Catalyst Paper appeals North Cowichan tax rate decision

Catalyst Paper will be appealing its North Cowichan, B.C. industrial tax rate court decision to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Last year Catalyst Paper launched lawsuits claiming the industrial tax rates in the British Columbia communities of Port Alberni, Powell River, Campbell River and the District of North Cowichan were too high.

Catalyst Paper lost the court case but have decided to appeal the North Cowichan case.

On the 2010 tax bill, North Cowichan Mayor Tom Walker said Catalyst paid only $1.5 million of its $5.5 million tax bill. He said the municipality reduced the company's tax bill by about $1.3 million over the last two years, while the legal dispute was underway. But it currently owes $4 million in property taxes, plus penalty charges

Sources:

High court approves Catalyst's tax appeal (Times Colonist)

Catalyst Keeps Cowichan In Court (WestCoaster.ca)