Canadian Home Sales for November 2010

Download now or preview on posterous

housingflash.pdf Dec 15[1].pdf (43 KB)

I just came across this Canadian housing update and numbers on past years from Scotia Bank Group and thought you may be interested.

Cheers!

Best regards

Dean Birks

 

Royal LePage Prince George

Phone (Direct): 250-612-1709

Prince George Real Estate

 

Oh, by the way. I'm never too busy for your referrals!

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Prince George Real Estate - A couple great new listings!

Two new listings for your consideration...

1- 13740 Moldowan Rd - Cute cozy home on 20 acres with 35 x 75ft shop.

2- 23810 Ness Lake Rd - Executive home on 16 acres with Ness Lake water front!

Best regards

Dean Birks

 

Royal LePage Prince George

Phone (Direct): 250-612-1709

www.DeanBirks.com

 

Oh, by the way. I'm never too busy for your referrals!

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Cancer Centre Enters New Stage Of Construction - Prince George BC

By 250 News

Friday, December 03, 2010 04:01 PM

Construction crew all smiles after bolting down the first steel column on the new Northern Cancer Centre

Prince George, B.C.- The construction of the Northern Cancer Centre entered a new phase  today with the placement of the first steel column on the second floor.

“This means we are finished the concrete construction phase, and will be entering the structural steel stage” says project manager Chris Rasmussen.

The first steel column was lifted into place by the huge crane on the construction site, and a crew bolted it into place. That column is the first of many that will support the roof of the new Northern Cancer Centre. “From here we will really see the building start to take shape” says Rasmussen.

Five months into the construction of the facility that is expected to be complete in late September of 2012, today’s event marked another milestone in this project “This is really huge in the construction  business” says Rasmussen.

The crane lifted the column to the roof of the parkade, where Rasmussen and Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad posed for photos, then swung the column over to the second floor of the Cancer Centre where it was bolted into place.

The Northern Cancer centre will have two floors, a basement parkade, and two rooms where radiation treatment can be delivered.

Copy courtesy of:

 

Dean Birks

 

Royal LePage Prince George

Phone (Direct): 250-612-1709

http://www.DeanBirks.com

 

Oh, by the way. I'm never too busy for your referrals!

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Asher Place - Seniors Complex

First time offered for sale! This 2 bedroom unit is on the main floor! http://www.deanbirks.com/14a_read.php?ltl=948042

Best regards

Dean Birks

 

Royal LePage Prince George

Phone (Direct): 250-612-1709

www.DeanBirks.com

 

Oh, by the way. I'm never too busy for your referrals!

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Prince George Real Estate - New listing $194,800 in Heritage area.

Here is a great starter family home - http://www.deanbirks.com/14a_read.php?ltl=948038

Best regards

Dean Birks

 

Royal LePage Prince George

Phone (Direct): 250-612-1709

www.DeanBirks.com

 

Oh, by the way. I'm never too busy for your referrals!

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

My Website is Now Smartphone Friendly

I am happy to announce that my website (my clients listings) www.DeanBirks.com is now Smartphone friendly. Now, when buyers drive up in front of any of my listings they can enter my web address into their smartphone browser to get the price and details while sitting in their vehicle with ease.

Best regards

Dean Birks

 

Royal LePage Prince George

Phone (Direct): 250-612-1709

Prince George Real Estate

 

Oh, by the way. I'm never too busy for your referrals!

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Resale housing market stabilizing in Central BC

Residential property sales recorded through the MLS® System of the BC Northern Real Estate Board remained below year-ago levels in October 2010, but have been showing signs of stabilizing in recent months. According to the Board’s statistics, home sales numbered 264 units in October 2010, a decline of 27 per cent from October 2009. Seasonally adjusted activity dropped sharply from May to June this year, but has since posted only small month-to-month changes. On a year-to-date basis, activity remains slightly above levels reported over the first 10 months of last year. The average price of home sales in October was $193,611**, a decrease of 11 per cent from the same month in 2009; however, the less volatile year-to-date average price figure was even with levels in the first 10 months last year. **The Board cautions that the average residential price is a useful figure only for establishing trends and comparisons over a period of time. It does not indicate an actual price for a home due to the wide selection of housing available over a vast geographic area (the Board serves an area covering over 600,000 square kilometers or 72 per cent of the province). The dollar value of all home sales in October 2010 was $51.1 million, down 35 per cent from year-ago levels. Total sales numbered 306 units in October, down 28 per cent year-over-year. The total value of all properties sold was $57.5 million, a decrease of 33 per cent from October 2009. There were 482 new residential listings on the Board’s MLS® System in October 2010, edging up two units from the same month last year. Active residential listings on the Board’s MLS® System numbered 2,671 units at the end of October 2010. This is up 11 per cent from year-ago levels, but stands below 2008 levels. There were 10.1 months of inventory at the end of October, well above 6.6 months in the same month last year. The number of months of inventory is the number of months it would take to sell current inventories at the current rate of sales activity. The BC Northern Real Estate Board is an association of about 410 REALTORS® that provides services to and sets standards for members. The BC Northern Real Estate Board covers the northern part of British Columbia, including Bulkley Nechako, Cariboo, Fraser Fort George, Peace River/Fort Nelson, and Skeena/Queen Charlottes.

The information contained in this report has been prepared by The Canadian Real Estate Association, in co-operation with the B.C. Northern Real Estate Board . The information has been drawn from sources deemed to be reliable, but the accuracy and completeness of the information is not guaranteed. In providing this information, neither The Canadian Real Estate Association nor the B.C. Northern Real Estate Board assumes any responsibility or liability. Copyright©  2010 The Canadian Real Estate Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission.

 

Above copy is courtesy of:

Dean Birks

Phone (Direct): 250-612-1709

Prince George Real Estate

 

Oh, by the way. I'm never too busy for your referrals!

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Charter doesn’t protect property rights in Canada

Charter doesn’t protect property rights
By: Larry MacDonald

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 09:56:08 +0000

There is no protection for property rights in the 1982 Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Yet property rights are recognized in most other industrialized countries, and were recognized in the 1960 Canadian Bill of Rights.

The National Citizens Coalition cites several examples of governments interfering with the enjoyment or use of property: Ontario landlords’ properties devalued by provincial legislation, companies put out of business by government monopolies in Manitoba, and B.C. dairy farmers compelled to surrender parts of quotas to the Milk Board.

How did it come about that property rights were excluded from the Charter? They were in the first draft but several provinces and the NDP objected to their inclusion. So they were left out of the final version.

The provinces balked at a property-rights clause because they though it would interfere with municipal/provincial land-use regulations. The NDP objected because of “social rights” such as rent control, labour standards, native land claims, environmental regulations and division of matrimonial assets. For more details, see Property Rights and the Constitution (http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collection-R/LoPBdP/BP/bp268-e.htm).

Constitutional entrenchment of property rights is the newest campaign of the National Citizens Coalition. Those interested can visit the NCC website (http://nationalcitizens.ca/respect_property_rights.html) to learn more, sign a petition, or share their story.

Should property rights be protected in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Top Ten October 29, 2010 - BC News

This Top 10 is coming from Shanghai China as I lead the largest ever BC Lumber trade mission. Altogether we have 38 attendees including CEO's from Canfor, West Fraser, Conifex, Interex (representing Carrier and Dunkley), Tolko, Hampton and Interfor.

This mission represents phase 3 of our plan to open the Chinese market to BC lumber. Phase 1 was building code development and product knowledge. Phase 2 included wood frame construction training and building a distribution network.

Phase 3 starts now and is about marketing to large developers that are capable of using significant volumes of our lumber. That brings me to the week’s Top 10, the inside story on some of the 40 developers we are meeting with and I'm sure you'll be impressed. For translation purposes 100 square meters is about the size of a newly constructed apartment in China and is approximately 1,000 square feet.

Have a great week! Pat Bell - http://www.patbellmla.bc.ca

1)     Vanke Co. is China’s largest developing group (by $$), focusing on residential buildings. In 2009, Vanke finished new construction area of a total 5.6 million sqm, sales value of 63.4 billion RMB ($CAD 9.75 billion) with a net profit of 5.3 billion RMB ($CAD1 billion).

2)     Jinqiao Co. is responsible for Jinqiao Zone planning, construction and investment, the total area is 27 km2. In 2009, the company achieved sales of US$120 million and haJinqiao Group Biyun International Community covers 4 km2. It is a low density community with large development of villas.  More than 1000 foreign families are settled here and occupies 90 per cent of the total residence of the area.

In the next 3 years, Jinqiao is working to attract a total of 5,000 western families to live here and develop it into the biggest western community in Pudong. 100% villas and 90% of apartment buildings are for rental rather than for sale.

They’ve built 500 units of WFC villas to date, and will increase the amount of WFC used in their projects in the future as they embrace green building.

3)     Greenland – one of China’s leading integrated real estate enterprises. In 2009 ranked no 2 among Chinese real estate enterprises and 169 of top 500 Chinese companies. In 2010, it’s rank rose to #96.  Sales revenues in 2011 are targeted at CAD $21 billion.  This year, Greenland has 22 million m² of residential floor space under construction and 13 million m² of commercial floor space.

4)     BNBM is a subsidiary of China National Building Materials, which has assets of CAD$14 billion and a staff of more than 80,000.  BNBM builds 10,000 rural homes per year.

At present, it has already grown to a large state-level enterprise group integrating building materials industry investment, logistics and trading, wood products industry and housing industry development with total assets surpassing 60 Billion RMB CAD $9.2 billion and a sales turnover in excess of 30 Billion RMB （CAD $4.6 billion）.

5)     BRC has completed over 100 large property development projects to date, most located in the Southwest of China. (Chengdu, Chongqing and Kunming).

6)     Vantone , Beijing Vantone Real Estate Co., Ltd. (Code: 600246, hereinafter "Vantone") is an A-share public company on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, with the total capital stock of 507,000,000 shares. As of September 30 2008, Vantone's total assets were RMB 8382 billion （CAD $1.33 billion）（its net assets were RMB 2,632 billion （CAD $40 million. With Grade One Qualification for Real Estate Development, Vantone owns 10 holding subsidiaries and 1 affiliated company, all of which are engaged in real estate development.

With its mission of "Creating the most valuable life space", Vantone strives to be a first class real estate company by international standards. Vantone has embedded the "green" into its corporate strategy   which contains green value, green behaviour and green products, hereby leading to long-term competitiveness and the industry.

7)     TEDA  is perhaps China’s most advanced, and best, development zone. Major companies, such as Toyota, Motorola, and Samsung have their main China manufacturing bases in TEDA.  The Tianjin Economic Development Area was established in 1984.

The TEDA Group, which is the development arm of TEDA, development company (the property is very interested in enhancing its leadership in WFC and has visited B.C. and met with FII and CWG as well as industry.

There are two other wood frame office buildings that will be built, invested by TEDA. The sizes of these two building are 1200 m2 and 4000 m2.  Canada Wood will provide Quality Assurance support as well as design review. There is also a villa project in the planning stage.

8)     Longfor In 2006, Longfor was listed among “Top 100 Real Estate Developers in the PRC Real Estate Industry” by the Ministry of Commerce and the China Real Estate Association., Longfor was consistently ranked number one in the “National Residential Customers’ Satisfaction Survey” for four years in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2009. In 2007, Longfor entered into the “Top 100 China Real Estate Enterprises for Tax Contribution”. In 2008, brand name “Longhu” was accredited by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce as a “Well-known Trademark in China”. Longfor was also recognized as the “Top 10 Brand Values in the PRC Real Estate Industry” as well as the “Top 10 Outstanding Property Service and Corporate Service Quality” by the State Development and Research Center in 2008 and 2009 consecutively.

After a decade of development, Longfor has formed an all-in-one system capable of performing investment planning, project development, and commercial and residential property management operations. Its product offerings range from residential buildings, office buildings, high-rise apartment buildings, garden townhouses, luxury villas, as well as large scale shopping malls and business complex. The Company has built masterpieces in every product category.

9)     Beijing Capital Land Ltd. ("BCL") is one of the leading integrated property operators in the PRC, being listed on the main board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited in 19 June 2003 (HKEx stock code: 2868) . Its comprehensive capabilities have placed it in the top rank of the PRC's property industry.

BCL is based in Beijing and its accumulated development scale in Beijing has surpassed 5 million sq. m since its establishment with total investment of over RMB30 billion. Since 2005, it has been expanding by introducing those successful standardized property series into other cities or places. BCL has now expanded into nine cities from four large regions in China with land bank of over 10 million sqm. It owns high popularity in the market and brand influence.

10) Greentown China Holdings Limited (“Greentown” or “the Company”, and its subsidiaries the “Group”) together with its associates and jointly controlled entities (the “Greentown Group”), is one of the leading property developers in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC” or “China”). It commands a leading position in the industry by leveraging on its quality properties. From 2005 to 2010, we have been ranked for six consecutive years as one of the TOP 10 property enterprises in China jointly by four authoritative institutions, including Enterprise Research Institute of the Development Research Center of the State Council, China Real Estate Association, Qinghua University Real Estate Research Center and China Index Institute.
Since its establishment 15 years ago, the Group has been based in Zhejiang province, one of the most economically vibrant and developed provinces in the PRC. With property projects covering most of the prosperous cities in Zhejiang province such as Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Taizhou, Shaoxing and other places on the list of the Top 100 most competitive counties and county-level cities of China in Zhejiang province, the Greentown Group has built a sizable operation in the province with exceptionally high brand awareness. Due to the Group’s national expansion strategy commenced in 2000, Greentown has successfully extended its business to other important cities such as Shanghai, Nanjiang, Suzhou, Wuxi and Nantong in Yangtze River Delta, Beijing, Tianjin, Qingdao, Jinan and Dalian in Bohai Rim Economic Belt, as well as other provincial cities such as Hefei in Anhui province, Zhengzhou in Henan province, Changsha in Hunan province, Linshui in Hainan province and Urumqi in Xinjiang. This expansion has boosted the Group’s business growth and reputation further. Greentown is currently at the forefront of quality property developers in the PRC.
As at 31 December 2009, the Greentown Group’s premier land bank comprises over 30 million sq.m. of total GFA, which ensures the Group’s sustainable and steady development in the next three years. Leveraging on its quality human resources and effective corporate management structure, Greentown has established a strong presence in Zhejiang province and other cities where it has operations. The Group is confident that its excellent track record in developing high quality projects and outstanding operational capabilities has laid a solid foundation for its further expansion.

---------

The above copy courtesy of:

Dean Birks

Royal LePage Prince George

Phone (Direct): 250-612-1709

www.DeanBirks.com

 

Oh, by the way. I'm never too busy for your referrals!

 

 

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Fixed Rates continue to drop as Bank of Canada holds steady on prime

The Bank of Canada's lack of movement on prime is the best action or "non-action" to take at this time.  Mark Carney's most important comment was:  "there are too many unknowns".  World markets are struggling and we are greatly affected by their ability to do business with us.  Especially when it comes to selling our goods.  The value of our dollar determines if our customers can buy from us.  Our biggest trading partner to the south is expected to flounder for well into 2012.  Shifting our business to other markets takes time.  It will take a good act of balancing growth and maintaining what we have.

This translates into interest rates will remain at their lowest ever and may even drop further.  Currently variable rate:  prime minus .75% = 2.25% or 5-year fixed @ 3.59%

Those who have their feet firmly planted on the ground (good credit, proven, reliable income and some savings) and know what they want to do can take advantage.  Home purchase, debt consolidation, access to equity for investment are all more realistic.  (Variable rates are still the way to go for now as fixed rates continue to drop.)

Variable rates can be locked in at any time for terms of 3, 5, 7, 10 years or longer for protection against the invevitable higher rates in the future.  Long term planning for long term plans.

Everyone's position is different and deserves a review.

Thanks,

Bob Quinlan

office:  250-564-9161

#2 - 1810 Third Ave.

Prince George, BC  V2M 1G4

----------------------

Copy courtesy of:

Best regards

Dean Birks

 

Royal LePage Prince George

Phone (Direct): 250-612-1709

Prince George Real Estate

 

Oh, by the way. I'm never too busy for your referrals!

 

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

[www.vernonmortgagebroker.ca] Rate Notifier - Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Randy Kazemir   Mortgage Professional   randy.k@mortgagegrp.com   www.vernonmortgagebroker.ca Vernon Office:250.938.1258   Toll free: 1.866.680.5817   Toll free fax: 1.866.680.6035         Tools How Much will I Pay What Can I Afford Rent vs Buy   Links to Assist You   CMHC   Canada Revenue Agency ##Randy Kazemir Tuesday, October 19, 2010##       Mortgage Rates Our Rate Bank Rate 1 Year Open 6.70 % 6.70 % 1 Year Closed 2.44 % 3.40 % 2 Year 2.99 % 3.55 % 3 Year 2.90 % 4.10 % 4 Year 3.45 % 4.94 % 5 Year 3.39 % 5.29 % 7 Year 4.50 % 6.09 % 10 Year 4.75 % 6.40 % The market widely predicted the Bank of Canada would not raise rates, and it was right. The Bank of Canada has left its key lending rate at 1.00%. In turn Prime Rate will remain at 3.00%. The next and final interest rate meeting of 2010 is on December 7, 2010. For the Bank of Canada press release with the economic outlook for Canada http://www.vernonmortgagebroker.ca/newsarticle.asp?id=1958 "Helping you improve your lifestyle" Visit us at    www.vernonmortgagebroker.ca

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Pat Bell's Top 10 for Oct 9, 2010

Friday was not a great day for our forest industry as the US Softwood Lumber Coalition launched another challenge targeting BC’s Industry. It seems like every time we sign off on a deal they just can’t live with it. They have very old and inefficient mills in much of the US and can’t compete with the high quality mills here in BC. In my view we should be working together to expand the use of wood into China, India and into nontraditional uses in North America.

Other than that pretty good numbers here in BC so let’s stay positive!

Have a great week! Pat Bell - http://www.patbellmla.bc.ca/

1.   My Colleague Steve Thomson (Minister of Agriculture and Lands) is off to China along the Federal Agriculture Minister, Alberta’s Agriculture Minister and representatives from the BC Cattlemen’s Association (including local ranchers Mark Grafton and Roland Bauman) to try and get greater access to the Chinese market. I have had our Forestry folks working with the Agriculture team to prepare for the trip and while it would be unfair to expect significant sales on the first trip I do believe that we’ll see very positive results for our beef industry over time.

2.   The unemployment rate for last month in Prince George fell to 8.5 % last month. Down from 8.7% recorded in August and  3.2% lower than it had been in September of 2009 when the number of unemployed was 11.7%.  

3.   Over the past year the number of people holding down jobs has grown by 6,100 to 48,200 in our region.

4.   Part of the improvement comes from the rebound in the local housing market. Year over year housing starts are up from 73 to 124.

5.   According to Satistics Canada sawmill production in BC is up 33.7% year over year. China leads the way with a 48% year over year increase but even the United States is +16%

6.   During this same period of time Ontario’s production dropped by -1.6%, Quebec grew by +8.3% and Alberta grew by +3.4%

7.   According to BC Stats in July 2010, B.C.'s mean weekly wage was over $836, well above the national average. The average weekly wage has risen by $188 – or 29 per cent – since 2001, when it was $648.

8.   For B.C. youth under 25, the average hourly wage was $13.24 – third highest in Canada.

9.   A British Columbian who earns the average weekly wage of $836 makes over $9,750 more per year today, before taxes, than they would have in 2001, when the average weekly wage was $648.

10.               Those concerned about gang violence in our city should be aware of the Gang Crime Forum  November 1^st -6:30-9pm Ramada Hotel. Admission is free. Register at www.civicinfo.bc.ca/event/pggangcrimesummit.asp  or in person at City Hall, Service Centre for more information call 250-561-3366

-----------------------

 

The above email courtesy of:

Dean Birks

 

Royal LePage Prince George

Phone (Direct): 250-612-1709

Fax (Private): 1-888-870-4132

www.DeanBirks.com

 

Oh, by the way. I'm never too busy for your referrals!

 

 

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Looks like it could move into a Sellers Market...

As of today the single family homes listed in Prince George city limits is at 430 (on MLS®) which is quiet a bit less than normal. So tracking the numbers if listings continue to stay low the market may move from a slight buyers market to a sellers in the next while.

Best regards

Dean Birks

 

Royal LePage Prince George

Phone (Direct): 250-612-1709

Prince George Real Estate

 

Oh, by the way. I'm never too busy for your referrals!

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

North Island Midweek - Charcoal pellets studied for export

*This article can also be accessed if you copy and paste the entire address below into your web browser.
http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_north/northislandmidweek/business...

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Latest Stats for BC & Prince George Real Estate Market

Download now or preview on posterous

Prince George Real Estate Market update Sept.pdf (205 KB)

Here is (attached) a few BC Real Estate stats as well as mortgage rate trends as of late. As you will see its a good time for buyers with prices relatively flat and mortgage rates low.

 

Best regards

Dean Birks

 

Royal LePage Prince George

Direct Phone: 250-612-1709

Prince George Real Estate

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Prince George Airport Logistics Park underway.

Nice to see the YXS logistics park is started to be developed and sites available for sale.

Best regards,
Dean Birks - REALTOR
Royal LePage Prince George

Sent via BlackBerry

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Prince George wins Canada 2015 Winter Games bid.

A big congrats to all those involved in making the Winter Games bid a big success. Great job!
Best regards,
Dean Birks - REALTOR
Royal LePage Prince George

Sent via BlackBerry

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Homebuying Step by Step

Here is CMHC's Homebuying Step by Step guide to make things easier for you by providing the information you need to make a wise homebuying decision. This section provides examples and worksheets that will guide you through the entire homebuying process, from the moment you make the decision to buy your own home to the moment the movers carry the first box through the front door. It couldn't be easier! - CLICK HERE

Thought you may be interested. Cheers!

Best regards

Dean Birks

 

Royal LePage Prince George

Direct Phone: 250-612-1709

Private Fax: 1-888-870-4132

www.DeanBirks.com

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Tips for Renovating Your Basement

Want to add more space to your home without building up or out?  Look no further than your basement.  According to the   Appraisal Institute of Canada, renovating a basement can give you a 50-75% return on your investment when it comes to selling your home. Here’s how to get it done right:

Start with a plan
What type of space does your family require?  Is it an extra living space for your teenager, a playroom for the little one, or perhaps an entertainment area for all to enjoy?  Once you decide on how you want to utilize the space, you can layout your design.  If budget allows, an architect or interior designer could assist you with the layout design and make valuable suggestions.

Do it yourself or hire a professional
Depending on your skill set, budget, and time, you may want to enlist the services of a contractor who has the expertise required to finish a basement.  If you do it yourself and don't have the required time or skill to do the job correctly, you may find yourself looking at a repair bill far exceeding the amount you originally thought the project would cost.  Make an informed decision.  Be sure to carefully weigh all factors when deciding which option is right for you, while considering costs, material, labour, and equipment requirements.

Framing
Framing basement walls and ceilings is one of the most important aspects of any basement renovation. Two popular wall framing options are wood or steel studs. Wood is the classic choice.  It is versatile, easy to work with, and cost-effective.  Whereas steel, although more costly, adds a level of strength, rot resistance and won’t warp and crack like wood might over time.  Two popular ceiling framing options are dropped ceiling tiles or drywall. Dropped ceiling tiles provide easy access to pipes and wires which can be a saviour if a tub or toilet on the main level floor springs a leak.  Alternatively, dry wall ceilings offer a smooth finish and require less vertical space – a great option if your basement ceiling height is already low.

Flooring
There are plenty of basement flooring choices to choose from including laminate, linoleum, vinyl, wood and ceramic tiles.  Be sure to match your flooring choice with the intended use of the space and your geographic location.  For example, a game room may require more durable flooring than an office.  Do you live in an area with a tendency for flooding or is your location dry?  Carpet with high density under pad will offer cushion and moisture protection from the typical condensation found in basements.  Engineered hardwood made for below grade installation will flex and handle moisture better than traditional hardwood. Ceramic tile is great for bathrooms and laundry rooms and is easy to install on concrete.

Add a bathroom
Installing a bathroom in the basement is a great way to add value to your home.  Determine if you require a full bathroom or if a powder room will suffice.  Powder rooms are relatively simple to install, easy to keep clean, and won’t take up too much room.  Full three or four piece bathrooms can provide a comfortable, private, and even luxurious, space for overnight visitors to enjoy. With either option, time and costs can be reduced if bathroom fixtures are located near existing plumbing and are arranged in a line on one wall.  Be sure to check local codes for plumbing and electrical aspects of your project.

Add storage
No matter what kind of plan you come up with for your basement, remember to factor in plenty of closet or storage space.  This will enable you to de-clutter the rest of your home to keep it tidy and inviting.  Further, if you ever decide to move, having this extra storage space should appeal to just about any prospective buyer.

A finished basement can not only increase your home enjoyment but it can also add valuable square footage.  From everyday living to financial value, finished basements provide many benefits to you as a homeowner.

Hope this helps. Cheers!

 

Best regards

Dean Birks

 

Royal LePage Prince George

Direct Phone: 250-612-1709

Private Fax: 1-888-870-4132

Prince George Real Estate

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Mortgage Rates up and down

Prepare for another increase in prime next week while fixed rates continue to drop

The majority of economists are still predicting that we will still have increases to prime of .25% in at least one of the two next Bank of Canada reviews.  The next is scheduled for next Wednesday, Sept. 8th.  The fact that predictions are a little less aggressive than a couple of weeks ago acknowledges that that Canada is still tied to the world economy.  And the recovery of the world economy has slowed a little in the past few months.  Anyone who is on a "variable rate mortgage" and wonders if it is time to lock in should still wait for a while.  Although prime may go up as much as another .50% in the next few months that will still leave most people in variable rate mortgages at around 2.50% (+/-).  Five-year fixed rates are still as low as 3.64% to 3.89%.

While fixed rates continue to fall, variable rate mortgages still have the greatest savings.  Now, I could fill the rest of the page with a lot of rhetoric that I pick from the pundits...however, it is Friday afternoon leading in to the Labor Day long weekend and I'm not sure many will read on.  If you have any specific questions regarding your mortgage I would be glad to hear from you.

Bob Quinlan

250-565-8444

Mortgage Alliance

#2 - 1810 Third Avenue

Prince George, BC

www.pgmortgages.ca

-------------------------

Hope you enjoy this email above I received from Bob. Cheers!

 

Best regards

Dean Birks

 

Royal LePage Prince George

Direct Phone: 250-612-1709

Prince George Real Estate

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

BMO cuts mortgage rate to spur home buying

Good News for this fall here in Prince George Real Estate!

http://www.financialpost.com/m/news/story.html?id=3469471

Best regards,
Dean Birks - REALTOR
Royal LePage Prince George

Sent via BlackBerry

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

2 Acres on Cluculz Lake Water Front. Rare Find!!

Just listed 2 Acres on Waterfront with home and barn. A rare find on Cluculz Lake. Click here for details

 

Best regards

Dean Birks

 

Royal LePage Prince George

Direct Phone: 250-612-1709

Prince George Real Estate

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Ness Lake Water Front!

New Listing - Executive home on 16.64 acres & one of the nicest waterfront developments on Ness Lake.

Click here to view details. Priced at $699,800.

 

Best regards

Dean Birks

 

Royal LePage Prince George

Direct Phone: 250-612-1709

Prince George Real Estate

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Top 10 on the reasons she stayed in Prince George

This week’s Top 10 is an edition from my summer Constituency Assistant,  Lindsay Gardner. Lindsay is originally from Ladysmith, BC (on Vancouver Island) but moved to Prince George in 2006 to attend UNBC for one semester.  Nearly 5 years later, Lindsay still loves life in Northern British Columbia. She has written this week’s Top 10 on the reasons she stayed in Prince George.

Have a great week! Pat Bell  http://www.patbellmla.bc.ca/

1.      The University of Northern British Columbia!  As McLean Magazine’s Best Small School in the West, I ventured to Prince George in January 2006 for my first semester of University in hopes of only staying one semester. Almost five years later I am proud to call Canada’s Green University my own! The growth of UNBC over the past 5 years, including the Northern Medical Program, the Northern Sports Center, and the Northern University Student Center has truly helped shape our wonderful city.

2.      The array of hiking trails is enough to keep one busy all summer and winter long! I was never much of a hiker until I moved to Prince George, since than I have discovered beautiful trails including the Forest of the Worlds behind UNBC, Fort George Canyon west of Prince George and teapot mountain just to name a few that I have done recently but one hike that I am anxious to do still is Bijoux Falls closer to Mackenzie.

3.       What would summer in Prince George be without River Floating? This is one of my favorite activities in the summer months. Each year there are a group of friends that bond together to river float day in and day out. The best place to launch is from Wilkinson Park off Miworth road and float all the way down to Wilson Park off Ospika but make sure that you are all being safe and have enough time to complete the float in the day light. This route usually takes around 5 hours.

4.      British Columbia has over 1000 forestry camping sites, many of which are in Northern British Columbia.  On Vancouver Island these sites are so difficult to find that this is another one of my favorite things about Prince George.  By car I can make it to many different sites and lakes for a weekend of camping. Did I mention forestry sites are beautiful and free!

5.      The first time I made a visit to Northern British Columbia, I went to Fort Nelson in March and it was quite dark and there wasn’t a lot of daylight. The first summer I spent in Prince George I just couldn’t get over how early the sun rose and how late it set! With long days, visiting with your friends around a campfire can last for so long and makes summer in the North truly remarkable.

6.      Prince George is full of recreational sports for athletes of all different levels. This year I had the opportunity to join the PG Mix Slo-Pitch league which is just one of the many different sports available throughout the summer not to mention the winter sports you can play including curling, hockey, swimming just to name a few. For a list of contacts for the different clubs and teams around town visit: http://www.city.pg.bc.ca/rec_culture/communityrec/contact/

7.      Saturdays rain or shine are Farmers Market days in Prince George. You can visit the farmers market every Saturday year round now for everything from fresh bread, jams, meats, vegetables and fruit.  The Farmers Market is open from 8:30-2:00pm every Saturday and usually you can find live music and good friends!

8.      Where else in British Columbia can you find some of the best powder in the country? Powder King! Northern BC’s mountain for champagne powder and pristine conditions. PK is not the largest mountain but when people ask me if there is any good skiing or snowboarding my answer is always a quick yes! The conditions are some of the best I have ever experienced and you don’t have to wait in line for an hour each time you ride the chair lift.

9.      Living in Northern British Columbia is very different than living on the ocean, and some days I miss that. However, when its -20 outside and you wake up to start your day in the dark, watch the sun rise and the day turn into a beautiful sunny crisp afternoon you can’t help but smile. I love how the sun shines all winter long and you need your sunglasses every morning on your way to work or school.

10.  Prince George is the Northern Capital of BC and offers endless entertainment. From the Park-Drive in Movie theatre to live music in Fort George Park or at UNBC for the Back Yard BBQ. Let’s not forget the world famous shows CN Center can bring including Sir Elton John and The Blue Man group. With entertainment like this there is never a dull evening in Prince George.

Copy courtesy of:

Best regards

Dean Birks

 

Royal LePage Prince George

Direct Phone: 250-612-1709

Prince George Real Estate

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Forward of our MLA's Top 10

July 2010,

Hi All

In the ongoing spirit of “Guest” Top 10 writers I’ve asked Finance Minister Colin Hansen to remind us of the “Top 10” tax cuts of special interest to rural BC Residents over the past number of years. Tax cuts that help to build the economy on clearly this strategy has worked over the years.

Have a great week!

Pat Bell - http://www.patbellmla.bc.ca

1.       Personal Income Tax Reductions

·         Individuals earning up to $118,000 in British Columbia now pay the lowest provincial personal income taxes in Canada.

·         For the majority of taxpayers, provincial income taxes have been reduced by at least 37 per cent since 2001 and an additional 325,000 people no longer pay any British Columbia income tax.

2.       Northern and Rural Home Owner Benefit

·         The northern and rural home owner benefit of up to $200 will be introduced in 2011. It will be provided as an increase to the home owner grant and the eligibility criteria for the home owner grant will also apply.  

·         The northern and rural benefit applies in those areas of the province outside the Capital Regional District, the Greater Vancouver Regional District and the Fraser Valley Regional District.

3.       First Time Home Buyers Program Threshold Set at Province Wide Rate

·         Eligible first time home buyers can claim an exemption from Property Transfer Tax if the fair market value of the home is less than the threshold amount. In Budget 2007 a single threshold was created for the First Time Home Buyers’ Program at $375,000.  Prior to this the threshold was $325,000 in the Lower Mainland and Capital Region and $265,000 in the rest of the province.

·         The single threshold at the increased amount means that more individuals buying homes outside the Lower Mainland and Capital Region may be eligible for the First Time Home Buyers’ Program.  The current threshold for the First Time Home Buyers’ Program province-wide is $425,000.

4.       Tax Reductions for Small Business

·         In 2008, the small business tax rate was reduced from 4.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent — a reduction of 44 per cent.  The government has committed to reducing the small business corporate income tax rate to zero by April 1, 2012.

·         Since 2001, the small business corporate income tax threshold (i.e., the income level at which small businesses start paying tax) has increased to $500,000 from $200,000.

5.       Provincial Farm Land Property Tax Credit

·         Effective for the 2011 and subsequent taxation years, the Provincial Farm Land Property Tax Credit will reduce provincial school property tax on farm land (class 9) by 50 per cent.

6.       Industrial Property Tax Credit

·         The Industrial Property Tax Credit which reduces provincial school property tax on major industrial (class 4) and light industrial (class 5) properties was introduced for the 2009 and subsequent taxation years. For 2009 and 2010, the credit reduced school taxes by 50 percent. For the 2011 and subsequent taxation years, the rate is increased to 60 per cent.

·         The Industrial Property Tax Credit applies to British Columbia manufacturing, mining, forestry and other major and light industries many of which are located in the province’s rural areas.

7.       Harmonization

·         Major industries such as forestry, mining, oil and gas, and transportation provide thousands of jobs for rural and remote communities. BC’s resource and manufacturing sectors will benefit significantly from the HST as their business inputs and exports are no longer taxed.

·         Sales tax harmonization will account for an $11.5 billion increase in capital investment and a net increase of 113,000 jobs by the end of the decade, according to a report by economist and tax expert Jack Mintz.

8.       BC Mining Exploration and Flow-Through Share Tax Credits

·         The BC Mining Exploration Tax Credit provides a refundable tax credit equal to 20 per cent of eligible BC Grassroots mineral exploration expenditures.  In mountain pine beetle affected areas there is an additional 10 per cent credit to a maximum of 30 per cent.

·         The BC Mining Flow-Through Share Tax Credit allows individuals who invest in flow through shares to claim a non-refundable tax credit equal to 20 per cent of their BC eligible grassroots exploration expenditures.  The 2010 BC Budget extended the BC Mining Flow-Through Share Tax Credit to December 31, 2013.

9.       Distant Region Film Tax Credit

·         BC film tax credits are designed to encourage film, television, digital animation and visual effects production in BC.

·         For productions distant from the lower mainland and the capital regional district an additional credit is available to encourage production activity in those areas.

10.   Corporate Income Tax Rate Reductions

·         Reductions in the corporate income tax rate from 16.5 per cent to 10.5 per cent since 2001 and the planned reduction to 10 per cent in 2011, combined with federal tax rate cuts that will take effect in 2012, mean that British Columbia businesses will enjoy the lowest corporate income tax rate in the G7 by 2012.

Reprint courtesy of:

 

Best regards

Dean Birks

 

Royal LePage Prince George

Direct Phone: 250-612-1709

Prince George Real Estate

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Let the Construction Begin

By 250 News

Friday, June 25, 2010 02:54 PM

Councillor Cameron Stolz, Mayor Dan Rogers, Minister of Transportation Shirley Bond, Henry Remple, and Minister of Forests and Range Pat Bell, do the initial digging to mark the start of Boundary Road construction

Prince George. B.C. – With the toss of some gravel, the long awaited construction of Boundary Road in Prince George is set to begin.

Representatives from the City, Province and the private investors, took time this afternoon to celebrate the awarding of the construction contract to WIC construction and to kick off the work.

At a gathering just off Gunn Road, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Shirley Bond, said the construction of Boundary road is a key element in the economic future of Northern B.C, “ Today says, we are ready for business , we are ready to move forward.”

That moving forward means the development of a logistics park and light industrial park. Some of the property is on lands owned by the Prince George Airport, while the bulk of the property is privately held. Henry Remple is one of the private land holders who have put up $6.5 million dollars towards the cost of the development of Boundary Road.

Boundary Road has been on the radar for the City of Prince George since the 1970’s. It is the first step in developing a ring road around Prince George that will keep heavy truck traffic out of the downtown core, provide   a much quicker route between highway 97 south and highway 16 east, and will act as a dangerous goods route as well.

The overall cost of the project is $28 million, with the Federal and Provincial Government’s contributing $7.5 million each, while the City and Private land developers contributed $6.5 million each.

The construction of Boundary Road is expected to be a significant positive factor for Initiatives Prince George as it moves forward to sell the Logistics Park development on the Airport Lands. IPG CEO Tim McEwan says while there has been a great deal of interest expressed by   Asian logistics companies, the actual construction of the road will show that the project is “real” . “This construction will open up 3,000 acres of  light industrial lands” says McEwan who says the construction also marks the culmination of two years of work that involved everything from convincing the Agricultural Land reserve to release the properties from the ALR to convincing the senior levels of government  that this was a project worthy of their financial support.

Construction of the Boundary Road intersection with highway 97 south will be completed as part of the Cariboo Connector upgrades already underway.

The two lane roadway is expected to be complete in the fall of 2011.   Construction will include:

• 6.8 kms of undivided 2 lane  roadway including bike lane
• Pedestrian sidewalk complete with street lighting
• storm, sanitary  and watermains
• new intersections at highway 16 East and Highway 97 South
• roundabout intersection  at  current Boeing/Gunn Road intersection

Private land owner Henry Remple says he is hopeful of starting the first phase of his logistics park as soon as he has detailed information on his property’s access to Boundary Road.

Copy courtesy of:

 

Best regards

Dean Birks

 

Royal LePage Prince George

Direct Phone: 250-612-1709

Prince George Real Estate

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Final project agreement cost for the new Cancer Centre

Prince George, B.C.- The final project agreement cost for the new Cancer Centre to be built in Prince George has been reached. And the building will feature... Click Here for details. (pdf file).

 

Best regards

Dean Birks

 

Royal LePage Prince George

Direct Phone: 250-612-1709

Prince George Real Estate

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Agreements for Highway 37 Transmission Line Signed

By 250 News

Friday, May 28, 2010 03:40 PM

Victoria, B.C. -   Agreements signed today will  help  set the stage for the development of the Northwest Transmission Line.

Clean energy agreements between BC Hydro, British Columbia Transmission Corporation (BCTC), Coast Mountain Hydro L.P., a wholly owned  subsidiary of AltaGas Income Trust Ltd. (AltaGas) and the Tahltan Nation will  help to create jobs, provide clean and renewable electricity to B.C.'s Northwest, and power the development of the Northwest Transmission Line (NTL)

The agreements, which will support construction of the NTL, include:

* A $180-million umbrella agreement between AltaGas and BCTC for the construction and development of the NTL.
* An electricity-purchase agreement between BC Hydro and AltaGas for the Forrest Kerr clean energy project near Bob Quinn Lake.
* An impact-benefit agreement between AltaGas and the Tahltan Nation for the Forrest Kerr project.

The NTL project also includes $130 million in funding through the Government of Canada's Green Infrastructure Fund, announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper last September. The estimated ratepayer contribution to the NTL will be
$94 million, which is expected to be offset by contributions from future clean, renewable energy projects and/or mine developments.

The NTL is a $404-million, 287-kilovolt, 335-kilometre, publicly owned transmission line from Skeena Substation (near Terrace) to Bob Quinn Lake. It will provide a secure interconnection point for clean generation projects, supply clean electricity to support industrial developments in the area, and reduce greenhouse gas emission by enabling communities now relying on diesel generation to connect to the grid.

An application for an environmental assessment certificate for the NTL was accepted by the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office on April 14, 2010. The 180-day application review period is underway, and public meetings have been
held in the project area.

Construction of the NTL is scheduled to begin in late 2010 and will create an estimated 280 construction jobs, subject to receiving necessary environmental assessment and regulatory approvals and accommodation of First Nations' interests.

Above copy courtesy of:

 

Best regards

Dean Birks

 

Royal LePage Prince George

Prince George Real Estate

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Create New Downtown in 2 Years - Prince George BC

DBIA Has Mission to Create New Downtown in 2 Years

By 250 News

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 05:21 PM

DBIA Vision for  downtown:  A-Public market and artists loft; B-Multi use development; C - Downtown Wood Innovation Design Centre; D - Student Housing; E- Expo building; F- Performing Arts Centre; G- Parking Building; H- access to riverfront  Heritage Trail; I-Mixed Use development; J-Commonwealth Gardens-seniors housing; K-Commonwealth Health

Prince George, B.C.- The new DBIA in Prince George has presented a vision for the downtown of the city which calls for public-private partnerships,   some private investment, and a shared vision with the City of Prince George.

The   vision depicts a downtown that has been transformed by a variety of “incentives” for development. The incentives include low development cost charges, guaranteed approval times,  and revitalization tax “incentives”. Presenter Heather Oland specifically changed the word from exemptions to “incentives” and says it need not be offered to everyone, perhaps just to the first three developers who get on board, perhaps only to certain sectors but that everyone agrees the fundamental building blocks for the downtown are a university campus ( wood innovation centre) a performing arts centre and housing.

The DBIA strongly supports 20, 30 or 40 year tax exemptions to spark new development. Oland says an empty lot worth $56 thousand today would still generate taxes for the City if the value of improvements to that lot (putting a building on it) were   given the tax break.   “It’s controversial, but let’s have that public discussion” she told a gathering at a downtown hotel.

The DBIA held a strategic planning session in April of this year and emerged with a Vision ( to create a new downtown), and a mission (to create a new downtown by 2012). That Vision sees  the construction of the wood innovation and design centre  on land ( former P.G. Hotel property) which the  company headed up by the DBIA’s  Treasurer Dan McLaren  sold to the City of Prince George.

The plan also sees property on the east and west sides of George Street developed for a performing arts centre and a P.G. “expo” centre it would be  “A gateway to the downtown” Oland told the group.

The block between Dominion  and Quebec streets bounded by 5^th and 6^th Avenues, would be home to student housing (currently it is home to the Italian club,  a bowling alley and a parking lot), while the block at 3^rd and George across from the Courthouse would become a market with an artists loft.  

Copy courtesy of:

 

Dean Birks

Royal LePage Prince George

Direct Phone: 250-612-1709

Prince George Real Estate

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Get CMHC & other info on your wireless.

If you are on the go and every need access to insurer information? Visit www.cmhc.ca/wireless , www.genworth.ca/wireless or www.canadaguaranty.ca/mobile from your handheld device. Hope this helps.

Best regards

Dean Birks

Royal LePage Prince George

Direct Phone: 250-612-1709

Prince George Real Estate

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Prince George Market Summary - Q1 2010 - CMHC

Download now or preview on posterous

Prince George Market Summary__Q1_May_2010.pdf (2011 KB)

Here is attached report of CMHC's 1st quarter market summary for Prince George Real Estate.

Hope you enjoy.

Best regards

Dean Birks

Royal LePage Prince George

Direct Phone: 250-612-1709

Private Fax: 1-888-870-4132

Prince George Real Estate

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Open House - Asher Place - Seniors Living

If someone you know is or has been looking for a true seniors living strata complex this is it! Asher Place. Open House this Sunday May 16, 2010 from 1 to 2:30pm at 2889 Ferry  Ave, Unit 503, Prince George BC. View this home as well as the Rec Center, Community Hall facilities. The best 55+ living in Prince George.

For more details visit www.DeanBirks.com

Best regards

Dean Birks

Royal LePage Prince George

Direct Phone: 250-612-1709

Prince George Real Estate

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

National Royal LePage Garage will be held locally at Prince George office.

Where will you be on Saturday May 15th? Find the nearest RLP office hosting our National Garage Sale for Shelter! http://ow.ly/1JDbt

Best regards,
Dean Birks - REALTOR
Royal LePage Prince George

Sent via BlackBerry

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

2 more great news items for Prince George BC

For your convenience here is two latest news items for Prince George BC.

One is the Delegation that came to Prince George to explore the Logistics Opportunities and the other was the renovations to the hospital in preparation for the cancer clinic.

See attached pdf.

Cheers!

Best regards

Dean Birks

Royal LePage Prince George

Direct Phone: 250-612-1709

MLS Prince George

Download now or preview on posterous

Delegation Explores Logistics Opportunities.pdf (71 KB)

Download now or preview on posterous

Renovations Begin At Hospital for Cancer Centre.pdf (100 KB)

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Lots of good news on the economic front for Prince George & BC

Just more good news for Prince George and BC. Thought I would pass along. Cheers!

---------------------

Hi All

There is lots of good news on the economic front right now with new unemployment numbers released yesterday, credit ratings, lumber prices and a general sense of optimism. Perhaps the Spring season brings out the best in everyone but it sure is nice to see some solid economic indicators.

This past week I had 2 different bills in front of the House, the Net Zero Deforestation Act and an Amendment to the Forest Act. The Net Zero Deforestation is world leading and will ensure we have trees to harvest well into the future. It does not create penalties for cutting trees down but will create incentives for planting trees in deforested areas. The Amendment bill does a number of things including allowing for a new type of scaling that facilitates getting wood to secondary users such as fence post and rail and bioenergy manufacturers.

This weekend I’m in the Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life and plan on doing a 10k run later today. Sunday will be Mothers Day with Brenda and her Mom. We’ll spend the day getting Brenda’s garden ready to go and her hanging baskets, our usual Mothers Day tradition.

Have a great week!  

Pat Bell - http://www.patbellmla.bc.ca/

 

1.       According to Opinion 250 “There were 5,000 jobs created  in the  Cariboo region last month and that  was a big boost to making the unemployment rate plunge. In Prince George the rate  is now 6.9%,  down 4.9% from April of last year. The Cariboo region's rate is now 8.2%, down from 12% a year ago. Provincially  the rate fell  as well, as the B.C. rate is 7.3%, down  from 7.6% Nationally, the rate  remained unchanged at 8.1.”

2.       Due to strong lumber prices, effective June 1, B.C.’s softwood lumber producers will no longer pay any tax on their shipments to the U.S.. (China and Japan shipments have been except from any border tax all the way along.) Under the 2006 Softwood Lumber Agreement, companies exporting softwood lumber to the United States are required to pay an export tax on their shipments. The formula for determining the tax is based on the average price over a four-week period 21 days before the start of the month. The higher the average lumber price is, the lower the export tax. In this case, since the four-week average lumber price, as given by the Random Lengths Framing Composite Price Index, is now $US361 per thousand board feet, the export tax rate that will be in effect June 1, will be zero.

3.       According to the Canadian Press (CP) “VANCOUVER _ A bond rating agency has given B.C. a glowing economic report, upholding the province's debt rating and suggesting it could return to a balanced budget a year earlier than expected. The Dominion Bond Rating Service is maintaining B.C.'s long and short-term debt ratings at high, noting B.C. has one of the lowest debt burdens among all provinces. However, it also says it expects the debt to grow over the next two years because of higher spending on health and public works stimulus projects before debt loads begin to shrink again. The service says the province's forecast for economic growth of 2.2 per cent this year appears conservative in the face of private sector projections of 3.4 per cent. Dominion says revenues from taxes and natural resources are expected to rise over the next two years, along with federal transfers related to the harmonized sale tax and the province might return to a balanced budget by the 2012-2013 fiscal year, instead of the following year. When Finance Minister Colin Hansen brought down his budget in March, he said the province hoped to wipe out its $1.7 billion deficit by the 2013-2014 fiscal year.

4.        A two-year agreement has been ratified with the Province’s public service employees. The agreement covers more than 27,000 members of the B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union, who provide expertise in a variety of areas from frontline workers to researchers and analysts, to system technicians and others. Public servants perform a wide range of occupations that provide British Columbians with the services they rely on, including health care, public safety, education and environmental management, to name a few.

5.        British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Alberta launched the New West Partnership, creating an economic powerhouse of nine million people with a combined GDP of more than $550 billion. The New West Partnership is an ambitious agreement that will create Canada’s largest interprovincial barrier-free trade and investment market and see the three westernmost provinces work together in unprecedented ways to the benefit of workers, businesses and investors in all three provinces.

6.        Small businesses in rural B.C. will benefit from amendments – introduced  under a Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act – that will enable the Forestry Community Business Loans Program to assist a broader range of rural small businesses. The program, called the Community Business Loans Program, will continue to provide repayable, interest-bearing loans of up to $150,000 to small and medium-sized businesses to support the diversification of rural economies, innovation in private sector enterprise, and the creation of new employment opportunities . Loan applications will continue to be assessed and approved by development corporations in accordance with the eligibility criteria set out in the amended contribution agreements.

7.        British Columbia’s new Clean Energy Act sets the foundation for a new future of electricity self-sufficiency, job creation and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, powered by unprecedented investments in clean, renewable energy across the province. Bill 17 builds upon British Columbia’s unique heritage advantages and wealth of clean, renewable energy resources. The act advances 16 specific energy objectives by expediting clean energy investments, protecting B.C. ratepayers, ensuring competitive rates, encouraging conservation, strengthening environmental protection and aggressively promoting regional job creation and First Nations involvement in clean electricity development opportunities.

8.       Amendments to the Emergency and Health Services Act as part of a miscellaneous bill supports government’s commitment to integrate the ambulance service more closely with the health system, particularly in rural and remote areas, with innovative ways to enhance and expand the role that paramedics play in serving patients. By bringing paramedics closer to the health system, they will be empowered to make health-care decisions to improve patient care. Examples of where the Province sees paramedics providing additional support include dealing with people who have chronic diseases in residential-care facilities, joining home- and community-care workers in supporting clients in their homes, and providing care in emergency departments. This will really help smaller communities like Mackenzie where many of the paramedics are on call only.

9.        The newly-formed Wood Enterprise Coalition, backed with $1.75 million in seed funding, will help B.C. achieve its Wood First objectives. The Wood Enterprise Coalition is a partnership between WoodWORKS! BC, FPInnovations, and the BC Wood Specialties Group. As outlined in the Wood Enterprise Coalition memorandum of understanding, the partners will co-ordinate their efforts to support the value-added forest product sector through promotion, education, training, product development and innovation. Governed by the managing organizations and supported by an advisory board, the coalition structure allows for additional resources and new participants to join as it moves forward.

10.    The Province will extend provincial incentives for the popular LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive Program for participants entering the program as of April 1, 2010. The BC 2010 budget announced a further investment of $35 million for the LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive Program, which provides financial support to households for energy assessments and energy efficiency building retrofits. These incentives are being provided in partnership with provincial utility providers, Terasen Gas, BC Hydro, and FortisBC. This financial commitment has helped to ensure that the program continues. The incentives being offered are almost the same as the original 2008 LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive Program incentives.

This has been forwarded as a courtesy by:

Best regards

Dean Birks

Royal LePage Prince George

Prince George Real Estate

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Initiatives Prince George April 2010 Newsletter

Download now or preview on posterous

InitiativesPGApril2010Newsletter.pdf (1178 KB)

I find this newsletter to be very informative and thought you may also enjoy.

Have a super day!

Best regards

Dean Birks

Royal LePage Prince George

Direct Phone: 250-612-1709

Private Fax: 1-888-870-4132

Prince George Real Estate

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate

Site C Dam Project

More good info from our MLA, Pat Bell.

------------------------------------

Hi All

Sorry I'm really late this week with my Top 10. I had a very busy weekend in Mackenzie with the annual Chamber of Commerce Spring Exposition. This year’s Exposition was very well attended and the mood was positive with everyone looking forward to the re-opening of the Paper Excellence pulp mill and the Conifix sawmills. In addition, I was able to announce a new funding model for the payment of Physicians in Mackenzie. This new salaried model is based on a pilot that has worked very well in Fraser Lake. The stability that has been seen in Fraser Lake will really help support Mackenzie’s long term health care goals.

In addition, last week I attended the "Site C" announcement and what a great day it was. The project has the potential to add significantly to the economic outlook of both Prince George and Mackenzie. This week I will focus the Top 10 on some of the details of Site C.

Have a great week!

Pat

1.       Stats on the Site C Clean Energy Project (Site C):

a.       It will be a third dam and hydroelectric generating station on the Peace River in northeast B.C.

b.       It will be an earthfill dam, approximately 1,100 metres in length, and 60 metres high above the river bed.

c.       The reservoir will be approximately 83 kilometres long and will be, on average, two to three times the width of the current river.

2.       Site C will contribute to the local and provincial economy by creating an estimated 7,650 direct construction jobs through the construction period, and up to 35,000 direct and indirect jobs through all stages of the project.

3.      As a source of firm energy, Site C will facilitate the development of clean energy projects by providing additional capacity to back up intermittent resources, such as wind, run-of-river hydro and solar.

4.       The Site C Clean Energy Project will help meet B.C.’s future electricity needs by providing 900 megawatts of capacity and 4,600 gigawatt hours of electricity each year

5.      Source of clean and renewable energy for over 100 years.  Producing enough energy to power approximately 410,000 homes per year.  BC’s electricity needs are forecast to increase by 20 to 40 per cent in the next 20 years, as the province’s population is estimated to grow by more than one million people.  Site C will allow British Columbians to continue to enjoy the benefits of clean, reliable and affordable electricity in the future.

6.       As the third project on one river system, Site C will gain significant efficiencies by taking advantage of water already stored in the Williston Reservoir. This means that Site C would generate about 30 per cent of the energy produced at W.A.C. Bennett Dam, with only five per cent of the reservoir area.

7.       To compensate for recreational impacts and opportunities identified through environmental and regulatory reviews, options to support or enhance new opportunities will be identified.  As an example, the reservoir would offer new lake based recreation and tourism opportunities such as boating, fishing, hiking and camping.

8.       The Site C Clean Energy Project will produce among the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per gigawatt-hour, when compared with other forms of electricity generation. This will help B.C. further displace fossil fuel-generated electricity with clean energy.

9.       Site C will prepare our province for the emerging electrification of the transportation sector — including rail, ports and electric plug-in vehicles — and other technologies aimed at reducing fossil fuel dependency will eventually place new demands on our electricity system. For example, early forecasts suggest that between 10 per cent and 60 per cent of vehicles purchased by 2025 will be plug-in hybrid electric or all electric.

10.   Site C will be a heritage asset of BC Hydro, which means it would be publicly owned by the people of B.C. in perpetuity.

--------------------------

For Real Estate info just call or email. Cheers!

Best regards

Dean Birks

Royal LePage Prince George

Direct Phone: 250-612-1709

Private Fax: 1-888-870-4132

Prince George Real Estate

 

 

Posted via email from Prince George Real Estate