Reference List - Conversation with Bill Madder Re: Saskatchewan Housing Market and Potash

These are stories Report on Business is following Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013. Follow Michael Babad and The Globe's Business Briefing on Twitter. Saskatchewan at risk Toronto-Dominion Bank economists take a detailed look today at the threat to Saskatchewan from the collapse of Russia's potash cartel, warning that the risks are mighty.

C anpotex Ltd. was set up in the early 1970s by the Saskatchewan government to avoid a trade war with the United States, which was worried New Mexico's producers would be driven out of business due to the lower potash prices stemming from new mines in Saskatchewan.

The potash sector took a major hit Tuesday amid fears that producers in Saskatchewan would be undercut by lower prices after a key rival in Russia pulled out of a cartel. Uralkali, one of the world's largest potash producers said it has decided to stop its export sales through the Belarusian Potash Company and direct all export volumes through its own Uralkali Trading.

Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced tighter mortgage rules today to address concerns over high Canadian household debt. According to the Department of Finance's press release the adjustments are aimed at efforts to "strengthen Canada's housing finance system" as a whole.

If you have been paying attention to the news these last couple of weeks, no doubt you have seen that Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has been making some pretty big waves. I figured I would compile some of the most prominent media pieces as a background and then share some of our thoughts!