Ambassador Bridge. (Photo by Jason Viau)Ambassador Bridge. (Photo by Jason Viau)
Chatham

Top Court To Hear City-Bridge Battle

The Supreme Court of Canada is now involved in a dispute over repairing vacant homes between the City of Windsor and the Ambassador Bridge.

The country's top court has granted a leave to appeal and will hear the case.

The bridge company, known as the Canadian Transit Company in the appeal, purchased 114 properties in Windsor with hopes of building a second span.

The city attempted to enforce a bylaw that would have the abandoned homes repaired.

Ambassador Bridge officials say the city's bylaw "does not apply to properties purchased, leased or otherwise acquired and held" by the company.

Mayor Drew Dilkens says it has been necessary for the city to spend a "significant" amount of money defending its position.

"People need to know that we continue to fight for the west end, for Sandwich Towne, that we have not given up," says Dilkens. "Certainly we'd love to resolve this in a way that makes sense for everyone, but it's clearly not possible."

The federal court agreed with the city, but the Federal Court of Appeal later dismissed the original judgement.

A date for the Supreme Court of Canada hearing has not been set and the fight is far from over.

"This whole thing could still drag on for yet another year, and all the while houses on Indian Rd. continue to deteriorate (and) we can't enforce our bylaw," says Dilkens.

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