Public Press Conference July 13th on Superior Court of Ontario Judgement on Rural Ratepayers vs Municipality of Port Hope Case for $10 Million Plus Interest and Costs
This message is brought to you by Port Hopers for Fair Taxes.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Port Hope, Ontario, July 12, 2016 – Ian Angus and Dean Ross two residents of the former Hope Township, now amalgamated within the Municipality of Port Hope (MPH) have successfully taken the amalgamated municipality to court on behalf of the area’s ratepayers,and won back the $10 Million awarded to them in 2001 by the Federal Government in compensation for hosting radioactive waste in a LLRW storage facility in the former Hope township.
Angus and the supporting organization Port Hopers for Fair Taxes (PHFFT) will hold a press conference on Wednesday, July 13 th at 1:00 pm at the Lions Centre, 29 Thomas Street in Port Hope.
The former Hope Township amalgamated with the former Town of Port Hope in 2001 as the Municipality of Port Hope. Both former municipalities, along with Clarington, had each received a hosting fee of $10 Million for safely hosting the long term storage of low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) from their respective areas. Hope Township’s funds were designated a trust in favour of the residents of the former township for the sole purpose of defraying their lower tier taxes. Neither the former Town of Port Hope nor Clarington had such a designation. Hope Township’s proceeds were uniquely paid to a trust company by the federal government at the time.
The judge ruled that Municipality of Port Hope violated the terms of the trust by not using the interest from Hope Township’s fund for the sole purpose stipulated in the original agreement with the federal government, and in the amalgamation agreement: for the defrayment of ratepayers’ local property taxes.
The judge’s ruling confirmed that the trust has always been for the sole purpose of defraying taxes of the ratepayers of Hope Township and ordered a full accounting be provided to the ratepayers within 120 days.
Mr Angus said of the ruling, “We are pleased with the outcome of the court-case. Taking the municipality to court to recover our own money from them is a drastic step, but necessary under the circumstances”.
Mr Angus and members of Port Hopers for Fair Taxes (PHFFT) will hold a press conference to explain how the situation arose, the judge’s ruling, and what to expect in the coming weeks from the Municipality. The meeting will be open to the public and held on Wednesday, July 13 th at 1:00 pm at the Lions Centre, 29 Thomas Street in Port Hope.
A copy of the Judgement can be downloaded at:
http://www.canlii.org/en/on/
Port Hopers for Fair Taxes