The United People of Canada missed $100,000 in payments required to buy Ottawa church: landlord
A group affiliated with the Freedom Convoy failed to make $100,000 in payments as part of the conditional sale of a former Ottawa church, new court documents show.
Members of The United People of Canada remain at St. Brigid’s Church despite an eviction notice posted last week that required them to leave by Thursday.
The owner of the property, Patrick McDonald, is seeking a court order to enforce the eviction. Members of the group sprayed photojournalists with water guns outside the church on Thursday, called the eviction notice unlawful and vowed to stay.
An affidavit by McDonald filed this week says the group has failed to provide the $100,000 in deposits, owes $10,000 in rent, broke heritage rules and failed to provide proof of insurance.
All are grounds to terminate both the agreement of purchase and the lease agreement, he says.
A hearing has been scheduled for Friday, Sept. 2, in Ontario Superior Court on McDonald's application for a writ of possession.
McDonald’s affidavit says he agreed to sell four Lowertown properties, including the former church, to The United People of Canada on June 8 for $5.95 million.
The group was required to pay a deposit of $5,000 upon acceptance of the offer, then $10,000 after 14 days, $30,000 after 30 days and $60,000 after 45 days.
The group paid the $5,000 up front. In late June, they asked for an extension on the second and third payments until Aug. 10, to which the landlord agreed.
But the group failed to pay those and the fourth deposit by then, the document says. The next day, the landlord decided to terminate The group was informed that day, the affidavit says.
The group has also breached the lease agreement by failing to pay $10,000 in rent when it was due, failing to provide proof of $5 million in liability insurance, and failing to comply with heritage rules at one of the properties, the affidavit says.
The group painting the doors of the former church bright red, along with apparent construction and remodelling happening inside the building, violate heritage rules, the affidavit says.
“The United People of Canada did not inform me beforehand that they planned to paint the entrance doors red and I do not believe it obtained the written permission of the Ontario Heritage Foundation either before or after it did so," McDonald says in the document.
William Komer, a director of The United People of Canada, did not respond to a request for comment.
Group blocked parking lot used by other tenants: landlord
The landlord also said people who identified themselves as being with The United People of Canada blocked other tenants from accessing parking on the property.
Two lawyers and a law student who work at 302 St. Patrick St. said their access was blocked by a vehicle parked in the entranceway on Friday, Aug. 19.
The people blocking it told the two lawyers that access was being denied because of a dispute with the landlord.
All three provided sworn affidavits recounting their experiences, saying they and their clients have been forced to used pay parking elsewhere, rather than the free lot provided by the landlord.
Police maintain 'enhanced presence'
Ottawa police said Thursday they would maintain an "enhanced presence" at the site until the civil dispute is resolved.
If the court orders an eviction, it's directed to Ottawa's sheriff for enforcement. But
"Should the Sheriff believe that the execution of the order could create a breach of the peace, they may require that police accompany them and assist in the execution of the order, pursuant to the Courts of Justice Act," police said.
"Once we receive the court order, we will liaise with the Sheriff’s office to determine if assistance from the OPS is required."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
DEVELOPING Israel says Hamas deal is 'far' from meeting its demands as Rafah offensive looms
Israel said the terms of a ceasefire deal Hamas accepted on Monday remained 'far from' meeting its demands and warned its military operations in Rafah would continue, even as it sent negotiators to talk to mediators.
2024 Met Gala: Everything to know about fashion's annual soiree
Fashion's biggest night out — hosted at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York each year on the first Monday of May — is both a forever-evolving spectacle and a carefully crafted event.
Concern over speeding in Fredericton neighbourhood grows after 2 teens, young adult killed in crash
Three people – including two teens – are dead, and two others are injured after a crash that has left a greater Fredericton community shaken.