There could some heated discussion coming over the next few months involving the City of Quinte West, the Province of Ontario and some property owners in the Carrying Place area.
Bob Forder, the former Manager of Buildings and Facilities for the municipality, has lived with his wife Kathy on Old Carrying Place Road for decades.
The area is just off Highway 33 between Dead Creek and the Murray Canal.
Forder says there are around two dozen (or more) properties that were/are affected by what is called the Canal Reserve.
Forder tells Quinte News there are homeowners in the area with canal reserve land running through their property.
The Canal Reserve was transferred from the federal government to the province in 1939. Part of that land was once a possible site for the now Murray Canal.
Residents, over several decades, have purchased land from the former Murray Township and Northumberland County, building homes on the property.
Bob Forder says when they bought in 1972, the Sheriff’s Office (and township lawyers) told them there was no encumberment on the land.
He says they have since found out that they do not have a Title Deed on their property, just a Registry Pin.
Forder claims he is unable to sell his property without a Title Deed, and he currently cannot get one without spending many thousands of dollars. He believes they may spend more on the paperwork and lawyer’s fees than it cost them to buy in the land.
Over the decades, some properties have been cleared of the reserve and owners have obtained a Title Deed, however Forder says it can take some time and money.
Another frustration Forder and others have in the area is that they pay property taxes on portions of land they actually do not own.
“Since 1972 we have paid taxes, and I am told now that I do not own up to 5% of the property. Kathy and I pay taxes on something the province claims ownership of.”
“Fifty years of taxes and I still cannot sell the property. Something needs to be corrected here. We are owed money (with interest) and we need to be able to sell our house eventually.”
Forder says he and others are going to make a delegation to the municipality and continue to reach out to get answers from the province.
