7. Do Leave Space.
One of the easiest ways to keep the clutter at bay is to reserve a little space for new items that come into your life. Leave a small section of any storage areas, like closets or pantries, empty.

Harper will meet President Hu Jintao in China next month, when he may tout Enbridge Inc.’s proposed Northern Gateway pipeline that would let crude flow to Asia from Alberta’s oilsands via a Canadian port.

“The Keystone decision was a slap in the face to Canada and it’s making Canadians rethink the relationship,” said Jack Mintz, head of the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary. “Harper probably wants to put out a sign that we’re open for business for Asia.”

Harper is pushing energy exports to Asia to reduce the country’s reliance on the U.S. and make Canada a global energy “superpower.” Tapping markets in Asia may raise the price received by Canadian producers by $13.60 a barrel by 2030, according to a University of Calgary study. About 99 percent of Canada’s crude exports go the U.S.

‘Profound Disappointment’

Harper expressed his “profound disappointment” Jan. 19 after the U.S. rejected Keystone, telling Obama that Canada will “continue to work to diversify its energy exports,” according to details provided by Harper’s office.

Efforts to boost support for selling oil to China may be having an impact. Opposition to the Northern Gateway pipeline has weakened in recent weeks, according to a survey by Toronto- based Forum Research.

The share of Canadians who oppose the plan has fallen to 43 percent in a poll conducted Jan. 13, down from 51 percent in a December survey. Support for the project increased to 37 percent from 35 percent. The percentage of those who say they are unsure rose to 20 percent from 15 percent. The poll of 1,211 Canadians has a margin of error of 2.8 percent.

“It looks like a group of people are giving it a second look,” Lorne Bozinoff, president of Forum Research, said in a telephone interview, adding Harper may have “got people thinking.”

‘Tremendous Opportunity’

“If you look at the nature of the U.S. recovery right now, our exports are $30 billion lower than they otherwise would be,” Carney said in a Jan. 22 interview on CTV Television’s Question Period. “The Chinese market is a tremendous opportunity for Canada. We’re under-represented there relative to other countries.”

Canada’s benchmark stock index lagged behind the S&P 500 last year for the first time since 2003, as producers of raw materials and energy dropped on concern that slow global growth will limit demand for commodities and erode their prices. The industries make up about 47 percent of Canadian equities by market value, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

‘Horrible Precedent’

Canada has already begun regulatory hearings on Enbridge’s proposed Northern Gateway pipeline. CEO Pat Daniel said the U.S. rejection was “horrible for our industry and it’s a horrible precedent. It will only embolden those opposed to Gateway and other new project developments.”

Canada “can continue to be supportive as they always have” on Northern Gateway, Daniel said Jan. 19 at a conference in Whistler, British Columbia. The federal government has “done a good job calling out the issues around the regulatory process.”

Harper has said building the capacity to sell the country’s oil to Asian markets is in the national interest, and the government will aim to speed the regulatory-approval process for large energy projects. Harper has also said “foreign money” from environmental groups is being used to try to influence regulators.

‘Red Herring’

“This contrived funding ‘debate’ is a red herring,” Merran Smith, director of Tides Canada’s Energy Initiative, said in a Jan. 10 statement. Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver has cited Tides Canada as a group that’s channeling U.S. money to pipeline opponents.

Regulators have received 4,507 requests by individuals to testify at public hearings on the project that began this month. Environmental and aboriginal groups say the project will increase the risk of an oil spill off the coast of British Columbia. The regulatory panel reviewing the pipeline last month pushed back its timeline for reaching a decision to the end of 2013.

Largest Acquisitions

Two of the largest acquisitions of Canadian oil and gas companies last year were driven by Chinese companies. In October, China Petroleum and Chemical Corp., Asia’s biggest refiner also known as Sinopec, agreed to buy oil and gas producer Daylight Energy Ltd. of Calgary. In July, Cnooc Ltd., China’s largest offshore oil explorer, bought Calgary-based Opti Canada Inc. to expand its oil-sands reserves. Both deals totaled more than $2 billion each.

“China’s energy security isn’t simply about shipping oil back to China,” said Wenran Jiang, political science professor at the University of Alberta and senior fellow at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. “There’s also trying to increase overall global supply of oil to help manage price and supply.”

Investments Welcome

Harper may seek to provide assurances that additional investments will be welcome during his trip to China. In a Sept. 21 interview with Bloomberg, Harper said he welcomed investment by China as long as such acquisitions are “economic in nature and don’t have other strategic or political objectives.”

The challenge for Harper and China may be to assuage any concerns in the U.S. that Canada is getting too cozy with the Asian power. Harper acknowledges the U.S. will remain Canada’s dominant trading partner for “many years to come.”

Heavy duty polish for floors and furniture
1 tbsp carnauba wax
2 cups mineral oil

Heat in a double boiler, cool, and then apply with a soft rag.

Furniture Polish
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp white vinegar
4 cups warm water

Dishwashing detergent
2 cups grated hard bar soap or soap flakes
16 cups water

Rub salad oil on the grater before grating the bar soap, it is much easier to clean after. Place the soap in a pot, add water and stir. Heat over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and let cool.

Instead of bleach, try this
1 part hydrogen peroxide
8 parts water

The 5,260-square-foot condo will cover the entire 12th floor of the 15-storey development called The River, located along the Elbow River, which flows through the southern portion of the city.

"These (buyers) are business leaders. They are leaders in not only business, but in our community," Clarke said.Other sales in The River have included units for $5.7 million and $5.5 million.

"It signifies we really do have a need for this type of product," Clarke said.

"In talking to our buyers and our focus groups over the last 18 months, it became very clear that there was a lot more demand for larger units."

If you are getting ready to build or remodel — or even if you just want to freshen up your kitchen a bit — here are trending features to consider.

Drawers mean you can use every inch of your cabinet space effectively. Customizable peg-drawer organizers keep dishes from sliding around when opening and closing the drawers.

Not knowing your credit score

Not budgeting for the costs of home ownership

Not researching down payment choices

Focusing too much on interest rates

Not choosing your own payment schedule

Forgetting about closing costs

Meanwhile, other centres outside the city limits had one of the highest vacancy rates at 3.6 per cent.

For all bedroom types, the vacancy rate in 2011 declined from the previous year. Vacancies in October ranged from 1.8 per cent for one bedroom units to 3.3 per cent for units with three or more bedrooms.

Despite the reduction in vacancies, the average rent in Calgary remained relatively stable.

These two zones also had among the lowest average two-bedroom rent in the October 2010 survey.

The average condo rent in CMHC's October survey was $1,378 per month, up from $1,355 in 2010.

In the other secondary rental market, the number of renter households reached 54,878 in October compared to 53,312 in the same month in 2010.

 

Specifically, the report adjusts a September forecast to show slower growth this year in Ontario, Quebec and B.C., while also adjusting for faster growth in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia.

“The corresponding revision to our provincial outlook was unevenly distributed among provinces, but all regions are vulnerable to the uncertainty and volatility expected over the next six months,” said Marcil. “These headwinds will likely intensify at a time when constrained public finances leave very few tools available for Canadian governments to stimulate demand, or at least restore confidence.”

Alberta is expected to see Canada’s strongest employment growth, up 1.5% this year, compared to 0.8% nationally. It was already up 3.7% in Alberta last year. While unemployment will rise from 7.4% nationally last year to 7.6% this year, Alberta will replace Saskatchewan as the province with the lowest rate, at 5%.

“Saskatchewan, which usually acts as a responsive pool of spare workers for Alberta, is failing to do so currently because its economy is performing nearly as well as Alberta’s,” said Marcil.

Overall economic growth, based on real GDP, will increase most in Alberta, up 2.6%, followed by 2.4% in Saskatchewan. Nationally, it will rise just 1.7% this year, following a 2.4% gain last year.

The real estate markets in Vancouver and Toronto, however, are expected to hinder economic growth in their respective provinces, said the report. Toronto will be especially affected by its recent growth in condo developments, said Marcil.

“In addition to the growing pipeline of supply, the knock-on effects of financial market volatility to buyer confidence will likely result in a cooling down in condominium sales in the region in 2012 and 2013,” he said.

Tim Logel, president and partner of Cardel Lifestyles in Calgary, said there was a pent-up demand of buyers in the local market at the end of the year and more buyers are now coming forward.

Multi-family permits over the past five years have reached 850 for the local builder, tops in the city.

In the existing home sales market, the TD Economics report forecasts sales to increase by 0.5 per cent in Alberta in 2012 to 53,300 transactions and then dip by 2.7 per cent in 2013 to 51,900.

This after a 6.6 per cent hike in sales in 2011 to 53,000 transactions.

TD Economics forecasts the average existing home price to remain unchanged in Alberta in 2012 at $355,900 after increasing by 1.1 per cent in 2011 to $356,100. But the average is expected to fall by 2.5 per cent in 2013 to $347,200.

Across Canada, the report said the average existing home price would fall by 1.9 per cent in 2012 to $357,100 and decline by 3.6 per cent in 2013 to $344,200. In 2011, it rose by 7.5 per cent to $364,100.

“The centre will be approximately 1.3 million square feet and will sit on just under 80 acres,” she said. “Target has selected sites for its distribution centres that will help to ensure that our supply chain needs are met for our Canadian stores. Target intends to open its first stores in March/early April 2013 and its distribution centres will be completed in time to support the needs of the stores.”

“They will manage all recruitment and hiring and will communicate those needs and plans with local communities in the coming months,” added Snyder.

The centre will be located off of Range Road 291, east of Nexen’s Balzac Power Station.

Earlier this week, Target announced the location of its first 24 stores in Canada. As previously announced, Target purchased the leasehold interests of 189 sites currently operated by Zellers Inc., and plans to open 125 to 135 stores in Canada, the majority of which will open in 2013.

Target intends to announce additional store locations in the coming months.

Minneapolis-based Target has 1,767 stores across the United States.

Calgary Target locations will be at Chinook Centre, Forest Lawn Shopping Centre, Market Mall, the Shoppes at Shawnessy, Signal Hill Centre and Sunridge Mall.

“It just really speaks to the critical mass that has already been achieved, that has been built — the synergies that are achieved and the importance of the sector to Calgary and the region,” he said.

The region’s road network, with access from highways and the ring road, is one of the primary reasons for the growth in the sector, he said.

“Each company has its own criteria and determines the kind of facility and the location that works best for them,” said Dixon. “That was the basis of the Target decision. But it’s very much part of the northeast, the airport development pattern. And it’s complemented by what’s happening in the southeast which is more rail-oriented at the CP logistics and intermodal yard.”