Canada’s housing market is slowing down its decline with sales growth in several cities, most notable of which is Calgary,

The Canadian housing market has slowed its decline to 3.1 per cent year over year, with a 0.6 per cent increase in home sales last month, according to BMO Chief Economist Doug Porter, citing recent data from the Canadian Real Estate Association.

Porter notes that since the implementation of new mortgage insurance rules in July 2012, Canadian housing market sales have risen in three out of the four previous months based on seasonal adjustments.

“Most of the other key metrics are also fully in line with a well-tamed market,” said Porter. “Sales to listings stand at just over the 50 per cent line, and the backlog of unsold homes is now at an unremarkable 6.6 months.”

The report notes that the market’s stability is even more evident when considering the steady increase in Canadian housing market prices.

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“Despite concerns, Canadian home prices remain incredibly calm, cool, and collected,” said Porter. “Every major index for home prices is now up between 1.3 per cent and 2.2 per cent from year-ago levels. The MLS Price Index, a measure of repeat sales in seven of the largest cities, is at the top end of that range, while average transactions prices are at the low end.”

Porter points out the narrow and persistent increase in Canadian housing market prices among Canada’s 26 biggest cities as further debunking speculations of a hard landing.

“While some are highlighting the fact that prices are now rising at their slowest pace since the 2009 recession, the plain facts are that they are still rising faster than inflation, and prices are at all-time highs, suggesting concerns of a meltdown were unfounded,” says Porter.

Porter also highlights stabilization in Vancouver’s housing market despite its weakness with a sales decline of six per cent from April last year and average prices keeping steady.

Conditions in Toronto are similar with a five per cent sales decline from last year and a two per cent increase in prices.

Calgary remains relatively strong with a 10 per cent sales increase year over year and price growth of up to four per cent.

“If planning to buy or sell a property, consider working with an expert who can help you make decisions that are appropriate to the health of your local market, and more importantly, that responsibly fit within your particular financial situation,” says BMO Bank of Montreal Mortgage Expert Laura Parsons.

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In the 154-pound title fight, Remy Lavoie (black trunks with white) defeated Shawn McDonald (black with red). Photo: Lev Jackson.

Lavoie, Codilla and Yager triump at WBC Western Championships

Friday night the Cascades Casino in Langley played host to the WBC Western Championships. When the dust settled, three more B.C. pugilist qualified themselves for the first-ever WBC Canadian championships in July.

In the light middleweight (154 pounds) WBC Western Championships, Remy Lavoie from North Burnaby Boxing Club was a long shot as be battled hometown favorite and B.C. champion Shawn “Fatty” McDonald.

Shawm McDonald fans showed up in force to support their fighter Friday night. Photo: Lev Jackson.

The crowd erupted for McDonald’s ring entrance and fans could be seen screaming and holding signs for their Langley fighter.

Going into the bout McDonald had over 20 fights under his belt, while for Lavoie this was just his ninth trip into the squared circle in his very first year of competition.

The moment the bell rang the gap in experience appeared to vanish as Lavoie boxed a crisp, smart fight, working behind his jab and controlling the ring.

Lavoie set the tone the whole fight until late in the third round.

McDonald, clearly behind on the scorecards started to charge at a tiring Lavoie. With the crowd trying to will him to a late knockout victory, McDonald took it to his foe and landed some good leather, but it wasn’t enough.

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The judges’ scores, though disappointing, were no surprise to the fans as Lavoie punched his ticket to the WBC Canadian championships this July.

Remy Lavoie with his father following the fighter’s victory over Shawn McDonald. Photo: Lev Jackson.

“I was training hard for this, I knew it would be a tough fight. He’s a champion, it was a tough fight for sure,” said an ecstatic Lavoie.

“It’s unreal, I couldn’t imagine I would make it this far in a year, fighting for the Canadian title, it’s great.”

In a very spirited super featherweight (130 pounds) WBC Western Championships bout, Francis Codilla and Raj Somal went to toe-to-toe for all three rounds of the fight.

In the first two rounds, it looked as though the match was up for grabs as both fighters did everything they could to get the edge on the other with neither taking a clear advantage.

The two were sparring partners before the fight, so there were few secrets between the two.

During the second round this was apparent when Somal switched from orthodox to southpaw stance. Moments after the adjustment Codilla’s coach Kevin Reynolds howled from the corner “I told you he would switch to southpaw!”

With a WBC Western Championships title shot at stake both men left it in the ring the final round, with Codilla landing sharp straight left hands to close the fight strong and earned a unanimous decision.

Jen Yager (black and yellow) defeated Jillian Sask (black and white). Photo: Lev Jackson.

In the WBC Western Championships women’s lightweight (135-pound) championship fight Jen Yager of Action Boxing Club controlled the bout against Jillian Sask of Port Kells Boxing.

Yager, the most experienced of the women entered in the tournament pressed the fight behind a solid jab that left Sask hesitant to throw.

“The fight was a lot of fun. It was a lot of fun to get in there to test and see how my training has progressed over the past couple of months.”

The victory made Yager the first-ever WBC women’s western Canadian champion. The thought of a Canadian title shot in the near future is still surreal to her.

“It’s NUTS! That is just something I’ve not even thought about. It just seems a bit unreal to me, now that its within my reach, it’s extremely exciting and I have to work hard for the next to months. It’s real and it’s an honour to have that opportunity.”

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Alberta international strategy will see new offices in India, Brazil and south China

Alison Redford announced an Alberta international strategy that will see the province opening international offices in India, Brazil and China, Photo: Christopher Walsh.

Premier Alison Redford announced an Alberta international strategy Friday that she says will open up world markets for all of Alberta resources, not just energy.

The project will involve the province opening up new international offices in Chicago, Singapore, India, Brazil and California over the next two years. The province will also double its efforts in Beijing and co-locate its Shanghai office with the federal government and establish a new office in southern China.

All of it in an effort to open new markets, attract international investment and offer more support for Alberta-based businesses.

“We’re going to build up Alberta as a force to be reckoned with in the international economy,” Redford said at a press conference at the University of Calgary.

“One of the challenges we face is to not look long-term enough with respect to how to build markets. Markets do not get built over night. I think it’s exactly the sensible thing to do.”

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The provincial government has focused on building new markets for Alberta’s energy resources, but Redford said it is crucial to look for new markets for all of Alberta’s resources, including agriculture, forestry and tourism.

“Building new markets is job one for our government,” Redford said. “This is about creating opportunities for our businesses and entrepreneurs so we can keep growing our economy.”

Alberta taking a leadership role in international markets is good for the province, said International and Intergovernmental Relations Minister Cal Dallas.

“Alberta must demonstrate leadership to the world, particularly on responsible energy development,” he said. “But we must also highlight our energy initiatives with a broader set of Alberta strengths including those in agriculture, forestry, education, tourism, culture and education.”

Other highlights of the Alberta international strategy include the creation of an Alberta International Development Office to help share the province’s expertise with developing countries, a greater focus on advocacy efforts around agriculture, energy, forestry, education and innovation and the creation of a small and medium sized enterprise export council to improve communications between government and other stakeholders.

Enhancing market access will be key, Dallas said. While Alberta exports totalled $95 billion last year, Dallas said, 86 per cent went to the United States.

“Investing in opportunities that will pay dividends for the future of Alberta is the right and responsible action to take,” he said.

Dallas said the new costs of the program will be covered by a redistribution of the $10.5 million price tag for operating the province’s international office network. The new Alberta international strategy is expected to cost an extra $1.3 million this budget year.

The province expects to open up four of the new international offices this year and another two offices in 2014.

Rhianne Larocque identified as woman abducted near Rexall Place Thursday morning.

The Edmonton Police Service has identified 29-year old Rhianne Larocque as the woman believed to have been abducted near Rexall Place on Thursday afternoon.

Scott Pattison of the Edmonton Police Service says police believe Rhianne Larocque was assaulted and forcibly taken from the area of 75 St and 120 Ave.  The incident occurred on Thursday, just before 10 a.m.

Her car was also taken during the incident.  Rhianne Larocque owns a 2013 grey Dodge Dart that has a damaged rear passenger side bumper.  The car has an Alberta licence plate HAH 030.  A second vehicle, a blue Ford Escape SUV, was seen in the area at the time of the attack and abduction.

Rhianne Larocque is described as a Caucasian woman, 29-years old with shoulder length brown hair with red and blonde streaks.  She is 5’4″ tall with a thin build.  She was wearing black shorts and a grey coat.

Three other people were seen while the abduction occurred.  One is a man in his late 20′s, approximately 5’6″ tall with an average build.  Two other men were seen, but no descriptions of the suspects are available.

Pattison says “These individuals should not be approached, as they are considered to be armed and dangerous”.

Anyone with information about this incident or the whereabouts of the individuals involved is asked to call the EPS non-emergency complaint line at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone.  Anonymous information can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.tipsubmit.com/start.htm.

Long weekend traffic enforcement officers hit the highways on Thursday.

Long weekend travellers are warned that Alberta Integrated Traffic Units will be hitting the highway this long weekend, looking for awful and unlawful drivers, in an effort to keep Alberta highways safe the Victoria Day long weekend.

QEII Integrated Traffic Units officers from Airdrie, Innisfail, Ponoka and Leduc were out in force yesterday, cracking down on speeders, distracted drivers and even catching on impaired driver.  As many as 40 officers were monitoring the long weekend traffic on Highway 2 from Calgary to Edmonton.

As a result of their efforts, 273 drivers were given speeding tickets, including four drivers who were clocked traveling at 150 Km/hr on Highway 2 in heavy traffic.  Officers handed out 24 seatbelt charges, 35 distracted driver tickets and 91 other traffic safety act infraction tickets.  Police pulled over one impaired driver who is now facing a criminal charge.

Cpl. Darrin Turnbull of the RCMP says “these driving infractions are the most frequent contributing causal factors to fatality and serious injury collisions throughout the province”.

“Enforcement during Holiday long weekends is a priority for the Integrated Traffic Units. Tragically, fatal and serious injury collisions tend to occur more frequently during holiday long weekends. Our officers will be paying particular attention to intercepting aggressive speeding drivers, distracted drivers, drivers not wearing seatbelts, consuming alcohol, or failing to obey traffic control devices at rural intersections” says Staff Sgt. Brian Quist.

Quist adds “We will be working hard all weekend, trying to ensure that everyone reaches their intended destination safely.”

Fatal Onoway crash on Highway 43 claims lives of two people.

RCMP are releasing more information concerning the two vehicle collision that claimed the lives of two people near Onoway on Friday morning.

Sgt. Josee Valiquette of the RCMP says the collision involving a garbage truck and another vehicle occurred at the intersection of Highway 43 and Township Road 545.  Police believe the garbage truck was heading east, crossing Highway 43 when it was struck by a northbound vehicle.

The two occupants of the northbound vehicle were killed in the collision.  Witnesses attempted to revive the victims, but the two were pronounced deceased at the scene.  ”Police would like to thank them for their courage during this”, says Valiquette.

At this time, police believe driver error and the use of recreational marijuana may be factors in the Onoway crash.

The identities of the victims will not be released at this time, pending notification of next of kin.

An RCMP Traffic Analyst attended the scene and will be contributing to the investigation.

Three people are now facing first degree murder charges in the death of Winston Crier.

Hobbema RCMP have arrested two more people in connection with the murder of 51-year old Winston Crier of the Samson Cree Nation.

Last week, police charged 26-year old Clifford Soosay of Hobbema with first degree murder.  Hobbema RCMP report the victim and the accused were acquaintances.

On Wednesday and Thursday, police arrested the other two suspects.  Nikki Saddleback, 25 and 27-year old Troy Crier, both of Hobbema have also been charged with first degree murder.

“These suspects are in custody because of the citizens of the Hobbema community,” said Inspector Charles Wood, Officer-in-Charge of Hobbema RCMP, “Without their involvement, support and information, we wouldn’t have been able to make these arrests so quickly. The community of Hobbema won’t stand for this kind of criminal violence and their cooperation with the RCMP reflects that.”

Insp. Wood adds over 30 RCMP officers worked on the investigation into the death of Winston Crier.  Members from the Wetaskiwin/Hobbema GIS and Hobbema Community Response Unit assisted in the investigation as well as Forensic ID Section, Police Dog Services and Special Tactical Operations Team.

Clifford Soosay will appear in Wetaskiwin court on May 28 while Saddleback and Crier will appear in Wetaskwin court on May 21.

Insp. Wood says the murder of Winston Crier is not thought to be gang related.

The oil and gas industry is having trouble attracting youth, according to a survey from Hays Oil and Gas. Photo: London Commodity Markets/
Terence Wright.

The oil and gas industry in Canada is failing to attract youth, according to a 2013 survey from Hays Oil and Gas.

According to survey results, only 18 per cent of Canadians in the oil and gas sector were under 35 years old.

In other countries, that age group makes up 33 per cent of the labour force.

“The Canadian oil and gas industry is watching its talent supply dry up,” said Jim Fearon, Regional Director, Hays Canada.

“A high volume of oil and gas employees are approaching retirement and without attracting a younger work force and addressing skills shortages this sector is facing major challenges to meet its growth potential. Having a robust strategy in place to tap into the global talent pool will be critical in the short term, and working on strategies to increase the level of home grown entrants into the industry is going to be vital in the medium to long term.”

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According to Fearon, this shortage will impact all companies and job types, including contractors, operators, oil field services, project managers, drilling engineers and estimators.

Canada’s youth are flocking to other industries despite the fat pay cheque that comes with the job.

Canadian oil and gas professionals are the fifth highest paid in the world, according to the survey.

The average annual salary for a domestically employed oil and gas professional in Canada is $125,680, which outstrips the $124,000 that energy industry employees in the U.S. make.

Damaged Dodge Dart shown in photo radar is the vehicle owned by victim in Edmonton abduction.

EPS investigators are releasing a photo of the car that was involved in the abduction of a woman in northeast Edmonton on Thursday.

Scott Pattison of the EPS says police received a number of reports concerning the assault and abduction of a 29-year old woman from the area of 75 St and 120 Ave, just before 10 a.m.

Witnesses reported a number of people were involved in the Edmonton abduction as well as two vehicles.  One of the vehicles, a dark grey 2013 Dodge Dart with an Alberta licence plate HAH 030 was owned by the victim.  The second vehicle involved was a blue Ford Escape SUV.

The victim is described as a 29-year old woman with shoulder length brown hair and red and blonde streaks.  She is 5’4″ tall and has a thin build.  She was wearing black shorts and a grey coat.  Police have a description of another person involved in the abduction.  He is described as a Caucasian man in his late 20′s, about 5’6″ tall with an average build.

Witnesses reported seeing two other men involved in the abduction.

The photo of the car police are releasing was captured on Friday, May 10 on photo radar.  In the photo, it clearly shows damage to the right, rear fender panel, which has been covered with silver duct tape.

Edmonton Police believe the people involved in the abduction are known to each other, but admit they have limited information about the incident.

Pattison says “These individuals should not be approached, as they are considered to be armed and dangerous”.

Anyone with information about this incident or the whereabouts of the individuals involved is asked to call the EPS non-emergency complaint line at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.tipsubmit.com/start.htm.

A new agreement will allow Alberta Métis to have more control over oil and gas development on their lands. Photo: London Commodity Markets/
Terence Wright.

A new deal signed Thursday between Métis leaders and the province will allow Alberta Métis to reap benefits from oil and gas development on their lands.

“With this co-management agreement in place, Alberta’s Métis settlements will have greater control over development on their lands and be able to better share in the benefits,” said Energy Minister Ken Hughes.

Under the new co-management agreement, Métis Settlements will have the authority to require companies bidding on resource rights beneath settlement lands to submit benefits proposals in areas such as local employment, training or infrastructure improvements.

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The benefits proposals will be submitted to the settlement council as part of a final selection process.

Alternatively, a company wholly owned by a settlement council may choose to purchase a right under its land at a pre-set price.

“The Métis Settlements General Council is excited about the co-management agreement,” said Randy Hardy, Council President.

“The potential revenues and economic opportunities generated by this agreement are an essential component to the long term sustainability of the Settlements. This signing marks yet another historic day in the continuing partnership between the Government of Alberta and the Métis Settlements.”

Alberta is the only Canadian province with a land base dedicated specifically to Métis.

There are eight settlements in northern Alberta representing a land area of just over a half million hectares.

The first rights under settlement lands will be made available for bidding at the June 3 bi-weekly sale.