Catalyst Paper appeals BC Supreme Court decision on Local Government Property Tax Bill

In today's Vancouver Sun, Catalyst Paper announces its' intent to appeal a BC Supreme Court decision on Catalyst Paper's property tax bill in several muncipalities on Vancouver Island.

The article in the Vancouver Sun on the subject is below:

Catalyst Paper has appealed a B.C. Supreme Court decision that property taxes imposed on the company are valid, and that if Catalyst thinks they are unfair, it should take the matter up with the governments involved. Catalyst sued four municipalities, arguing their tax bylaws were unreasonable and therefore illegal, as they left Catalyst paying taxes out of proportion to the services the company used. For example, in the District of North Cowichan, the company paid about $6.50 in taxes for every $1 in municipal services received, according to Justice Peter Voith's October judgment, which is the subject of the appeal. At issue is a total of about $23 million in tax owed to North Cowichan, Campbell River, Port Alberni and Powell River, where Catalyst's mills are located. Catalyst filed its appeal to the B.C. Court of Appeal on Monday to keep its options open, Catalyst spokeswoman Lyn Brown said. Catalyst is awaiting decisions in the remaining three cases, which were also argued before Voith.