Souris forced to fork over $43,000 thanks to Ocean Choice

SOURIS — Ocean Choice has delivered another financial hit to the Town of Souris.

The municipality was left reeling from the closure of the fish plant in the fall of 2012 with hundreds tossed out of work.

Now, Ocean Choice has successfully appealed to the province payment of property taxes that will draw $43,000 out of the town’s coffers.

The company appealed on the grounds it is no longer a commercial entity.

Souris Mayor David MacDonald is, needless to say, not terribly pleased with this turn of events.

“We’re obviously going to at least draft a letter (to the province) saying we don’t think it’s fair treatment,’’ he said.

“We can live with this,’’ he added. “We just don’t want to.’’

MacDonald says having to fork over $43,000 will mean the municipality will likely be forced to put a few initiatives on the backburner for a year or two.

Still, the town should be able to maintain all the regular municipal programming that residents are accustomed to receiving.

“Financially, we were in pretty good shape,’’ added MacDonald.

“We have been doing rather well in the past few years in terms of doing what we have to do.’’

MacDonald expects the municipal budget, which should be passed by council on April 8, to fall around $1.2 million.

In other municipal news in Souris, MacDonald says about 15 new No Smoking signs will be placed in outdoor areas like ball diamonds, soccer fields and parks within the next few weeks.

The town banned smoking in recreational areas in 2011.

MacDonald says compliance has been good.

jday@theguardian.pe.ca

UPWESTER: - March 13, 2013 at 21:33:45

Nothing has changed as far as the commercial assessment is concerned. The town didn't change the zoning on this property. If memory serves mel, I believe OC said they were temporarily closing for that season, not necessarily closing for good.It was their choice to close this business temorarily,so they should still be paying the commercial rate.

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Dont blame Ocean Choice: - March 13, 2013 at 13:59:26

The Premier's bosses shut down Ocean Choice. They were trying to strong arm them and were told, "See ya!" Make Robbie pay. He can win/lose that small amount in a Wednesday night PNP Poker Party with his buddies.

Bill Kays: - March 13, 2013 at 12:44:56

Again we have no protection from this type of thing happening. Why do our different levels of government do nothing to prevent this, if not this time let's take steps not to allow it to happen again. You see, if our fishing and farming industries were stronger we would be in a much better way to weather these storms. Our government has seen fit to destroy our normal way of life, farming and fishing, and repleced it with their man made industries called tourism and bio sciences or bio tech. Our governments have literally "BET THE FARM" and in some cases the boats too, on industries that depend on the petroleum industry. Does that seem wise to you? We can eat our fish and potatoes but we cannot eat our tourism, or new bio sciences, etc. Although we should never, our governments want us to eat their new frankenfish species, GMO foods, etc., etc. all without real life testing on real people. They haven't done the studies on people because they do not have to, they police themselves. People still think some government agency is going to protect them from the dangers in the marketplace and our environment. Government as a whole, could care less for the common person, only corporate profits because big biz and big gov are married in North America.

No Idea

- March 13, 2013 at 15:03:16

It's obvious you have no idea what you are talking about. These folks were here opening their doors! Had staff here, the plant cleaned and management in place and were shut down by Charlottetown Lawyers who tried to unsuccessfully force them to follow their rules. OCI called their bluff. Alan Campbell was responsible but he knew nothing about it. Nothing. He was simply the puppet, I mean Minister at the time.

AboutTheGreen: - March 13, 2013 at 12:02:04

So, lets get this straight... the Province of PEI sides in favor of another defunct, off-island 'commercial' enterprise... over an Island community and residents. Thanks bunches, Ghizmo and gang.. Seems like someone is spending too much time in their taxpayer funded vehicles... listing to really old pop tunes, like... Oops, I did it again...

Townie: - March 13, 2013 at 10:36:34

Another hit for Souris. I feel 2013 is going to be a good year for the Community, K-12 starting, lots of Rumours Northlake is opening, new Pharmacy and Tim Hortons opening soon. Also the Harbour Authority usually has something in the work. Just have to get OCI plant to reopen. Good Luck Souris. Great little town.