Housing continues to play a key role in economy
Housing-related spending accounts for more than 20 per cent of Canada’s gross domestic product, contributing about $330 billion to the Canadian economy in 2010 — up 7.1 per cent from $308 billion in 2009. This and other key findings are in the ninth annual Canadian Housing Observer, released today by Canada Mortgage and...
Tax assessments don't reflect any major changes in Castlegar property values
More than 8,000 property owners in the Castlegar area can expect to receive their 2012 assessment notices in the next few days. “Most homes in Castlegar and its surrounding rural area have changed only marginally from last year‟s assessment roll,” said Dennis Hickson, deputy assessor. “For example, a typical single...
Top five mortgage trends of 2011
By: Rob McLister, Canadian Mortgage Trends Cheap money fuelled another buoyant year for real estate in 2011. That helped housing values climb a wall of worry (prices rose another 4.6 percent year over year as of November) despite numerous predictions of a correction. Mortgage balances went along for the ride, growing another 7 percent. 2011 was a […]
Midway border crossing on secret closure list
A leaked government document about the future of Canada’s border crossings — including possible closure, reduced hours, sharing of facilities and remote monitoring — lists Midway, Cascade, Nelway and Chopaka crossings. The document, “Small Port Working Group – Initial Results and Paths Forward”, was done collectively between Canada’s Customs and Border Services Agency(CBSA) and […]
Bridesville residents say road conditions are unacceptable
Bridesville residents have had enough and they let the government and Emcon know it. On the evening of Monday, Dec. 12, more than 60 people packed the Bridesville Community Hall to discuss what they feel is a deteriorating road service in their area. Boundary-Similkameen MLA John Slater, two Emcon employees and Stephanie Gillis, […]
More than 50 scientists protest BC Hydro closures/lay-offs in Castlegar and Nelson
A group of more than 50 scientists is publicly lobbying BC Hydro to reconsider its decision to close the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) office in Nelson, and to lay off staff in Castlegar, Nelson and Prince George. The offices are to be closed by January 2012, and the program consolidated in Burnaby […]
Castlegar debt-free after paying out loan 2.5 years early
It's a black day for the City of Castlegar - black ink, that is, according to a report offered at Monday’s regular city council meeting. In the report, city director of finance Andre Buss told council that the city’s only remaining long-term loan (issue 58, which the city undertook to build the RCMP detachment as well as...
Want change? So you can whine ... or wine
Making the switch to online media two-and-a-half years ago was like a crack in the dam – the changes in my life have been coming fast and furious ever since. <?xml:namespace prefix = o /> This is a good thing, and largely something I’ve chosen – Gandhi wasn’t blowing smoke when he said, “Be the change you want to see...
MORTGAGE TRENDS: Short-term rates stay put
Canada’s key interest rate will end 2011 unchanged. The Bank of Canada (BoC) left its policy rate at 1.00 percent this week, as anticipated. In a statement, the Bank said European economic performance will be worse than expected, Canadian and United States growth are “slightly” better than expected, and inflation will “ease.” It […]
B.C. deficit projections up $313 million
B.C.’s deficit is now projected to rise by $313 million to $3.1 billion by the end of the fiscal year because of lower revenues, Finance Minister Kevin Falcon announced in Victoria on Monday. “While British Columbia is still expected to continue to outperform most other North American economies, we expect revenues to decline and we […]
