COLD LAKE - The City of Cold Lake is hoping to resolve their issues with the government outside of the courtroom.
Following the Federal Court's decision that the Cold Lake Golf and Winter Club should fall under the Payment in Leu of Taxes (PILT) Agreement between the city and federal government, the municipality has decided to extend a hand and see if they can resolve an even bigger issue out of court.
“The City of Cold Lake’s last contact with the Minister of Public Services and Procurement (PSP) Canada regarding the PILT file was in regards to August of last year, when the minister declined our request to meet to discuss the file,” explained Cold Lake's manager of strategic initiatives Andrew Serba. “At the time, the minister had stated that she wanted to wait for the results of two legal proceedings, the first being in regards to the decision to include the golf course for the PILT paid to the city and the second concerning the evaluation of the CFB Cold Lake itself."
He continued, “Given the first legal proceeding is now completed and was decided in the city’s favour, administration has drafted a letter to see if the government is ready to attempt to solve this dispute out of the court process."
In the letter addressed to Minister of PSP Anita Anand, the city states they're concern "with how our community and its residents are being treated by your department."
It details how the city recently won the legal decision in regards to the exclusion of the golf club from the PILT paid to the municipality.
"And yet, your department seems to take the approach that it will continue to limit the effect of the Dispute Advisory Panel (DAP) decision in our favour, and to keep this matter in the courts for as long as possible through successive bouts of litigation. In fact, your department has now advised that it intends to re-litigate all of the issues relating to PILT associated with CFB Cold Lake," the letter outlines.
It describes how the city fails to see how the ongoing issue is in "the best interest of the Canadian taxpayers and we struggle to understand the example the Government of Canada is attempting to set when it comes to paying one's fair share for services received."
The city also explains how as a result of the ongoing dispute, the relationship the municipality has with 4 Wing Cold Lake has been under significant and consistent strain.
The letter continues, "The City of Cold Lake is committed to finding a fair and appropriate resolution to this matter that respects not only the taxpayers of the City of Cold Lake, but those across all of Canada. While we look forward to the next decision the DAP is being asked to render, we feel that a more expeditious, cost-effective, and prudent course of action would be to attempt to resolve the dispute before their decision is required."
Mayor Craig Copeland said he was happy with the letter during their council meeting on May 25, while Coun. Kirk Soroka described the tone of the letter as "appropriate."
"This is now a nine-year process, and it's costing the city a lot of money to go through these legal ramblings, so I think it's a good letter to send out."
