The City of Winnipeg Destroys a Private Home

You think you own your property? Think again.

The government not only owns the land your house is on, they will act as if they own your house as well and do with it what they please; sell it from under you in a tax sale, expropriate it to build a road, or demolish it if you don't obey their commands.

It almost sounds like a theocracy using their thugs amongst the villagers, but it happens right here in Winnipeg.

Alphabet house comes crashing down

(Ed Ackerman) had been in a dispute with the city for years over the
condition of the Gertie Street house.

But the structure was in need of significant repairs — the rear of the
house was open to the elements, the foundation in bad shape — and the city had
repeatedly warned Ackerman to do the work or the house would be
demolished.

The city made good on the promise Tuesday morning.

Ackerman said he intends to take legal action against the city and rebuild
on the same property.

Askerman didn't listen, so they demolished his house. That is sick, so sick. It was his house! So it was not in good shape, so it was unusal to look at, so what! The government is the only organization that can legally steal or destroy peoples property.

So when you've paid off your mortgage and think that you are scot-free, think again.

edit
Since this article first went up earlier today there have been a lot of comments left on the CBC site, unfortunately most of them amount to people wanting to tell other people what to do with their property and their lives. Here is a great comment.

The Ragpicker said

This house had historic integrity, this house had 40,000$ of work plus put
into it in the last 6 months, this house had a garden that fed its inhabitants
and was not a trouble to its neighbors - yet within blocks of this property are
actual VACANT and DERELICT properties - which this house was not.

The real business at stake is the million dollar development that wants
more surface parking at the expense of humble citizens. Today I am not proud of
where I live. That the city can push its way and enforce this makes me afraid to
own property here, this is happening to several other people who are also in
court over it - part of why Mr. Ackerman felt compelled to try to change the
system from within by running for Mayor, alas - the treachery at City Hall digs
in deeper.

We must fight to defeat the by-law that allows expropriation without
compensation - and see it replaced with something meaningful to accomplish its
intent and not be a veil for theft of property.