Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for "all parties" to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
The current purchase of a historic Ottawa church slated to become an "embassy" for a group affiliated with the Freedom Convoy has fallen through, according to documents obtained by CTV News.
St. Brigid's Church was conditionally sold to a group called The United People of Canada on June 15 but as of Aug. 12, real estate listing documents show the property was listed as "back on the market."
The documents did not say what potential conditions were not met that could have caused the deal to collapse.
When reached by CTV News, The United People of Canada director William Komer said it was his understanding the deal was still in place.
"There's no deal that has fallen through to our knowledge and perspective," said Komer, who added the owner of the property had not informed him of any changes to the sale.
CTV News reached out to both the owner of the property and the listing agent but neither commented about the status of the property.
The church, located 1.3 kilometres from Parliament Hill, had been on the market since July 2021 prior to the conditional sale and had a $5.95-million price tag.
While attempting to satisfy the conditions of purchasing the church, The United People of Canada had been renting the space. On Wednesday, a bailiff unsuccessfully attempted to evict the group from the church after alleging they had not been paying rent.
On Thursday, a "Notice of Termination of Tenant" was posted on the front door of the church stating the group’s lease had been terminated due to $10,000 in unpaid rent and "failure to provide proof of liability insurance in the minimum of $5 million." A second notice posted on the door said the group was in violation of the Ontario Heritage Act and did not obtain necessary permits for construction under the Ontario Building Code Act.
Komer said in a Facebook post that the eviction notice was "unlawful."
"As you can see from the actions of property owners, they do seem to be wishing to no longer do business with us," said Komer.
One of the group’s largest financial backers, London, Ont.-based investment adviser Tony Cuzzocrea, told CTV News that it was a "lie" that The United People of Canada had not paid their rent on time.
"We have proof that have paid every money, as it it was due at a certain amount of time," said Cuzzocrea.
Komer told CTV News in June the group planned to turn the church into an “embassy” that would serve as a community space.
"Just looking to create a unique and inclusive space where people of all different backgrounds and beliefs are welcome to participate in dialogue, participate in co-working, access a community cafe, venue space and we're hosting a number of community conversations," said Komer.
Fellow United People of Canada director Kimberley Ward has admitted to being an adviser to Dwayne Lich, the partner of "Freedom Convoy" organizer Tamara Lich. Ward also was outside the Ottawa courthouse on March 7 to celebrate the first release of Tamara Lich on bail, but despite that, the group denies connections to the occupation.
The ties with the Lich family and the group’s presence at the church had concerned community groups.
"We're concerned about their links to the community, what their objectives are and establishing headquarters for this organization in our community," said Sylvie Bigras of the Lowertown Community Association.
With files from CTV News' Jeremie Charron, Josh Pringle and Newstalk 580 CFRA's Andrew Pinsent
Canada called for "all parties" to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
On Friday, the pop star released her 11th album and at 2 a.m. Eastern, she released "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology," featuring 15 additional songs.
The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that it received 'last minute' information from Israel about a drone action in Iran, but didn't participate in the apparent attack, officials said.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
At 6'8" and 350 pounds, there is nothing typical about UBC offensive lineman Giovanni Manu, who was born in Tonga and went to high school in Pitt Meadows.
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
Molly Knight, a grade four student in Nova Scotia, noticed her school library did not have many books on female athletes, so she started her own book drive in hopes of changing that.
Almost 7,000 bars of pure gold were stolen from Pearson International Airport exactly one year ago during an elaborate heist, but so far only a tiny fraction of that stolen loot has been found.
When Les Robertson was walking home from the gym in North Vancouver's Lower Lonsdale neighbourhood three weeks ago, he did a double take. Standing near a burrow it had dug in a vacant lot near East 1st Street and St. Georges Avenue was a yellow-bellied marmot.
A moulting seal who was relocated after drawing daily crowds of onlookers in Greater Victoria has made a surprise return, after what officials described as an 'astonishing' six-day journey.
Just steps from Parliament Hill is a barber shop that for the last 100 years has catered to everyone from prime ministers to tourists.
A high score on a Foo Fighters pinball machine has Edmonton player Dave Formenti on a high.
A compound used to treat sour gas that's been linked to fertility issues in cattle has been found throughout groundwater in the Prairies, according to a new study.