Midwestern

North Huron Council gives Wingham Columbus Centre a break

North Huron council has given a break to the Wingham Columbus Centre, which went into debt due to restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic over the last two years.

Council voted 5-1 during its regular meeting on Monday to reconsider a payment plan discussed earlier this year, which would have seen the organization pay back just over $41,000, but that number will instead be paid through the municipality's working reserve.

The new plan continues a plan for the organization to repay approximately $15,000 per year for the next three years, at which time it's expected the agreement would be renegotiated.

Most councillors spoke in favour of the work the Knights of Columbus provides, with Coun. Paul Heffer saying "We owe them a break."

However, Coun. Kevin Falconer continued to take exception to the plan, noting that the Knights of Columbus "as an organization, has $24 billion in assets. This is just in Ontario. They gave $1.5 billion to charity. I can't spend taxpayer dollars unless taxpayers have their say."

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