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Ted Talks - Brilliant
Clay Shirky: Why SOPA is a bad idea
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Clay Shirky's work focuses on the rising usefulness of decentralized technologies such as peer-to-peer, wireless networks, social software and open-source development. New technologies are enabling new kinds of cooperative structures to flourish as a way of getting things done in business, science, the arts and elsewhere... |
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Manufacturing
Monthly Survey of Manufacturing for November 2011
Statscan - Manufacturing sales rose 2.0% in November to $49.6 billion, the fourth increase in five months. The gains reflected higher sales in the machinery, petroleum and coal product, and motor vehicle industries.
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Collaboration
New Langs Facility in Cambridge Creates Hub of Health, Wellness & Recreation
Development Success Through Collaborative Partnerships
Cambridge – The remarkable $14 million facility that now houses one of the most unique community health centres in Ontario officially opened at 1145 Concession Road in Cambridge recently.
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Employment Benifits
Number of People Receiving Regular Employment Insurance Benefits Virtually Unchanged from the previous month
Statscan - In November, the number of people receiving regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits totalled 539,000, virtually unchanged from the previous month.
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Trade Show
Home Hardware Launches 2012 Tough as Nails Contractor Tradeshows
St. Jacobs – The 2012 Home Hardware Tough as Nails Contractor Tradeshows kicked off in Peterborough on Monday. An annual invitation-only event connecting Home Hardware Building Centre’s suppliers with contractor customers from across Canada, this year’s six tradeshows will be held in Peterborough, Sudbury, Waterloo, Saskatoon, Edmonton, and Moncton. The 5,000 contractors that are invited to the shows represent approximate $310 million in annual business in their local economies.
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Travel
Travel between Canada and other countries for November 2011
Statscan - Travel by Canadian residents abroad increased 0.8% from October to 5.0 million trips in November. Canadian residents made 782,000 trips to overseas countries in November, up 1.6%, while travel to the United States rose 0.6% to 4.2 million trips.
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Waterloo Region
Moody’s maintains Region’s Aaa credit rating
Waterloo Region – Moody’s Investors Service has again rated the Region of Waterloo with the highest credit rating possible. The Region’s Aaa rating reflects sound and stable financial management, a low debt burden and a strong liquidity position. The Region of Waterloo’s debt burden is low when compared to [its] Canadian peers. These low debt and debt servicing ratios illustrate the regional municipality’s high degree of fiscal flexibility and successful fiscal track record – two key characteristics supporting the Aaa rating.”
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Real Estate Market
2012 commercial real estate forecast for Canada, U.S.
Cautious optimism to guide Canada and U.S. commercial real estate markets in 2012;
solid fundamentals abound in Canada, while U.S. looks for stability
Toronto — Benefitting from strong fundamentals, Canada’s commercial real estate markets continued to enjoy stability and growth in 2011 despite global economic uncertainty. Meanwhile, the United States suffered from ongoing uncertainty, with limited good news concentrated in a few select markets.
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Council
Waterloo Region Council Report
January 18, 2012 Regional Council meeting
Waterloo Region - Council Info is a summary of discussion and the major items presented at Council meetings. It is circulated immediately following each meeting. You are encouraged to quote from and copy this information. Please refer to the minutes for an official record of the meeting.
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Taxes
Regional Council approves 2.53 per cent tax increase
Waterloo Region – Regional Council approved the 2012 budget Wednesday. The 2012 approved tax rate increase of 2.53 per cent is in line with inflation and also provides a number of essential service enhancements.
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Red Tape
Innovative red tape recommendations for a more business friendly Canada
Ottawa – The Federal Red Tape Reduction Commission released its final report today during the Canadian Federation of Independent Business’ (CFIB’s) third annual Red Tape Awareness Week™. The report includes a recommendation to task the Auditor General of Canada with reviewing and reporting on the Government’s progress in reducing red tape.
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Top Seven
Intelligent Community Forum Announces Top Seven Communities of 2012
3 Canadian communities make the top seven for 2012
Honolulu, Hawaii & New York, New York – The Intelligent Community Forum named its 2012 Top Seven Intelligent Communities of the Year at a luncheon ceremony at the Pacific Telecommunications Council’s annual conference (PTC’12) in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. The ICF’s Top Seven are communities that provide a model of economic and social development in the 21st Century using information and communications technology to power growth, address social challenges and preserve and promote culture. The Top Seven announcement is the second stage of ICF’s annual Intelligent Community of the Year awards cycle.
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Art & Culture
Ring in Year of the Dragon this week
KITCHENER – The ancient celebration of the lunar new year comes downtown on Jan. 20, when the sights, sounds and tastes of Asia are at Kitchener City Hall from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunar New Year rings in with live entertainment, food provided by downtown restaurants and much more:
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