Saskatchewan-Manitoba

Without a major upgrade, the Winnipeg Convention Centre is in danger of being left in the dust by bigger and fancier facilities across the country.

We've already got the Big Mac, the Whopper and even the Nip - how about the Obama Burger? The newest hamburger franchise to enter the Manitoba market, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, counts the most powerful man in the world among its fans.

The relief would likely be welcome. The typical rent for a two-bedroom apartment rose 3.3 per cent last year, to $935, and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) forecasts it will rise to $950 this year. There are no rent controls in Saskatoon.

New mine HudBay also announced late last year that it plans to spend $280 million on capital expenditures and at least $33 million on exploration activity in 2011 in Manitoba.

With more than $500 million in sales last year - second highest in history - Winnipeg's commercial real estate market is seen as one of the hottest in Canada going into 2011.

Regina now has the lowest office vacancy rate in Canada, with Class A space at near 0 per cent vacancy and nothing available in Class B space. Overall, the vacancy rate is 1.

At 1 per cent, the apartment rental vacancy rate in Regina is the lowest in Canada, confirms a recent annual survey by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC), which notes that Estevan, Moose Jaw and Saskatoon also have very tight rental markets.

Saskatchewan has the lowest unemployment rate in Canada, at 4.9 per cent, which has sparked a campaign to lure more skilled workers.

Flooding in Australia has pushed wheat prices higher, with wheat for March delivery gaining 11.25 cents to settle at US$8.055 a bushel. Prices also surged as dry, cold weather in the U.S. and China sparked concerns about global supplies.

A growing population and attractive interest rates should spark more activity in Saskatoon's housing market in 2011. That's according to the Saskatoon Region Association of Realtors (SRAR).