BREAKING American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
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
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.
A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
A Google Drive link allegedly containing 17 tracks that are purportedly from Swift's eagerly awaited "The Tortured Poets Department" album has been making the rounds on the internet in the past day and people are equal parts mad, sad and happy about it.
Calgary police say Winston Campbell, 45, has been charged in the death of a two-year-old girl in 2022.
Guitar legend Dickey Betts, who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band and wrote their biggest hit, 'Ramblin' Man,' has died. He was 80.
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.
While many people choose to keep their medical appointments private, four longtime friends decided to undergo vasectomies as a group in B.C.'s Lower Mainland.
A popular highway in Alberta's Banff National Park now has a 'no stopping zone' to help protect two bears.