June 09, 2023

Eli Prociw's journey continues with an unexpected benefactor stepping into the story

BY SOUTHGREY.CA STAFF — We have previously reported on Eli Prociw's journey from debilitating illness and losing his ability to work along with a delayed diagnosis, fights with the Canada Revenue Agency and the accruing of municipal property taxes and penalties while he waited for federal assistance. But hang on tight, as his story requires updating with an unexpected twist to come.

On June 7, Eli Prociw made a new request of Grey Highlands Council, under the Discretion provision of the Grey Highlands Bylaw, to have the penalties and interest accrued on his property tax account from Jan 2016 to Aug 2020 waived. This matched the waiting period to receive his federal CPP disability relief.

According to Anna McCarthy, Grey Highlands Director of Financial Services/Treasurer, the municipality has never approved a request under Discretion, other than when correcting a clerical error.

Grey Highlands staff and CAO Karen Govan described how difficult it is to decide on such cases and how they take an emotional tole on them.

Govan also explained her point of view, in denying Prociw's previous requests for accommodation. "Everybody has a story," she said. "I think it's really difficult to say one person's story is more legitimate than other people's stories."

She continued her elucidation. "We have gone to tax sale and sold people's properties out from underneath them," she said. "Regardless of what stories are coming forward, I don't think any of us are in the right position to judge whose story is more difficult than others."

Several Councillors added that if one such application is approved, the municipality could set a precedent and expect a flood of similar requests to follow.

Councillor Joel Loughead defended Prociw's request, adding that regardless of how difficult these decisions are, it is their job to make the difficult decisions regarding waiving penalties under Discretion. "It is in our policy language," he said.

Councillor Nadia Dubyk agreed. After meeting with Prociw, both Loughead and Dubyk found his story compelling enough to support the waiving of penalties.

Loughead pointed out that "this is about a disability with very specific parameters of a federal error causing a funding delay." But other Councillors seemed unmoved by the argument.

After a lengthy discussion, Council voted on Councillor Loughead's motion to give Prociw the relief he was asking for, but the motion was defeated with only two votes in favour.

Following the decision, Eli Prociw was obviously frustrated. "A request will never be approved under any circumstance," said Prociw." The Discretionary by-law is only for show, applicants would never be approved," he lamented.

Prociw planned on sending a query to the Ontario Ombudsman regarding the Discretionary by-law having an unattainable threshold for approval. But in a surprising and heart-warming twist of fate for Eli, solace has arrived from a source much closer to home.

Local philanthropists Heiner Phillip and Susanne von Törne — owners of Rural Net, a local Flesherton-based Internet service provider — were moved by his story and on June 8, generously offered to help him out. Much to Prociw's surprise and gratitude, the couple have pledged to pay one year of his property taxes and put him on a more settled financial footing. Wow! That's wonderful," said Eli, overwhelmed by their gift.

But Prociw remains disappointed in his local government. When asked if he will still advocate for change at Council, he exclaimed, "Damn right I will!" More energized than ever, Prociw plans to continue to fight for the disabled in Grey Highlands. He intends to make a future delegation to Council to lobby for more broad accommodations while the disabled wait for financial assistance from other levels of government and for better process in deciding on matters of Discretion.

For the full story on Eli's journey, also visit:

Grey Highlands man calls municipal policies outdated, leading disabled residents into poverty

Local disabled man continues to look for relief from late tax payment penalties

 

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