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| Who owns this place? |
There is an informative story by Jonathon Skinner in the City Centre Mirror saying that the ownership of the Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries will be contested in court. For about eight years the association known as Friends of Toronto Public Cemeteries (FTPC) has insisted that the burial grounds are governed by 19th century legislation that has never been repealed. They claim this makes the cemeteries a public trust. On the other hand, The Mount Pleasant Group insists the cemeteries are properly owned by their corporation and thus accountable only under the Corporations Act of Ontario. Now the FTCP says it has filed a Notice of Application with the Ontario Superior Court asking the court to declare the cemetery is still bound by a long-standing Special Act that lists it as a public trust. FTCP has submitted 11 declarations and “a thick stack of papers” which prove its case. The matter is fascinating because it has conjured up the idea of a hugely valuable public property which somehow got lost in the assets of the government. The Superior Court will now presumably investigate this and declare the actual ownership. Mr. Skinner notes that the matter is set to appear before the Court on Sept. 9. In the meantime, he further notes, the organization is looking for new members and donors to help cover its court costs, which have been capped at $100,000. An anonymous donor has volunteered to match any other donations.
