Saskatchewan-Manitoba

Farming centre attracts and keep new residents with low taxes, updated amenities Geoff Kirbyson Western Investor Dauphin can thank honky-tonk men and women for providing a $10 million boost to its economy each year.

Despite having among the lowes-priced homes in major western Canadian cities, Saskatoon's housing market's been rated as "seriously unaffordable" in a report by the Frontier Centre, which found the median multiple in the city for the third quarter of

Moose Jaw's new $100 million regional hospital is well under construction and headed for completion late next year.

Regina-area housing sales in May were down from the same month last year, according to the Association of Regina Realtors (ARR).

Saskatoon's industrial real estate market is seeing "extraordinary" performance, with nearly 900,000 square feet of new space built in the 15 months ending March 30, according to Colliers McClocklin Real Estate Corp.

The mayor says the recommendations from sustainable development experts is to build up, don't sprawl, build in your downtown core and improve the green space. "That's what we're doing.

Developers will break ground on a mini-city within a city next spring in Winnipeg. Shindico Realty has unveiled plans for Grant Park Pavilions, a $200-million, 46-acre mixed-use development that will have a little bit of, well, everything.

After completing a record 250,000 square feet of new office space in downtown Regina last year, developers are expected to add another 120,000 square feet of space in 2013 - or, more than twice the annual construction pace over the previous decade.

With a retail vacancy rate of 1.97 per cent, the lowest in Saskatchewan and perhaps in North America, Saskatoon is also on track for record retail sales this year.

Strong growth The decision is the latest in a series of good-news items for Brandon, including a report from the Conference Board of Canada.