Monthly Archives: December 2012

Energy Independence is Nothing but an Illusion in the Modern World

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Anyone who tells you that energy independence can be achieved based on globally traded commodities such as oil, coal and natural gas is either trying to mislead you or doesn’t understand the structure of energy markets. As of 2011 fossil fuels produced 83 percent of the world’s energy according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Because fossil fuels can be transported anywhere in the world, producers seek out the highest price unless they are constrained by law or infrastructure from doing so.

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Newcomers to Lloydminster both good and bad news

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Lloydminster fits the stereotype of a classic western boom town – a city full of transient young adults, an increase in drug-related crime, and a new strip club just off the highway.

But that’s certainly not all there is to Lloydminster.

“A lot of people comment, you can almost divide Lloyd down the middle,” says Amanda Amundrud, who grew up here and opened a community restaurant and music venue in one of the youngest cities in Canada.

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More volatility for oil sands in 2013

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Canada’s oil sands will face unprecedented opportunities and massive challenges in 2013 as billions of dollars hang in the balance.Limited access to foreign markets, infrastructure and labour constraints, and decreasing demand from the United Staates threaten revenues. the $4.93-trillion in revenues that the Canadian Energy Research Institute projects in a best-case scenario over the next 25 years, primarily by selling oil to Asian markets.“It’s going to be a very interesting year.

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Alberta’s outlook optimistic

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American politicians may be dancing awkwardly toward the fiscal cliff, but there’s still reason to be optimistic about the financial future, say a pair of Alberta economists.

On Thursday, U.S. stock markets were down for a fourth consecutive day and consumer confidence at its lowest level since August, as Democrat and Republican leaders remained stalled in their efforts to prevent tax increases and spending cuts that will take effect after Dec. 31.

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Information to be just a 211 call away

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A 211 call system to connect Central Albertans to a range of community, health, government and social services information is expected to be up and running by next summer or fall.

The 211 system, a simple three-digit telephone call like 911 for emergencies or 411 for directory assistance, has been available in Edmonton and Calgary for several years.

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Fines for false fire alarms to triple in 2013

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EDMONTON – Years before he became Edmonton’s fire marshal, Tom Karpa was fielding 911 calls one night when a woman called to complain that her apartment building was shaking.

“Shaking?” Karpa asked. He walked her through a gamut of possibilities, and finally sent out firefighters. They had just pulled up to the scene when she called back.

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Oil prices to be a ‘neutral driver’ of the loonie in 2013: Scotiabank

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Canada’s dollar has increasingly been viewed as a petrol currency over the last few years, but an analyst at Scotiabank expects oil will be a “neutral driver” of the loonie next year.

The loonie has been slapped with the petrol term because it tends to do well in periods when the price of oil is strong, which in turn boosts the Canadian economy. But Camilla Sutton, chief currency strategist at Scotiabank, sees strong oil prices both hurting and benefiting the loonie in 2013.

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Five Things Consumers Should Expect From The Housing Market In 2013

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In 2012, the national housing market finally turned a corner. We’ve now experienced 13 straight months of home value appreciation. Sales were up significantly over 2011 as buyers returned to the market, boosting demand.

So what will 2013 have in store? Here are five things consumers can expect to see in the housing market next year:

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GOLD PRICE FORECAST 2013

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Gold and Silver bugs have had an abysmally poor 2012 against expectations for new all time highs, where a 1 year bear market from the August 2011 high into the May 2012 low failed to spark a sustained run to new all time highs. The rally from which petered out by early October at $1800, followed by another trend back to leave Gold at $1657 as per the last close, this despite reams and reams of material plastered all over the internet that hoped for an eventual return to a gold standard or “Sound Money” as being the ultimate outcome of our ongoing global debt and money printing crisis.

Read more: http://tinyurl.com/co972tg