Latest news with #CityofGatineau
CTV News
17-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
City of Gatineau loses court battle over property taxes for Gatineau Park
Part of Gatineau Park is in the City of Gatineau. The City of Gatineau. Que. has lost its court battle against the National Capital Commission over property taxes for Gatineau Park. A federal court judge dismissed an application for judicial review filed by the City of Gatineau over the payments in lieu of taxes from the NCC for the period of 2006 to 2020. The NCC set the payment in lieu of taxes at $166,369. The dispute involves the payment in lieu of taxes paid by the NCC for Gatineau Park land located in the City of Gatineau. Under the National Capital Act, the NCC 'may pay to local municipalities grants not exceeding the amount of taxes that could be collected by them on its real property.' The City of Gatineau was seeking a judicial review of the NCC's decision on the payment, saying the proposed payment in lieu of taxes 'were not reasonable' and didn't follow a recommendation from an advisory committee In a judgment issued last Friday, Judge Yvan Roy called the city's case a 'frontal attack' on the National Capital Commission, adding the NCC can determine the payments in lieu of taxes and is under no obligation to follow the recommendations from a federal advisory committee. Justice Roy notes the Federal Court of Appeal had already ruled to uphold an earlier Federal Court ruling on the municipality of Chelsea, Que's dispute with the NCC over unpaid taxes for Gatineau Park. The municipality said it was shortchanged more than $900,000 a year in property taxes from the NCC. In February, the City of Ottawa lost its multi-million-dollar court battle with the federal government over payments in lieu of taxes on federal buildings. Federal Court Justice Panagiotis Pamel dismissed the city's legal challenge that Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and Canada Post shortchanged the city $22 million in 2021 and 2022 on federal payments for tax-exempt buildings. The case surrounded a reduction in the Business Education Tax (BET) rate on property taxes by the Ontario government during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The BET rate reduction was intended to provide relief to businesses and was not meant to apply to the payments in lieu of taxes paid by governments.
CTV News
09-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
Meet the official bird of Gatineau, Que.
The pileated woodpecker, described as a tireless woodworker that evokes pride, has been chosen at the emblematic bird of Gatineau, Que. The City of Gatineau announced Tuesday afternoon that residents voted to have the great woodpecker named the official bird of the city in western Quebec. According to the city, the pileated woodpecker is a 'tireless woodworker,' and 'evokes pride through its majestic appearance, natural presence, and resilience.' 'The Pileated Woodpecker plays an important role in maintaining local biodiversity, as the cavities it excavates are essential for several other animal species that rely on them for nesting,' the city said in a media release. 'It resides year-round in our forests and parks. Large trees and stumps provide it with nesting and roosting sites, as well as a source of food.' In May, residents were invited to pick the city's official bird from five bird species. More than 4,100 people voted for the emblematic bird. The other species were the Wood Duck, The Cedar Waxwing, The Belt Kingfisher, and the White-breasted Nuthatch. The city said the five birds under consideration were chosen based on being native to the area, easy to recognize and having an ecological role and value to the city. The selection of an emblematic bird is part of Gatineau's efforts to obtain a 'Bird-Friendly City' certification.
CTV News
16-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
What should be the official bird of Gatineau, Que.? Residents asked to vote
The City of Gatineau is inviting residents to vote for a new official bird for the city. (City of Gatineau/X)
