Northeast Town sign bylaw case against downtown business owner ends with community donation
LITTLE CURRENT—The seven-month battle between Buddy’s Liquidation proprietor Aaron Toy and the Northeast Town over Mr. Toy’s breach of the town’s sign and billboard bylaw finally came to a close last month as Mr. Toy presented the Provincial Offences Court with a receipt reflecting a $1,000 donation to Manitoulin Family Resources, a condition of his guilty verdict.
“Mr. Toy met his commitment (of donating to a community organization) and presented the receipt of his donation to the court,” town CAO David Williamson told The Expositor, noting that Justice of the Peace Darlene Hayden accepted the donation receipt in lieu of a fine as previously agreed to by the town’s attorney.
“I donated $1,000 (in merchandise) to Manitoulin Family Resources,” said Mr. Toy. “They were able to pick out what they needed and mostly chose items for the women’s shelter (Haven House).”
As The Expositor previously reported, on Thursday, November 21 Justice Hayden delivered a verdict of guilty in the ongoing case between Buddy’s Liquidation owner Aaron Toy and the Northeast Town over Mr. Toy’s breach of the town’s sign and billboard bylaw.
The town’s attorney, Brad Allison, recommended a fine between $200 to $300 when asked for input from the court, however Mr. Toy requested that the fine be doubled and that the funds be donated to a local charity of his choosing.
Mr. Allison stated that neither he nor his client (the town) had any objection to Mr. Toy’s request and Justice Hayden directed Mr. Toy to appear back in court on Thursday, December 19, bringing with him a receipt of his charitable donation.
“I’m pretty disappointed in everyone involved in the long run,” Mr. Toy told The Expositor of the case. “The fact that it took up so much of the town’s resources and money to pursue this seems wrong. I’m just a business owner trying to do what I can for the community and economy.”
