Meanwhile, The United People of Canada showed reporters photocopies of two checks it claimed were for Saint Brigid’s Center for the Arts to pay rent and claimed the owner of the St. Patrick refuses to accept the payments. “Basically, they’re harassing us from our standpoint…we have an active lease on the property,” William Comer’s board told reporters Sunday morning. “We are in full compliance based on that date, and again, they refuse to accept that payment.” Komer again insisted that the eviction notice from the owner of St. Brigid is “completely illegal” and they have an active lease on the property. On Thursday, a bailiff with the bailiff service served a “Tenant Termination Notice” at St. Brigid’s on St. Patrick, which stated that the landlord had terminated The United People of Canada’s occupancy under the Commercial Leases Act. The notice said the tenants owed $10,000 in unpaid rent and failed to provide proof of $5 million in liability insurance. The bailiff also issued a second notice saying TUPOC is in violation of Ontario’s Heritage Act and failed to obtain the necessary permits for construction. The bailiff told CTV News Ottawa that the group is “occupying” the property. The United People of Canada planned to host their weekly community barbecue Sunday at the church, despite being evicted from the property. A dozen residents and opponents of TUPOC visited the church Sunday morning, urging the group to follow the eviction order and leave the Lowertown neighborhood. “These guys have got to go, they’ve been kicked out,” Deanna Sheriff said. “The people here don’t want them here, we don’t want them here, we don’t want white nationalism, we don’t want fascism.” Heather added: “Go home!” “We don’t need their help here in Lowertown, Ottawa doesn’t need their help. I think maybe they should take all their goodwill and bring it home to their own communities.” Resident Chris Grinham visited the church on Saturday to hear from the team as they spoke to reporters and the community about their plans and returned to the church on Sunday. “They keep saying they’re here to make Lowertown better, but they never say how or why,” Grinham said. “They just keep having workshops to explain why the convoy was good and the people in their neighborhood were really hurt by the convoy and really exhausted by it and they don’t want to see it come back.” Ottawa police officers were present near the church on Sunday to monitor the TUPOC event and anti-church demonstration. An officer confirmed to CTV News that Ottawa police were called to St. Brigid’s several times during the day. In July, The United People of Canada moved to St. Brigid’s Church, saying he planned to buy the church for his “Embassy”. At the front of the church were hung red banners. Documents obtained by CTV News show that the sale of St. Bridget’s Church to the United People of Canada has fallen through. The church was conditionally sold to the group on June 15, but as of August 12, property registration documents show the property was listed as “back on the market.”
Here are the documents TUPOC has provided. Two checks and “proof of insurance”. They say they tried to pay, but the property owner wouldn’t accept the money. The property’s landlord and bailiff say they are $10,000 in rent arrears, the lease has been terminated. pic.twitter.com/dRSiwyA7KF — Jeremie Charron (@JCharronCTV) August 21, 2022 TUPOC showed reporters photocopies of two checks for July and August rent, dated July 15 and August 15, along with documents the group claims are proof of liability insurance. Komer insists that The United People of Canada tried to make a payment but received no response. “They’re calling, emailing, contacting and it doesn’t seem like they want our money, it doesn’t seem like they want to do business with us,” Komer said. “That may be because (Mayor) Jim Watson is reported to have said don’t do business with these people.” Komer suggests elected officials played a role in the owner’s move to evict the team. “There appears to be a concerted effort to no longer do business with us; this appears to be due to the undoing of political pressure, perhaps, to discriminate against an individual based on background, beliefs, beliefs, etc.,” said Comm. “Look at the recent comments from Mayor Jim Watson saying his message to the owners of these properties is don’t do business with these people — that’s what I understand he’s said, something to that effect — that is, from our perspective , malfeasance in public office as well as causing breach of contract”. On Saturday, TUPOC board member Diane Nolan held a media conference, discussing the Freedom Convoy event in downtown Ottawa, the mission of the United People of Canada and how the group wants to help the community. In a Facebook Live video on Sunday, Nolan suggested that St. Bridget’s Church will be demolished if TUPOC is evicted. “This beautiful church will be torn down if we leave here. You know, the city builds buildings like they’re out of style.” Heritage Ottawa says both the exterior and interior elements of the church were designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act of 1981. “Elements of its extravagant interior identified in the designation include iron columns, canvas panels, figurative wall paintings, vaulted ceilings and decorative wood carvings, including wine racks, vats, confessionals and the altar,” said Heritage Ottawa. The eviction notice alleges that TUPOC violated the Ontario Heritage Act. With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Jeremie Charron
