean really it's a great thing about Saskatchewan (residents) that they do treat our politicians and our leaders very well."
The government would not comment directly on the case. The RCMP said no other details will be released because the matter is before the courts.
Donald Lorenz, 68, appeared in provincial court on Wednesday and was remanded in custody. Mr. Lorenz, who is from the village of Allan, about 60 kilometres southeast of Saskatoon, is expected back in court on Monday.
Like its grand cousins across Canada, the story of the Delta Bessborough Hotel starts with a national railway company looking to build a majestic hotel with a view.
But what makes the local landmark different from the other Canadian National Railway-built hotels is the community spirit that lobbied for the construction of the prairie palace, pushed for the opening of the Bessborough after years of financial delay and supported the growth of the castle on the river for nearly 75 years, said the hotel's general manager, Andrew Turnbull.
"When you think of this hotel born in the Depression and still dominating the landscape today, you can imagine what it must have meant... on December 10, 1935, when finally the grand opening (was held) and how much that must have symbolized the end of one of the most difficult periods of time for this province," said Turnbull.
As the diamond anniversary of the hotel approaches, it's time to reflect on what the Bessborough means to Saskatoon, Turnbull said. The hotel is set to announce anniversary celebration plans -- and a fundraising partnership with Habitat for Humanity -- at an event at the Bessborough today.
"An architectural landmark doesn't in itself define a city, but what it can be is a touchstone that helps create a sense of place. It can be the focal point of pride for a community," he said.
With the help of Turnbull, the hotel's sales and marketing director Stefan Deprez and the staff at Frances Morrison Library's local history room, The StarPhoenix has taken some time and compiled a list of interesting facts and folklore about the city's most famous building.
To see those facts, check out the article that we have referenced.
Not being from Saskatoon, this is exciting for me, as I like to know more about the city I'll be living in for at least four years.
Premier Brad Wall firmed up the Government of Saskatchewan's plan to rein in spending in the upcoming provincial budget, saying at his party's annual convention Saturday that it is a necessity to continue economic growth in Saskatchewan.
The government, coming off a year when its potash projections in the 2009-10 budget have ended up being off by more than $2 billion, has previously said it is aiming for zero growth in spending in the March 24 budget.
But speaking to delegates at the Saskatchewan Party annual convention at the Delta Regina, Wall made the spending freeze a firm commitment.
"Everywhere else in Canada the spring budget talk is about structural deficits, about debt increases to cover annual operating expenses, it's been about 5, 6% expenditures in growth in budget after budget".
"In the province of Saskatchewan on the 24th of March the talk will be about Saskatchewan doing something different. The talk will be about the government holding to its goal of a zero per cent increase in expenditures," said Wall, who drew strong applause when he spoke of the need to reduce the size of government.
The government proposes to hold spending to the same level as last year's budget, which means in fact it would still have room for a small spending increase. In-year spending cuts in response to the potash situation means that the current estimated $10.11 billion expenditure level is $133 million below the 2009-2010 budget level.
Wall has previously said that the government's overall spending freeze would include a 3% increase to the health budget. He told reporters Saturday the government was "on-track" for both targets.
The premier also said it was likely the government would again have to dip into its reserves to balance the budget. That fund is currently projected at $705 million, with the government's long-term goal to keep it at about $500 million, said Wall.
Government expenditures went up by about $2 billion in the first two Saskatchewan Party budgets. Wall's keynote speech was a vigorous defence of his government's record, citing job and population growth at a time of worldwide economic crisis.
He also aggressively pointed out that NDP Leader Dwain Lingenfelter is a figure from the past.
Delegates had only five policy resolutions and the most contentious -- a call to eliminate the province's school boards -- unsurprisingly went down to defeat. A resolution to enshrine property rights in Saskatchewan human rights legislation passed easily, however, with Justice Minister Don Morgan saying the government would look at the ramifications of such a move.
The plan to build Saskatchewan's tallest building in the Saskatoon police station's parking lot is officially dead, with the Government of Saskatchewan saying that it is looking at another location for the assisted living component of the project.
Provincial government officials said Thursday they have zeroed in on a new site for Lighthouse Supported Living, an assisted living residence that was slated to move from the former Capri Hotel building on 20th Street East and 2nd Avenue South to the proposed condominium tower.
The Lighthouse organization has $11.5 million in provincial funding for a new facility, which was to be built by Calgary-based developer Stoneset Equities within a 95-metre tall, or 28-floor, terraced building alongside market-rate condos and retail space.
The $80-million high-rise was touted in 2008 as the first major project in a changing downtown skyline that would bring together the unlikely combination of shelter beds, assisted living units, market rental suites and condos.
But last summer, the Government of Saskatchewan said that the updated cost of the project, at $25 million, was out of its price range and officially confirmed Thursday the concept is off the table. The developer was willing to build only the 120-unit Lighthouse portion of the project, but the price was too expensive to proceed beyond the scope of the initial proposal, said Tim Gross, executive director of housing and development with Saskatchewan Housing Corp.
"I don't think a project would involve that initial plan that we had with Stoneset Equities," Gross said. "As the project progressed, they couldn't make the private market component of the project work and at the end of the day, for $11.5 million that we had we didn't have enough funding to proceed."
Tony Argento, CEO of Stoneset Equities, said the extra costs were based on a "wish list" of additions to the project from the Lighthouse group and Sask. Housing. The company was willing to scale back the number of assisted living units to cut down costs, he said.
"The only thing that stalled the project was their disinterest," Argento said.
The company spent $300,000 on architectural drawings and engineering work, he said.
"My only fear right now is that we spent a lot of money and if it's a no go, we'd like to recover that," Argento said. "You can't string someone along and then say we just changed our minds and say it's someone else's fault."
"We ended up with the bill," he said. "We'll take some responsibility, but not 100%."
The Government of Saskatchewan has found another downtown location to build the Lighthouse project within the $11.5-million budget, although Gross wouldn't specify where.
Lighthouse Supported Living has long been in need of more space for its clients, who are mentally or physically challenged, and often turns away people seeking a bed. They are also functioning currently as a women's shelter and undergoing some renovations.
Gross said the focus now is on a new building solely for assisted living clients, not a mixed-use development.
"I think now we're more focused on the use of the Lighthouse for the intended client group," he said.
Don't like your wife or husband? Well, if you continue to reconcile, or at least try to, you'll save money because getting a divorce is going to cost Saskatchewan couples more money as of April 1, 2010.
Disgruntled landlords and renters will also have to shell out more cash to file an application to the Office of Residential Tenancies, while fees are going up for out-of-province campers as well.
The Government of Saskatchewan released of what fees and charges are changing for 2010 yesterday. The changes will add more than $1 million to the general revenue fund in the 2010-11 fiscal year and about $150,000 to a revolving fund that goes to Saskatchewan's parks, campgrounds and recreational facilities. One brand new fee is a $2,500 non-refundable application fee that will be charged to immigrants applying for permanent residence in Saskatchewan in the "entrepreneur" category.
Rob Norris, the Minister Responsible for Immigration, said the entrepreneur category is a specialized section within Saskatchewan's broader immigrant nominee program, and it focuses on business people.
"(The fee) is meant to demonstrate that those applying into the entrepreneurship stream are serious about staying in Saskatchewan, creating jobs in Saskatchewan and investing in Saskatchewan," Norris said.
There are no fees for immigrants applying in other sections, which include family members, skilled workers, health professional and student categories. Meanwhile, non-Saskatchewan residents who want a camping permit will pay $4 more per night for non-electrical sites and $6 per night for electrical sites.
Saskatchewan NDP MLA Kevin Yates questioned the fee increases, saying it's counter-productive for the government to charge immigrant entrepreneurs, and charge extra to out-of-province campers, while trying to entice more people to Saskatchewan.
"It seems to be a cash grab in a number of different ways," said Yates.
Within the Ministry of Justice, the filing fee for divorce matters is going up. The fee for filing a petition doubles to $200, and increases from $35 to $100 for a reply to a petition.
A ministry official said the money generated goes toward dispute resolution services to people in the court system, such as sessions on parenting after separation and divorce, which are provided for free.
Making an application to the Office of Residential Tenancy goes up to $50, from $25 and $30. Most applications come from landlords. Fees will still be waived for clients on social assistance, and no fees are charged for claims by tenants related to security deposits.
Some fees are going down or being eliminated.
The subscription fee of $200 for the weekly drilling activity report is being eliminated, as is the single request fee of $4. Information will instead be posted on the Ministry of Energy and Resources website. The Ministry of Agriculture is getting rid of the five-year game farm licence fee of $150. Also gone are the fees associated with providing services for prospective irrigation sites.
The Government of Canada has mapped a new course of frugality with a federal budget that promises to find $17.6 billion in savings over the next five years through measures such as freezing departmental budgets, slowing the growth of military spending and capping foreign aid.
As expected, the budget follows through on the second year of the government's stimulus plan, which is a move that will inject $19 billion into the economy.
In his speech to the House of Commons, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said Thursday the government remains focused on creating jobs through the budget, entitled "Leading the Way on Jobs and Growth."
"Our government is focused on jobs and growth, for one simple reason. Canadians are focused on jobs and growth," said Flaherty.
Beyond the stimulus plan, the budget contains a smattering of new initiatives, such as $60 million to help youth deal with the tough job market, $62 million for elite and amateur athletes, and $8 million to create a new oversight body for the RCMP.
However, the biggest revelation is the government's restraint plan, which pledges to all but balance the budget by 2015, when the deficit is expected to fall to $1.8 billion. In his speech, Flaherty said big new government programs would "jeopardize our recovery and our long-term growth."
"We take the same approach that Canadian families take in managing their household budgets. We are spending what is necessary to meet an emergency," the finance minister said. "We are also looking beyond the emergency, to ensure that we can keep paying off the mortgage and saving for our children's education."
None of the opposition parties said they would support the Conservative budget, but Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said enough of his party's MPs would abstain or be absent from the budget vote to allow it to pass, thus avoiding an election.
"Canadians don't want an election," Ignatieff told reporters. "What they want from me is an alternative, an alternative to cuts, freezes and gimmicks. And we've been working hard on that alternative."
The Conservative government plans to save $6.8 billion by containing the government's administration costs. To begin, they will freeze the salaries of MPs and senators through 2012 to 2013.
Leading up to the budget, public-sector unions were worried that the government might try to balance the budget on the backs of public servants.
The wages of public servants will be allowed to increase next year by 1.5%, as mandated under collective-bargaining agreements. But departments must fund the increase, which amounts to roughly $300 million, from their operating budgets. After this year, salaries and operating budgets will be frozen for two years.
Despite such measures, the budget is vague on how exactly it will come up with the savings. The government will launch a sweeping review of administration and overhead costs, but details won't be revealed until next year's budget.
The government plans to save $4.5 billion over five years by capping foreign aid at this year's level, in the process breaking a promise to increase aid by 8% per year. Foreign aid will rise by $364 million to $5 billion.
The Conservative government will also slow the rate of previously planned growth in the national defence budget -- a move that will save a further $2.5 billion.
All told, the restraint measures will limit the growth of direct program spending to 1.3% once the stimulus plan expires. Previously, the Conservative government had predicted such expenditures would grow at more than twice that clip.
At a news conference, Flaherty said it was "tough budget" -- one that offers probably the smallest hike in new spending in a decade.
"We have to make some tough decisions," he said. "The economic recovery is fragile . . . We needed to make the decisions now so that we would have a credible plan we would follow now."
He added that the restraint measures were necessary to ensure the government doesn't wind up with a "structural deficit."
Flaherty said he is committed to getting the nation's books back in the black -- whatever it takes.
"I don't like running deficits. We had to run this deficit temporarily. This government will return to balanced budgets."
But some economists question whether the government can enforce such discipline. Douglas Porter, deputy chief economist at BMO Capital Markets, said the main unknown is how the economy will respond once the stimulus funds are withdrawn.
"The other big question mark is whether they can then, in the years ahead, maintain that type of spending discipline," said Porter.
Flaherty has vowed not to raise taxes or touch major transfers to provinces or individuals, which includes money for health care, education and elderly benefits.
Instead, the Conservative government will rely on a combination of economic growth and their restraint program to balance the books.
Flaherty brushed aside suggestions he might be relying too heavily on rosy forecasts for how economic growth will produce tax revenue that helps reduce the deficit.
He said his predictions for economic growth are based on the advice of private sector experts who he consulted.
Growth projections by those private-sector economists have improved marginally since last fall. Forecasters now expect the economy to grow by 2.6% this year and 3.2% in 2011.
Economists have also grown more optimistic about the unemployment rate, which they expect to peak at 8.5% this year, before dropping to 7.9% the following year.
The government's overall deficit outlook has also brightened.
Until now, the Conservative government had expected to rack up $164.4 billion in deficits over the next five years, beginning with a $55.9-billion shortfall this year and tapering to $5.2 billion in 2014-15. The government now expects to run a five-year deficit of $158.4 billion, starting with a deficit of $53.8 billion this year.
Flaherty noted that Canada's debt is relatively small, compared with other developed countries.
The ratio of the country's debt to its gross domestic product will hit 35.4% next year. By contrast, the U.S. ratio is expected to reach 67% in 2010, while Britain is expected to hit 75%.
"Unlike other countries, we are in a position to ensure our deficit will be temporary. We can meet our current needs without jeopardizing our long-term growth," the finance minister said.
The Government of Saskatchewan must refund millions of dollars to potash companies that overpaid royalties to public coffers, Finance Minister Rod Gantefoer says.
That pushes the budget's once-positive $1.9 billion projection for the pink mineral into unprecedented red territory, according to the third-quarter 2009-10 budget update released Tuesday. For the first time ever, the Government of Saskatchewan will record a negative number, minus $203.9 million, in potash revenue.
"It's been a pretty consistent story in terms of (potash revenue) getting worse than we thought almost every single month of the year," Gantefoer told reporters. "It's encouraging, though, to see that there are sales being negotiated," he said, citing recent deals between Saskatchewan potash producers and China and India. "It's good to see potash cars on the tracks again, see potash trains working."
However, the lack of any potash revenue in this budget year is huge turnaround from the initial $1.9 billion projection made last spring, when the government anticipated it would get 20% of its revenue from potash royalties. With potash sales virtually non-existent in the first quarter of 2009, the projection was downgraded to just $109 million by the middle of the year.
Gantefoer said the potash projection is now negative because of instalment payments potash producers made a year ago, as required, based on estimates of their calendar year profits. The government pocketed the money at the end of its 2008-2009 provincial budget. However, as the current budget year unfolded, it became obvious that the potash corporations had significantly overpaid, and the money must be refunded, Gantefoer said.
The government said it can't provide a specific dollar amount of what's being refunded to the potash industry, due to confidentiality rules in the Mineral Taxation Act. But the amount will exceed potash revenues collected this budget year by $203.9 million.
The latest adjustment to the potash forecast drew fire from the provincial NDP, who, of course, are irrelevant, as they are not in power. Finance critic Trent Wotherspoon said that the government was "ludicrous" with its potash projections from day one.
"Many kids get their hand caught in the cookie jar and all of a sudden a lot of honesty comes out. I think this is pretty telling," Wotherspoon said.
The government said the good news from the third-quarter report is that revenue is $153.8 million higher than the mid-year projection, despite the potash woes, largely due to increases in oil and tax revenues. Expenses are anticipated to be $99.6 million higher than the mid-year projection, but are down $133.1 million from the spring budget. Health spending is up $67.7 million from mid-year in part due to H1N1 preparedness. Expenses at Municipal Affairs are up $56.9 million, due to spending under the Building Canada Fund and Municipal Infrastructure Grants programs.
The government has a projected operational deficit of $85.6 million, and will transfer $510.1 million from the growth and financial security fund to the general revenue fund. That fund, often referred to as the rainy day fund, is projected to have a year-end balance of $705 million, up $54.2 million from the mid-year forecast.
Gantefoer said the summary financial deficit, which includes all aspects of government such as the Crown sector, has improved to about $800 million for 2009-2010, compared to the $1 billion summary deficit projection at mid-year.
The Government of Saskatchewan's next budget will be delivered later this month.
"We're going to do what we said in terms of trying to be very prudent and cautious on the revenue numbers on the volatile commodities," Gantefoer said. "But you still have to make an estimate as to what these revenues are going to be because non-renewable resources are such an important part of the province's economy. You can't simply ignore them entirely."
Regina's residents seem to be turning into bookworms, thanks to the new single integrated library system (SILS), known as the Saskatchewan Information & Library Services Consortium, which allows users to order materials from any library in Saskatchewan and have them brought in to the branch of their choice.
So far, SILS has been in use at four public libraries. By the end of the year, all of Saskatchewan's 306 public libraries will be connected with the convenience of a single library card.
Already in the first month of operation, the Regina Public Library loaned 1,700 items to Saskatoon, which is a significant increase from the 100 items loaned to the same library all of last year.
"It seems to have caught on very well, for Regina in particular," said Jeff Barber, Regina Public Library director. "We've had very busy libraries."
The idea to integrate libraries was sparked five years ago, but it was brought to life in October 2008 when the Government of Saskatchewan committed $5.2 million for the system, the first of its kind in Canada.
Last December, Saskatoon became the first library to adopt the system, followed by the Palliser Regional Library, Southeast Regional Library and the Regina Public Library in early February.
The remainder of the six library systems will be phased in throughout the course of the year.
Barber said the potential of SILS is endless as new interactive modules are introduced to readers both off and online.
Users will have access to professional reviews of literature and add their own opinions as well. Online services can also be expanded further to allow users to pay fines and use systems from mobile devices.
Alberta and Ontario are already examining if they would like to place their libraries all under one umbrella, but Barber said expansion outside of Saskatchewan is highly unlikely.
But still, being the first to lead the way is something of which Saskatchewan can be proud, he added.
"Saskatchewan is used to leading, trying new things and being cooperative," said Barber. "We are the largest implementation that we know of in the world and it's a great feeling."
So far, the system has had a few minor glitches as administrators work on implementing some suggestions from the public. But for the most part, Barber said the transitions from old to new have been relatively smooth.
The project brings together members of the Saskatchewan Information and Library Services Consortium, made up of ten library systems and the Provincial Library, which is a branch of the Ministry of Education.
A 33,000-seat covered stadium would cost an estimated $386.2 million or $431.2 million if the roof is retractable, and could operate successfully in downtown Regina, according to a major feasibility study released Monday.
The next step, however, is determining who might cover the bill.
After a lengthy technical briefing and press conference where politicians called it a historic day, neither city, provincial nor federal leaders were willing to commit to a dollar amount for the project, and they noted no decisions have been made yet about whether it will proceed.
Last year's preliminary estimate of $350 million did not include costs such as land, while the new figures include land, consultants' fees, furniture and fixtures. The report projects the stadium could have annual cash operating surplus once up and running, and annual operations would have $30.6 million in indirect and indirect GDP impact.
But capital grants from funding partners or alternative revenue streams would be needed to cover the initial construction costs, said the report, which studied the possible design, costs, private sector interest and economic impact of a new facility to replace the aging Mosaic Stadium.
"The feasibility report says it is feasible to go forward. Now we will look at the capital accumulation phase," said Enterprise Minister Ken Cheveldayoff, whose Saskatchewan Party government indicated a decision about whether or not to proceed, will be made by late spring.
"We'll talk to the federal government, the provincial government, the city and the Roughriders to put a plan in place," Cheveldayoff said. "I can say right now that each partner would have to come to the table and contribute for this report to go forward."
Cheveldayoff said "all kinds of things" will be considered as possible provincial revenue streams to fund capital costs, such as a partnership with Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation, the government-owned business that runs the Regina and Moose Jaw casinos. Other ideas include a lottery where proceeds would go toward the stadium or a seat licence system where the purchaser would have the right to buy season tickets for a certain seat.
"I'm not saying that's how we're going to do it. But (those are) ideas that are coming forward," Cheveldayoff told reporters.
Regina Qu'Appelle MP Andrew Scheer was non-committal about what kind of support could be forthcoming from the Conservative government, as he spoke about the importance of the federal infrastructure stimulus spending but also the need for a return to balanced budgets.
"As Minister Cheveldayoff said, no decisions have been made," said Scheer, adding that at this point no formal request for money from the province has been made, either.
"This ends the feasibility study portion. They're going to have a lot of discussions on the provincial government end. We'll take a look at what comes out of that," said Scheer.
"I love football, love sports... but you have to put on that fiscal responsibility hat, too," said Scheer, whose brother-in-law is Seattle Seahawk and former Regina Ram punter Jon Ryan.
The report says stadium naming rights are estimated at $480,000 a year, which could be used to help pay financing costs. The Regina Hotels Association has also committed $10 million over 15 years. On the operating side, the report suggests that a new stadium could turn a profit in an average year of more than $1 million if 31 events were held.
For example, the stadium could have a cash surplus on an annual basis with 11 CFL games; a university and high school football schedule; one major, three minor and four small concerts each year; and eight miscellaneous events, such as motocross or conferences.
Seating could expand to 45,000 for major events such as Grey Cup, or 53,000 for major concerts.
Regina Chamber of Commerce chief executive John Hopkins said he's encouraged that the stadium report indicates the project would not require ongoing operating subsidies, and he expects other businesses will be on board in helping it move forward.
"I suspect that there will be others that will jump up to the forefront and say we want to be part of this and we'll continue to see that," Hopkins said.
Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco said he's interested in seeing which private sector partners step forward as the three levels of government also begin discussing what they can offer.
"I think the funding partners have to have their discussion. Now that we have the study out of the way, now we can get started on next steps," Fiacco said.
A major tenant of the proposed new building -- the Saskatchewan Roughriders Football Club -- said what is proposed in the study "is an amazing new home for the green and white."
"This is a very exciting prospect," said Riders board chair Rob Pletch. "We just think about the dimensions that this adds to our football club, to consider us having a domed retractable roof, hopefully, stadium as our home base."
Construction is pegged to take three years, during which time the impacts on the provincial GDP would be an estimated $195.5 million.
The site being eyed is the current location of the CP rail yards south of Dewdney Avenue between Lorne Street and Scarth Street. The report notes that CP is planning to move its 20-acre intermodal operations to the global transportation hub west of the city, likely by fall of 2012, pending regulatory approval.
CP is also looking at whether it could change its rail operations to free up another ten acres downtown, the report said.
"CP has agreed in principle, subject to conditions and approvals, to sell the downtown site provided issues relating to its relocation of its operations can be resolved," the report said.
NDP MLA Warren McCall, whose Regina Elphinstone-Centre constituency includes the proposed location, said the proposal looks great on paper but there are funding questions that will need answers.
"In terms of making progress on this project, we think one of the biggest stumbling blocks is (Premier Brad) Wall government's mismanagement of the finances," McCall said, pointing to the Saskatchewan Party government's overestimation of potash revenues that led to a summary deficit in the last budget. "In terms of who would fund it, you'd like to see who is bringing what to the table."
The number of collisions at Saskatoon's first red-light camera intersection has increased since the system was put in place in 2005, but severe collisions more likely to cause injuries have been reduced, crash figures show. Rear-end collisions have increased at Avenue C and Circle Drive as drivers make abrupt stops to avoid being ticketed, causing chain-reaction crashes from behind, analysts say. But the number of right-angle or T-bone collisions, which cause more severe injuries, has dropped despite heavier traffic.
The cameras have achieved the objective of reducing major crashes, said Jamison Gillert, a traffic operations technician with the city.
"If we can reduce those high-percentage types of crashes that cause fatalities, we're okay with having rear-end collisions increase," said Gillert.
The analysis is from 8.5 years of crash data from Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) at Avenue C and Circle Drive, the first intersection in the city where red-light cameras were installed in late 2005. Since the installation of cameras, the average number of vehicles involved in collisions per year has increased 32%, driven up primarily by fender benders.
The number of vehicles involved in such rear-end collisions at the intersection has jumped to an average of 94 per year from 61 per year, according to data.
The increase is explained, in part, by a jump in traffic volumes, with 8,000 more vehicles per day travelling east and west on Circle Drive across Avenue C since 2005 and 12,000 more vehicles since 2000. At the same time, technology, such as handheld devices used in vehicles, has caused more distracted driving.
The rear-end collisions are most likely from anxious drivers braking abruptly to avoid the sting of a $230 ticket, Gillert said.
There's a misconception that a ticket is issued if a driver enters the intersection on an amber light, which isn't the case, Gillert said.
The increase in rear-end collisions has largely been offset by a 30% decrease in right-angle T-bone collisions, considered the most dangerous and usually caused by a red-light runner, according to data. The supposedly high-tech red-light system installed in Saskatoon senses when a vehicle has run a red light and holds cross-traffic longer to avoid collisions.
But while the number of right-angle collisions has been reduced, the number of vehicles involved in broadside crashes while turning left, a more common collision, has remained steady.
Many drivers turning left try to clear the intersection when it may not be safe in order to avoid receiving a fine, Gillert said.
"We don't want people to panic (because of the red light cameras)," Gillert said. "That's a message we have to get across."
Another study of the intersection by SGI, which has yet to be publicly released, accounts for traffic flows and data from other similar intersections but reaches the same basic conclusion: the number of severe collisions has been reduced while the number of rear-end collisions has increased, Gillert said.
Other types of crashes, such as head-on, sideswipe and right-turn crashes, have also dropped significantly at Avenue C and Circle Drive when traffic flow and the behaviour of other similar intersections are accounted for, he said. The findings in Saskatoon adhere to a pattern around North America. Studies by government agencies and university researchers have found that cameras can reduce red-light violations and severe collisions but can also increase less serious rear-end collisions caused by people making sudden stops to avoid tickets.
Advocates of the cameras, which were also installed in late 2008 at Warman Road and 51st Street and Preston Avenue and Eighth Street, have championed them as effective tools in reducing collisions, injuries and deaths, freeing police officers to perform other crime-fighting duties, and as an efficient way to raise revenue in the process.
Critics have called them a cash-grab that seems to fail to improve safety as much as they generate revenue from fines. After costs are accounted for, the City of Saskatoon has made $1.45 million on red-light fines since 2006. The revenue is directed into traffic safety measures such as speed bumps and pedestrian crossings around the city.
The number of red-light fines given out at Avenue C and Circle Drive, at roughly 16 per day, has continued to rise, which is a trend that was expected to go in the opposite direction when the cameras were debated by city council.
"It tells you that people are slow learners or they've got too much money," said Councillor Myles Heidt. "It's mind-boggling to me."
Several other jurisdictions in Canada have installed pedestrian countdown timers at red-light camera intersections to help give drivers a more exact sense of when the green light is going to turn amber and thus avoid abrupt stops.
Heidt said he supports that change, but Gillert said there is little proof that the technology, which is installed at some downtown intersections in Saskatoon, would improve safety when red-light cameras are involved.
"Those are only meant for pedestrians," Gillert said. "What's meant for vehicles is the amber light."
A Saskatoon woman has her phone back after it was allegedly held for ransom during the Olympics in Vancouver.
Meaghan Dubois was in Vancouver enjoying the Olympics last Friday when she forgot her cell phone in a local coffee shop. When she reached the person who had it, he demanded a ransom of several hundred dollars for its return, said Vancouver police spokesperson Lindsey Houghton. That reminds me of that time my PlayStation 2 was held hostage because I didn't always rent my games at BLOCKBUSTER.
After Dubois called police, an undercover officer posed as Dubois' husband and showed up to meet the jerk on Commercial Drive in East Vancouver. As police tried to arrest him, the loser attempted to run but was quickly wrestled to the ground, Houghton said.
An 18-year-old punk faces charges of possession of stolen property, obstructing a police officer and possession of a weapon for dangerous purposes, as he was found to be carrying a canister of bear spray.
"It happens from time to time, especially with valuable items," Houghton said.
Houghton said property crime is down significantly this month, even though there are thousands of tourists in town for the Olympics.
"The influx of 7,000 police officers might have something to do with it," he said.
A recommendation coming to city council Monday would see the city's next west-side suburb named Kensington. The 500-acre area is north of the Blairmore suburban centre and west of Pacific Heights, Confederation Park and Dundonald.
The name, according to the ownership group of the area, "is regal, majestic and historic while remaining both positive and marketable."
It will "conjure images of a very pleasant and desirable neighbourhood in which to live," a report going to council says. The name has some local history attached to it. A neighbourhood plan from 1913 included a Kensington Park for the area south of present-day Blairmore.
At the time, the park name was thought to have been suggested by local property owner Frank Baker out of respect for the district in London, England.
"Deer Lodge" and other names were considered but lacked "impact," the report said.
The area is part-owned by Boychuk Investments, the City of Saskatoon, an Alberta firm and three small owners. It's the first of eight potential neighbourhoods in the Blairmore development area.
Saskatoon has scored yet another AAA credit rating and stands among the few Canadian municipalities to achieve the high score. Bond rating agency Standard and Poor's once again confirmed the City of Saskatoon's AAA rating, making it the 20th consecutive time the city has achieved the highest possible level.
A higher rating means there is a lower risk associated with borrowing, which means the city is looked at favourably by financial institutions and gets the best rate for municipalities. The rating was based on a strong operating performance, robust economy and high reserve levels that exceed debt, said Suleman Souleyman, an analyst with Standard and Poor's.
"The stable outlook reflects our expectation that Saskatoon's revenue and cash and investment balances will rise commensurately with debt and that its economic performance will remain relatively robust," he said in a news release.
Saskatoon's large capital program, which includes more borrowing for projects such as the new water intake, Circle Drive South, which is paid for through gas tax revenue, a new police station and the Shaw Centre "slightly mitigates these strengths," Suleman said, but the rating is not in jeopardy in the near term.
The city's debt limit, as set by the Saskatchewan Municipal Board, is $298 million, but that may be increased soon, officials say. The other AAA municipalities are Mississauga, Barrie, and Brampton and the regions of York, Peel, Durham and Halton, all of which are in the Toronto area.
Tuition at the University of Saskatchewan was expected to rise 4.5% in the 2010-11 school year, but that could change based on the upcoming provincial budget, according to university officials.
Like health regions and schools boards across the province, the University of Saskatchewan is waiting to hear how the March budget, which the government has hinted will curb spending, will affect the funding for its university.
"There's a lot of uncertainty," Provost and Vice-president Brett Fairbairn said Thursday at a U of S council meeting. "We're aware (the province) announced figures for health spending that are lower than forecast."
The University of Saskatchewan forecast in November a 4.5% tuition increase and asked the Government of Saskatchewan to increase the university's operating grant by 5.2%, or $13.2 million.
The tuition increase would bring in $3.6 million more than the current year, for a total of $83.7 million, according to the November forecast.
"As long as the grant is close enough, then we won't be far off from 4.5%," said Fairbairn.
Early numbers indicate enrolment remains steady for the 2010-2011 school year. There is a 4% increase in enrolment in colleges such as Arts and Science, Agriculture and Bioresources, and Pharmacy and Nutrition, at this time compared to last year.
"The numbers are early, but the numbers are encouraging," said U of S president Peter MacKinnon. "It's early in the admissions process, so these numbers might not be indicative of the final results."
However, enrolment in the Edwards School of Business is so far down about 4%, following a 15% decrease from the previous year.
The downward trend is happening across Canada, said MacKinnon.
International student enrolment is up 9% this month compared to the same period last year. The spots in professional colleges such as medicine and law are always in high demand and enrolment remains stable.
"(The numbers) give us assurance of stability in enrolment and confidence we will be able to sustain a student body based on the size we've come to expect," said MacKinnon.
The University of Saskatchewan is also studying a number of initiatives to entice more aboriginal students to the university and to improve their experience once they're on campus. The aboriginal community has many needs: income, infrastructure and intellectual, Fairbairn told the university council.
"We're a university that responds to needs... and we must respond to the aboriginal community."
Some suggestions include aboriginal-focused graduate programs, "visual symbols" such as artwork and signage and the design and construction of the Gordon Oakes-Red Bear Student Centre.
The university might also create an aboriginal employment strategy, said Fairbairn. The administration released a pared-down version of an "encyclopaedia" history of aboriginal programming and education, which includes established programs such as the Indian teacher education program.
"We have a record of path-breaking programs (at the U of S)," said Fairbairn.
When you were in elementary, junior or even high school, there was probably an educational assistant in at least one of your classes... and in some cases, they were attractive young women.
Well, in a November draft document that was obtained by Saskatoon newspaper The StarPhoenix, the Government of Saskatchewan's Ministry of Education sets out guidelines recommending that school divisions hire more professionals, such as psychologists, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, nurses, English as an additional language teachers and student support service teachers. Some of these professionals work at several divisions schools.
However, the proposed staffing ratios in the document also signal intent to drastically reduce the numbers of educational assistants in Saskatchewan... the support workers who often sit side-by-side with kids in class, providing individual help.
The move has outraged some parents, special education advocates and the official Opposition NDP (of course, they are irrelevant, as Saskatchewan has a majority government).
A Saskatchewan school of architecture is moving beyond the brainstorming stage and accelerating fast toward a blueprint that could see the college built in downtown Saskatoon. That would be so cool. That way, I could potentially become a real architect, instead of saying that I am an architect named Art Vandelay.
"It was just an idea last summer. Now it's an idea that's been recognized as something that could really make a difference," said Charles Olfert, regional director of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. "I could see this in two to three years, potentially, and I might have said five to 10 years last summer."
One of the ideas that has been floated, but would require city hall support, is locating the school in a renovated city-owned John Deere building in the warehouse district once 25th Street is extended to Idylwyld Drive. Locating 300 to 400 students in downtown Saskatoon would provide a $3-million to $4-million per year economic benefit once the program is underway, Olfert estimates.
A feasibility task force struck by the council of the Saskatchewan Association of Architects in early 2008 to study the creation of a program said a school would fit well in either Regina or Saskatoon. Since the past summer, there have been discussions of working with the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science & Technology and a possible undergraduate program focused on construction management at the University of Regina.
No matter where they're from in the world, it seems like many people want to get a piece of Saskatchewan at the Winter Olympics. Upon his arrival Monday at the Saskatchewan pavilion in Vancouver, Regina citizen Davin Stachoski noted the longest line-up was not to get into the venue; it was to have your picture taken in front of a green screen that would eventually be superimposed on a photo of either a wheat field, a potash mine or Gainer the Gopher at Mosaic Stadium.
"It kind of boggled my mind being from Saskatchewan, but it was really cool to see people lining up for it," Stachoski said with a laugh.
But while many from all over the world were trying to take in what they could of Saskatchewan, particularly during Tuesday's Saskatchewan Day, when 500 people were lined up waiting for the pavilion to open
"I watched the first week on TV but then getting out here... what you don't expect is the amount of people," said Stachoski, who with his girlfriend Raeleen Walbaum is attending hockey, curling and speed skating until they return to Regina on Thursday. "You have to be prepared for lineups everywhere. It's tough to find a place to get a drink or have supper."
"The crowds are overwhelming, but the atmosphere is amazing. You see people from all over the world, hear so many different languages. It's incredible."
"The fever is all over the city."
Regina's Cathie Kryzanowski and her husband Dale returned home Tuesday after five days of watching hockey, figure skating and ski jumping. While they didn't get into Canada Hockey Place on Sunday to watch the home team take on the U.S. in men's hockey, the Kryzanowskis did catch the game on the big screens at the Saskatchewan pavilion.
"There were good Saskatchewan sports fans there and ones we adopted," said Cathie. "It was second best to being at the game, I think. Saskatchewan sports fans are enthusiastic sports fans so it was almost like coming home to watch the game."
The sights, sounds and taste of Saskatoon will be exhibited at the Vancouver Winter Olympics today as Saskatoon Day takes over at the Saskatchewan pavilion. Saskatoon Day gives the city a promotional opportunity and gives home-grown singers a chance to display their talent to Olympic spectators from around the world.
"It's a real focus on what makes Saskatoon a special place to visit or do business," said Todd Brandt, president and CEO of Saskatoon Tourism.
Mayor Don Atchison will host a reception at the pavilion for the media and business contacts. Atchison will also be part of the unveiling of "Sunny," the new mascot for the city. Meanwhile, Saskatoon-born singers Kyle Riabko and Megan Lane will perform, as will Earl Pereira and his band Mobadass.
The entertainment at the pavilion will play a large role in promoting Saskatoon.
"People come for the food and beverage but they end up staying because of our entertainers," said Trent Fraser, director of marketing and production for the Saskatchewan Pavilion.
The pavilion has been welcoming more than 8,000 people a day, while Fraser said organizers were expecting about 4,500 to 5,000 visitors daily.
"We are one of those go-to pavilions and word on the street is that we have one of the better ones," Fraser said.
The City of Saskatoon representatives will be showing a promotional video at the pavilion throughout the day today. The video will also be shown on the six-storey translucent dome at the pavilion so people outside can see it. Fraser estimates more than 50,000 people will walk by the dome because it is located within walking distance of BC Place, GM Place and Molson Hockey House. There will be several prize giveaways at the pavilion today, and people standing in line will be given Saskatoon pins as well as forms to enter draws. Another prize featured on Saskatoon Day is a free trip to Saskatoon.
Man, if I were visiting Vancouver, I'd sign up for a free trip to Saskatoon, even though I already live in Saskatoon. Now, if my name was drawn and I already live in Saskatoon, how would that work? Would I get to leave Saskatoon then fly back?
"Half the battle is getting people to Saskatoon because once they get there, they like what they see in the city," Brandt said.
Bison burgers will be featured at the pavilion as will Harvest Meats sausage from Yorkton. Saskatoon berry tarts will be given out today as well.
Walmart Canada says it will create up to 6,500 jobs in retail and construction this year as part of a plan to open 35 to 40 new supercentres in Canada.
A spokesman for the world's largest retailer said yesterday that more than half of the locations will be entirely new stores or relocations and expansions. The remainder will be renovations of existing stores. I wonder if this means the Preston Crossing location in Saskatoon will be a supercentre as well?
Walmart says that the investments will cost almost half a billion dollars. Overall, the projects are expected to create 2,000 jobs in construction and 4,500 employee positions at the retail stores, said Walmart spokesman Andrew Pelletier. "We will be confirming the specific markets later in the year as we get closer to beginning these projects," he said, though he declined to offer a targeted start date."
Walmart has been slowly rolling out its supercentres in Canada over the past few years. The concept combines its traditional retail layout with a wide array of food items, including produce and dairy. The super centres are intended to lure consumers away from supermarkets and into Walmart stores.
That puts the American retail giant in direct competition with Canadian grocery chains Loblaw, Metro and Sobeys. For their part, the Canadian chains have been introducing general merchandise into their selling spaces in a bid to remain competitive with Walmart and other big box retailers. Walmart said that the new additions will bring its total number of stores in Canada to 325 from 280, which includes 124 supercentres. It already employs more than 70,000 people in this country.
Earlier this month, the company announced separate plans to open a refrigerated distribution centre in Balzac, Alberta in the fall, creating 1,400 jobs.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper may be the most powerful man in the country... but when it comes to working away from home, he does it on the cheap side, when he can.
Documents released through Access to Information reveal that when travelling in Canada, Mr. Harper is keen to avoid the appearance of luxury on the taxpayer's dime, even hiring out rooms at the Super 8 motel.
"As we prepare and plan for the prime minister's schedule, we always take security and costs as primary concerns," said Sara MacIntyre, associate press secretary to the prime minister.
According to the documents obtained by Ottawa researcher Ken Rubin, Mr. Harper spent $51,645.68 on hotels and hospitality within Canada between April 2007 and August 2009. Nearly $15,000 of that was for Mr. Harper's visit to the President's Cup golf tournament in Montreal, where he was the honorary chair of the contest. The proceeds from the event are handed out to a selection of charities chosen by the participants.
For the 2007 tournament, Mr. Harper spent $4,674 on books to give as gifts to players and coaches at the charity event and close to $10,000 on food and hotel and function rooms.
When visiting mid-to-large-sized Canadian cities, Mr. Harper opts to stay at hotels such as Quebec City's Chateau Frontenac, largely because it's easier to manage security, MacIntyre says. A two-day stay at the Royal York hotel in Toronto in April of 2008, for example, cost the taxpayer $1,643.54, while another two-day stay at the Hilton in Quebec cost $1,998 in the same year.
The documents reveal that Mr. Harper also manages to stay at big hotels for less. In July of 2008, a four-day stay at the Chateau Frontenac cost $2,097.
However, the cost of Mr. Harper's hotel rooms are often much lower than usual. For example, the prime minister spent $193.27 in May 2008 for a one-night stay at the Delta hotel in Edmonton and $229.50 for one night in Saskatoon in July 2008.
While attending an event in June of 2007, Mr. Harper rented a day room at a Super 8 motel in New Brunswick for $126.
This comes after QMI Agency revealed spending in the prime minister's own office dropped from $38,440 in 2004-2005 and $39,924 in 2005-2006 under the Liberals to $1,917 in 2006-2007, $1,966 in 2007-2008 and $7,705 in 2008-2009 under the Conservative government.
Canadian retail sales were up 0.4% in December to $35.3 billion, Statistics Canada said Friday. Economists expected a 0.5% gain following November's revised decline of 0.5%, initially reported as a dip of 0.3%. All figures are seasonally adjusted.
December's gain marked the fourth time in five months the value of retail sales in Canada has gone up. Sales volumes in December were ahead 0.6%, indicating lower prices on a month-to-month basis for what was sold.
On an annual basis, sales values were up 6.7% in December from a year earlier, which was described as "impressive" by Douglas Porter, deputy chief economist at BMO Capital Markets.
"Today's raft of economic data adds to the growing body of evidence that the recovery is taking more firmer roots," Porter added in a research note Friday. "Retail sales continue to gradually grind ahead, putting the nightmare of late 2008 well behind us."
The strongest retail gains in December were in general merchandise - which includes department stores - where sales were up 3.3%. As well, sales at clothing and accessory outlets were up 2.1%, and automotive-related purchases went up 0.9%.
Six out of ten provinces saw gains in December retail sales, led by Alberta, where transactions were up 1.8%. Ontario, Canada's largest province by population, saw its sales decline 0.2%.
"This was a somewhat mixed report, and it suggests that Canadian consumer spending was slightly lukewarm in December, neither hot nor cold," Millan Mulraine, economics strategist with TD Securities, said in a note Friday. "Nevertheless, with the volume of goods sold rising by 0.6% month-to-month, it suggests that consumer spending added favourably to Canadian GDP in December, which we expect to grow by around 0.3% month-to-month."
Mulraine added that this sets the stage for annualized growth of about 4% in the fourth quarter. December retail sales by province and territory/month-to-month percentage gain in December
Here are the interesting numbers by province:
Prince Edward Island: 0.0% Nova Scotia: -0.7% New Brunswick: 2.0% Quebec: 0.7% Ontario: -0.2% Manitoba: 0.3% Newfoundland and Labrador: -1.2% Saskatchewan: 0.9% Alberta: 1.8% British Columbia: 0.1% Yukon: -1.7% Northwest Territories: -3.6% Nunavut: 0.7%
A record surplus of $3.67 million has city finance officials debating whether to redirect some of the money to reduce a looming property tax increase this year instead of funnelling it into a rainy day fund.
It's time to decide the future of the Traffic Bridge, a report going to city council on Monday recommends.
Construction will soon be under way on the first Lowe's home improvement store in Saskatchewan at 4555 Gordon Road in Regina, Lowe's Canada announced Thursday.
Saskatoon's most-discussed real estate development may be revived by the University of Saskatchewan's largest-ever donor.
City councillors were united Monday in support of adding $1.5 million to the snow removal budget, including a new policy to clear residential streets when they become badly rutted.
Taking Saskatoon Transit is relatively easy, right? Well, with Phone&Go, some services are limited, and with Click&Go, it's slow, and you're better off knowing the addresses of where you would like to go, since not every business is listed on there. Of course, it would be easier to use the service in conjunction with Google Maps or something like that.
Calling it "a good day for victims of crime," Saskatchewan's justice minister applauded a court decision ordering killer-turned-author Colin Thatcher to turn over the profits of his book Final Appeal: Anatomy of a Frame.
The Saskatchewan Party government points out that the NDP Opposition is "obstructionist," while the NDP accuses the Saskatchewan Party of "bullying."
A Saskatchewan man is accused of uttering threats against Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Premier Brad Wall and Elwin Hermanson, chief commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission.
Premier Brad Wall firmed up the Government of Saskatchewan's plan to rein in spending in the upcoming provincial budget, saying at his party's annual convention Saturday that it is a necessity to continue economic growth in Saskatchewan.
The plan to build Saskatchewan's tallest building in the Saskatoon police station's parking lot is officially dead, with the Government of Saskatchewan saying that it is looking at another location for the assisted living component of the project.
The Government of Canada has mapped a new course of frugality with a federal budget that promises to find $17.6 billion in savings over the next five years through measures such as freezing departmental budgets, slowing the growth of military spending and capping foreign aid.
The Government of Saskatchewan must refund millions of dollars to potash companies that overpaid royalties to public coffers, Finance Minister Rod Gantefoer says.
There's a new craze among residents of Regina.
A Saskatoon woman has her phone back after it was allegedly held for ransom during the Olympics in Vancouver.
Tuition at the University of Saskatchewan was expected to rise 4.5% in the 2010-11 school year, but that could change based on the upcoming provincial budget, according to university officials.
When you were in elementary, junior or even high school, there was probably an educational assistant in at least one of your classes... and in some cases, they were attractive young women.
A Saskatchewan school of architecture is moving beyond the brainstorming stage and accelerating fast toward a blueprint that could see the college built in downtown Saskatoon. That would be so cool. That way, I could potentially become a real architect, instead of saying that I am an architect named Art Vandelay.
No matter where they're from in the world, it seems like many people want to get a piece of Saskatchewan at the Winter Olympics. Upon his arrival Monday at the Saskatchewan pavilion in Vancouver, Regina citizen Davin Stachoski noted the longest line-up was not to get into the venue; it was to have your picture taken in front of a green screen that would eventually be superimposed on a photo of either a wheat field, a potash mine or Gainer the Gopher at Mosaic Stadium.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper may be the most powerful man in the country... but when it comes to working away from home, he does it on the cheap side, when he can.
Canadian retail sales were up 0.4% in December to $35.3 billion, Statistics Canada said Friday. Economists expected a 0.5% gain following November's revised decline of 0.5%, initially reported as a dip of 0.3%. All figures are seasonally adjusted.
