Around the North

A "substantial" drop in building intentions in the non-residential sector led to a 4.9 per cent decline in the value of building permits issued by municipalities throughout Canada in January, according to Statistics Canada.

A series of stronger housing starts through Canada in the second half of 2009 will only continue to strengthen through 2010, according to a report by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

Atlanta-based Georgia-Pacific's plans to potentially acquire some of Grant Forest Products' facilities and has received a green light from the Canadian Competition Bureau.

Protests planned for the grand opening of Xstrata's Nickel Rim South project in Sudbury on March 4 has led to the cancellation of the event.

A three-year collective agreement reached between Xstrata Nickel and the Sudbury operations' office, clerical and technical employees represented by United Steelworkers Local 2020 has been ratified by the union.

Representatives of the United Steelworkers Local 6500 and Vale Inco will meet this weekend with a mediator for exploratory talks to explore potential ways forward in the collective bargaining impasse between the parties.

In light of the upcoming tax season, TNS Canadian Facts for Scotiabank has conducted a study asking investment decision-makers how they would allocate a hypothetical $1,000 tax refund.

Six young entrepreneurs located on the Manitoulin Island are seeing provincial support for their burgeoning businesses.

Laurentian University's many research projects and their local impact were on display the week of Feb. 22 as the Sudbury-based post-secondary school kicked off yet another annual Research Week.

Northern College has seen a 13 per cent increase in applications over the previous year, a slight jump over the provincial average increase of 11 per cent.