City pays houseboaters

by Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Feb 25/98) - After years fighting unsuccessfully to have houseboaters pay property taxes, the city has been ordered to pay two Yellowknife Bay residents $500 each.

The NWT assessment appeal tribunal earlier this month ordered the city to pay Fraser Weir and Louise Charbonneau costs for appearing at a Feb. 11 tax hearing the tribunal had already ruled should not take place.

"The appellants (houseboaters) would not have had to do the additional work required to prepare for this hearing if the city of Yellowknife had implemented the decision as directed," wrote tribunal chairman Jim Currie in the Feb. 13 decision.

But Weir said Tuesday the city continues to show a blatant disregard for tribunal decisions.

"I think Mr. Lovell is going to find himself in small claims court pretty soon," said Weir, referring to Mayor Dave Lovell. "I should have had my cheque by last Friday."

Weir noted the tribunal ordered the city to implement its decision "immediately," but said he has not heard a word from the city since the tribunal hearing.

City assessor Grant Lloyd agreed Monday the hearing was unnecessary, but said it was due in part to the fact that the tribunal took eight months after an February 1997 hearing to rule that the city should not tax houseboats. By that time, tax rolls that included houseboats for the next year were already prepared.

"At that point, we should have contacted Fraser and Louise," said Lloyd. He said the city had no intention of charging houseboaters 1998 taxes in light of the decision.

The NWT Supreme Court is currently considering the city's request for the right to tax and regulate houseboats on Yellowknife Bay.