(Montreal) The leader of the Conservative Party of Quebec explained to Paul Arcand on Tuesday morning that his tenant was in fact a friend in financial difficulty whom he wanted to help. He admitted to settling the overdue property tax bill himself on Friday.
Posted at 9:26
“I sent him the opinions, he told the show Since you have to get up at 98.5 FM. He had all the stuff in hand to pay and he just didn’t have the money to do it. When I found out he hadn’t paid, I paid them. It’s not more complicated than that. »
This friend, whom he does not name, lives in his house on Moncton Avenue in the Montcalm district of Quebec City with his four children. He claimed the pair had entered into a lease for the first year of tenancy, but later changed the arrangement verbally.
“I told him to pay for the basics: taxes, heat, internet and normal maintenance… cut the grass and take care of ordinary business,” he said.
“He pays nothing. I said to myself: if at least he pays the taxes, ”he added a little later.
The school tax bill that he neglected to pay for more than two years is also associated with the same address. He again implied that his tenant failed to pay him. A bailiff had the mandate to recover the sums due. “Not only did I pay the taxes, I paid the interest, I paid the penalties,” he defended himself.
However, he acknowledged that as the owner of this house, he is ultimately responsible for the payment of property and school taxes. “For two years, I have been working a little a lot. I should have supervised it better than that and I should have gone to pay them before,” he said.
He claimed not to declare the income from his property in his tax return since they are negative. “If I said so, I would still make a loss and make money,” he said. In fact, I would make money on this business. I cannot declare it. »
Éric Duhaime maintained that the only way for him to make money with this property will be during the sale since it has appreciated in value.
He admitted that the rental agreement with his friend will have to be reviewed “in light of what has just happened”. “He has enough difficulties already. The last thing he needs is for me to add a layer to him, but I don’t want to stall someone who is down,” he said.