For 14 years, Mr. Convenience Variety has stood at the corner of Franklin Boulevard and Clyde Road in Cambridge.
That intersection is one of 11 slated to have roundabouts installed over the next few years, and owner John Vo has been told that his store – as well as two other homes – are in the way.
“They want (me to) move away,” he says.
“It’s my income, here. It’s my family.”
The Region of Waterloo has begun the expropriation process – one which will allow them to buy the land from Vo.
Vo hasn’t found a spot to relocate to, nor a new job to replace his current one.
“It’s just sad to see that he loses that sense of security of having a job and providing for his family,” says his daughter, Jennifer Vo.
If the region has to take the land, the Vos say, they’d like them to also help find the family a new home.
There’s no legal requirement for that, and one expert says there’s little Vo – or anyone else faced with expropriation – can do to stop the process.
“Fundamentally, if an expropriating authority wants to expropriate their property, there is very little they can do to prevent that,” lawyer Eric Davis tells CTV News.
Property owners warned of expropriation can request a hearing, at which point the government wishing to expropriate must show that their proposal is “reasonably necessary” – but other than that, the only thing the person facing expropriation can argue is compensation.
Ultimately, the landowner must be provided with an appropriate compensation – if the two sides can’t come to terms, the case goes before the Ontario Municipal Board – as well as reimbursement for legal fees, and potential damages for the disturbance.
“If you’re relocating a business, or something along those lines, the expropriating authority has to pay those expenses,” Davis says.
