THUNDER BAY – A local veterans’ group is appealing to Thunder Bay’s city council to grant tax exempt status to a vacant property that’s currently costing it thousands of dollars a year.
Members of the Polish Combatants’ Association in Canada, Branch 1, made a deputation to council on Dec. 21 seeking the exemption, which would require a bylaw amendment, after city staff initially denied their request.
Tadeusz Michalak told councillors the group was paying just over $1,700 in property taxes on a lot it had purchased in 2016.
It made the purchase in order to demolish an unsightly unused structure adjacent to its North Cumberland Street headquarters, he said.
“We’re currently paying high property taxes on it, and this is just a vacant lot,” he told councillors.
The group’s existing property on Cumberland was exempted from property taxes by the city in 2014 for a ten-year period. Municipalities may choose to exempt certain veterans’ facilities from taxes under Ontario’s Assessment Act.
However, city staff told the Combatants’ Association the new piece of land would not be eligible.
“Unfortunately, this property does not qualify for the tax exemption, as this property is a vacant lot,” read a letter sent to the group in November.
“In order to be eligible the land must be used and occupied as a memorial home, clubhouse or athletic grounds by persons who served in the armed forces.”
Since that letter was sent, city administration told councillors, the city had received reassurances from Ontario’s Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) that the new parcel of land could also be exempted, if it was being used for events associated with the organization.
Michalak told councillors that was the case on Dec. 21.
Coun. Aldo Ruberto expressed his support for the group’s demand, moving a motion to refer the request to administration for a recommendation on how the exemption could be accomplished.
That motion passed unanimously. The matter will come back before council at an as-yet-unannounced date.
The Polish Combatants' Association in Canada, Branch 1 declined comment for this story.
