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

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

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)

For medal counts, events day by day

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

For BC tourism info

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

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.