NRE land tax bill being refunded to agricultural society after mistake

Niagara Regional Agricultural Society will receive a land tax refund of more than $ 60,000.

The agricultural society was mistakenly charged 2017 property taxes by the city for the Niagara Regional Exhibition property it owns on Niagara Street.

Agricultural societies in Ontario are except from paying land tax under the Agricultural and Horticultural Organizations Act. The act states agricultural societies are exempt from taxes as long as the land and proceeds from rental of land is used to support the society.

When Niagara Regional Agricultural Society received a bill from the City of Welland, it contacted MPP Cindy Forster for assistance. Forster said society treasurer Art Gill, who recently died, and Elizabeth Gill, a board member, came to her for assistance.

Forster said the city was going to tax the society on the land it rents out to help raise money for its programs and services.

Mayor Frank Campion said the bill was an administration error, which is being corrected and will not happen again.

Forster’s office worked with the city treasurer and the mayor to correct the issue.

“This was very important because other Ontario agricultural societies heard about this and were worried it would happen to them,” Forster said.

Campion assures it was not intentional and he would like to meet with the society. He said having an open dialogue with the agricultural society is important to supporting the farming community. He said it will also allow for opportunities to partner with the society and host events at the NRE grounds.

Campion has invited members from the society to meet with him in February.

When contacted by The Tribune, Gill said she could not comment on the issue, but that society members are planning on meeting with the mayor.

NRE president Ray Ravazzolo also declined to comment.

Forster said it was important for her to assist the society because the group in Niagara has worked hard to continue its efforts. She said it has faced financial issues in the past and this bill might have caused it to close its doors at the fairground.