Just in case anybody was unsure who wrote what and when .... here's what's on record.
September 1998 - Councillor Moeser's report in the CCRA News letter
The City of Toronto at my urging has put the property up for tax sale. The process takes one year to complete and at the end of the year if taxes have not been paid the property will be put up for sale by the City.
My preference would be a 24 acre park but we are still waiting for the province (Steve Gilchrist) to help with the purchase of the property. The Manson property is in a strategic location to enhance the Village Common at the base of Port Union Road.
March 1999 - Councillor Moeser's letter to Steve Gilchrist
I strongly agree that it would be of great benefit for the City to own the 14 acres as parkland as you have suggested*. ....... As you are aware, the City has initiated proceedings under the Municipal Tax Sales Act.
* in response to Steve Gilchrist's letter of February 27, 1999
May 1999 - Councillor Moeser's report in the CCRA News letter
I would like to correct a column by Joe Pileggi where he stated 'both the City and the mortgage company are in a position to sell the land to satisfy the debts but neither of them want to take control of the land because of the liability'.
Last July, at my request the city put the Manson property up for TAX SALE. The process takes one year and if no one bids on the property the city will take ownership of the property. I would prefer the city own the Manson site and have stated that position in the past.
August 1999 - Environment Chair, Joe Pileggi in the CCRA News letter
Let me put our new Minister of Municipal Affairs - Steve Gilchrist, and Ron Moeser our City Councillor on the hot seat. Steve has the authority to designate the land usage of the factory as the Ministry sees fit. He can now fulfil his election promise to turn the land into a Park. In the same instance the City is in a position to move for possession of the property because of back taxes owed. Mr. Moeser needs to push the City to take possession. The ball is in their court.
September 1999 - letter from Steve Gilchrist to a CCRA Executive member
I must say I am shocked and disappointed to learn that, contrary to the articles in the West Rouge and CCRA newsletters since last July, wherein we had been told that the city had commenced tax sale proceedings against the current owner of the land, in fact, no such action was taken until May 20th of this year!
October 1999 - Steve Gilchrist's report for the November CCRA News
I was disappointed to have learned that the City of Toronto had not begun the tax sale of the Manson site. As you are aware the owners owe in excess of $1.5 million in back taxes dating back to 1997. Despite assurances from the city, the tax sale was delayed and a compromise has been reached allowing the owners of the site to repay outstanding taxes over a one year period beginning in December of 1999. Again, an opportunity to place these lands under the ownership of the public has been lost.
We have been consistently told that to place these lands into public ownership would require substantial funding from all three levels of government. Here again was an opportunity to acquire the lands at no cost to the public outside of taxes owed and the city has decided against it.
November 1999 - Ron Moeser's report for the December CCRA News
I would like to respond to the article by Steve Gilchrist in the November 1999 CCRA Newsletter, where he indicates that the City of Toronto had not begun the tax sale for the Manson Site. It is unfortunate that Mr Gilchrist, as past Minister of Municipal Affairs, does not understand the provincial legislation, regarding the decision of a municipality to put a property on the market for tax sale.
The City of Toronto passed a motion to initiate the tax sale process in July 1998. After passing the bill at Council for the tax sale, city staff is required to do a Title Search, which in this case, was difficult for the city staff to establish ownership. The documentation is produced and the tax arrears certificate is registered pursuant to the Municipal Tax Sales Act. At this point the owner of the property has one year to pay the taxes, or the city must put the property up for tax sale. This was reported to you in the September 1998 CCRA Newletter and reiterated in the April 1999 CCRA Newsletter.
I have stated a number of times that the property should be under provincial or city ownership. On several occasions, I have met with Mr Gilchrist and the owners of the Manson property, where I stated that the lands should be in public ownership and that I was willing to waive the taxes in a form of a grant to place this land in public ownership. Under provincial legislation, the city cannot waive the taxes on a property, but we can make the contribution in the form of a grant, which goes back to the tax department and this action would be revenue neutral.
I made the offer to Mr Gilchrist when he was parliamentary assistant to Mr Leach, with the expectation that the province through Mr Gilchrist would contribute the balance of the funds needed for the purchase of the property. The owners of the Manson property were very receptive to this offer and said they would give it strong consideration. Mr Gilchrist also said he would explore sources of funding to purchase the property but no further offers to fund the purchase were received.
There are a number of issues that must be resolved with the Manson property, the waterfront trail, and the Village Common and that is where all our efforts should be concentrated by all levels of government, not making incorrect comments.
Confused?? Curious??If you need ask your own questions, you can e-mail Ron Moeser or Steve Gilchrist from the contacts e-mail list page here.
