The Bench

So for the second straight year, Regina and Saskatoon are #1 and #2 nationally on the Total Crime Severity Index.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2010/07/20/crime-statistics020.html

Makes you wonder how Pat Fiacco can keep winning as mayor, when his city has the worst crime rate (after accounting for severity) in Canada for the 2 years prior to this upcoming election.  That and didn’t he promise Regina would have 250,000 residents by now?  What is it at? 190,000 and change, where as Saskatoon, with Atch in charge is pulling away population wise.

Pat Fiasco?  What exactly, other than inaccurate predictions and the most severe crime rate in Canada, repeatedly, would make you vote against Fiacco this upcoming civic election?  Remember, your direct comparison, Saskatoon, is doing better in every objective category, so don’t pretend he helped the local economy

Looks like the Plains is getting an upgrade!

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2010/05/25/sk-regina-building-1005.html

Box Wine Party Friday May 7
Old Folk’s Party room

“Saskatchewan’s resale housing market will cool down in 2010, with sales forecast to increase a modest 0.4 per cent, the lowest among the provinces, according to Canadian Real Estate Association”

Interesting prediction, with sales growth to be the lowest in Canada.  This is after a relatively weak 2009 year.  With “British Columbia and Ontario are expected to lead” we may have missed the boat, when our prices were on par with BC, and more than most of Ontario, to move.  With unprecedented price increases over a brief 2007 to 2008 period, we may have a long time before Saskatoon housing sees any real signs of growth.  At least housing in Edmonton, Regina, Ottawa (well Ontario save for Toronto), Winnipeg are still more affordable than Saskatoon … for now

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/Saskatchewan+resale+housing+market+cool+2010+CREA/2542310/story.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3a+canwest%2fF280+(The+StarPhoenix+-+News)

http://www.vancouver2010.com/

For medal counts, events day by day

http://www.hellobc.com/en-CA/default.htm

For BC tourism info

Late for anyone being too worried about it, but thought an interesting link.  Evidence based information on H1N1 and the vaccine.

http://www.ebscohost.com/flu/

Saskatoon remains “seriously unaffordable” according to ” the 6th Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey” 2010.  Affordability is based on a multiplier, that is the years of the median income used to pay for the median priced house. “historically…. median house prices being generally 3.0 or less times median household incomes”.  Saskatoon currently stands at 4.4 years of median income (down from 4.6 last year) enough to keep it “seriously unaffordable”.  Here’s how many years income it costs to buy the median house elsewhere.

Least Affordable

Vancouver 9.3 years income

Kelowna 5.9 years income

Toronto 5.2 years income

Montreal 4.9 years income

Dublin 4.7 years income

Calgary 4.5 years income

Saskatoon 4.4 years income

Edmonton 4.1 years income

Ottawa, Denver, Washington DC 3.8 years income

Kingston, Tuscon Arizona!! Richmond Virginia, Spokane WA 3.7 years income 

3.7 years median income = National Canadian Average

Halifax, Quebec City, Madison Wisconsin 3.6 years income

Regina 3.5 years income

Chicago 3.4 years income

Winnipeg 3.3 years income

Boise Idaho 3.0 years income

St. John NB, Minneapolis 2.8 years income

Green Bay, Kansas City 2.6 years income

Moncton 2.5 years income

Thunder Bay, Indianapolis 2.2 years income

Most Affordable

http://www.demographia.com/dhi.pdf Bit long, but interesting read, surprising some of the cities significantly cheaper than Saskatoon

Basically, save for Vancouver, Saskatoon is nearly as expensive as other most expensive markets in Canada, and in Saskatoon, it takes 0.7 years more income than the national median to buy a house, or 19% more than average, once income is accounted for.  Makes the current local housing market seem unsustainable as the rest of Canada emerges from a recession – and Saskatoon continues to lay off, with anticipated “near term” job losses, and of course that large provincial deficit.

Atul’s Birthday Drinks 830 PM Earls Saskatoon

Christmas party in the old folks room in Saskatoon. Talk to Nick for details if in town.

Well not quite, but the only debate all 3 candidates will attend is a $45 a plate Chamber of Commerce dinner (only $25 for Chamber members). This VIP event does little for everyday Regina residents.

Fiacco has stated he is too busy to attend a free debate. Guess his schedule is jam packed campaigning. Too bad he forgot about the average Reginan.

Not a bad idea though, Fiacco has some small to moderate scandals and broken promises, a high approval rating, and no namish competition. Why give them the opportunity and publicity of a debate??

Still, you’d think voters would be at least a little critical that Fiacco isn’t going to even ONE free and accessible debate. Says a lot about what he stands for doesn’t it?