OSHAWA -- It was a long time coming, but the federal government has finally secured cash for the cleanup of the Oshawa harbour.

Oshawa MP Dr. Colin Carrie and Whitby-Oshawa MP Jim Flaherty made the announcement Wednesday afternoon at a packed media conference at Parkwood Estate.

Dr. Carrie said his government has submitted a proposal to Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan, asking for $9.2 million over two years, for environmental assessments and remediation.

http://newsdurhamregion.com/article/123662

DURHAM -- When the economy turns around, Durham Region will be ready.

That's the message Regional Chairman Roger Anderson had for the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade.

"Despite the bad news in the media, tremendously positive things are happening in our Region," Mr. Anderson said. "So let's focus on the many emerging opportunities. Working with our partners, Durham will emerge from this storm as an energized and more resilient Region."

http://newsdurhamregion.com/article/122684

DURHAM -- In just a couple of months, Grace Smith and her husband won't have their home anymore - they're losing it to the Hwy. 7 widening.

Located on the north side of the road, east from the purple and white sign reading "Hwy. 7 widening starting 2009," the white house they live in is being expropriated. The widening is being done from Brock Road in Pickering to Hwy. 12 in Whitby.

http://newsdurhamregion.com/article/120480

DURHAM -- A 566-unit student housing building near UOIT might not be built after a Durham Region committee rejected the developer's request for financial relief.

Carlo Di Gioacchino has asked Durham Region for a deferral on development charges (DC) for the building, on land near the school.

Speaking to the finance committee on Wednesday, Mr. Di Gioacchino said his company, Dundurn, is having difficulty arranging financing for the project, given the economy.

http://newsdurhamregion.com/article/121057

PICKERING -- High-density development is fine when environmental issues are properly addressed, but another tower at San Francisco by the Bay won't fit the bill, says the president of a local naturalist group.

"This development at this site is clearly inappropriate," said the president of Pickering Naturalists, Steve LaForest, at Monday's planning information meeting.

http://newsdurhamregion.com/article/120918