CORNWALL, Ontario – At their meeting on Monday, Feb. 10, Cornwall City Council unanimously passed a motion to fully exempt veterans associations from all municipal taxes.
The Ford Government had already enacted a full municipal tax exemption for all branches of the Canadian Legion in Ontario.
The Cornwall Army Navy Air Force Club asked that they also be considered for a full tax exemption.
City of Cornwall Administration presented a report to Council recommending two options, the first asking that a full exemption be extended to the Army Navy Air Force Club, the Navy Club, and the Royal Canadian Air Force Wing 424. The second option presented to Council was that they direct administration how to proceed.
City Chief Financial Officer Tracey Bailey told Council that the total amount of taxes that the city collected from the two organizations was roughly $19,000.
“It’s not really a ton of money for our Corporation in the grand scheme of things, but it would go a long way to these organizations,” said Councillor Dean Hollingsworth.
Councillor Glen Grant, who admitted that he was a member of the Army Navy Air Force Club, said that these organizations were competing with local businesses.
“They’re competing with restaurants and businesses in town, taking tax away from people who pay 100 per cent tax,” he said.
Grant asked to see financial statements from the organization and moved to defer the motion, but was defeated.
“I think our veterans have paid enough,” said Councillor Eric Bergeron.
Council unanimously voted to extend a 100 per cent tax exemption for the Army Navy Air Force Club, the Navy Club, and the RCAF Wing 424 through to 2029.
