Newfoundland and Labrador’s department of Transportation and Infrastructure is promising policy changes after a Conception Bay South family spoke out about the expropriation and resale of the land where their home once stood.
Hannah Stapleton says when her mother, Cyndie, video-called her earlier this month, she instantly recognized what she saw on her screen — Scotts Road South, where the family lived until the government expropriated and then demolished their family home in 2012.
The land has been vacant ever since, but when Hannah’s mother video-called her, she saw something unexpected — a new house under construction, on the land where their former home once stood.
“I was just gobsmacked,” Hannah said in an interview with CBC News last week.
“I got really angry about it because I don’t understand how they can do that.”
Development of Peacekeepers Way, the highway that now runs through Conception Bay South, was well underway when the Stapletons bought their home on Scotts Road South in 2004, but Cyndie says their lawyer received assurances from the provincial government that they wouldn’t have any issues.
They proceeded with the purchase.
“It wasn’t a large house. It was very humble. It was just perfect for us, you know?” she said.
Cyndie said Hannah took her first steps there, and was able to safely ride her bike around the quiet neighbourhood. She said the family put around $40,000 of renovations into the house, and had no plans to move out — until Aug. 13, 2012.
Cyndie said she and Hannah, who was then eight years old, arrived home from back-to-school shopping to find a provincial government representative waiting in their driveway.
“I kind of joked and said, you know, ‘alright, are you here to take the house?’”
The government employee handed her a letter, which said the provincial government had determined it would need to acquire the house under the Family Homes Expropriation Act for construction of Peacekeepers Way.
Cyndie said at first, she was in disbelief. Then reality set in, and she excused herself.
“I threw up,” she said.
60 days to leave
The letter said the department had originally determined the land wouldn’t be needed, but construction plans had changed. The family was given 60 days to pack their things and leave. Cyndie said she considered fighting the order, but doubted she’d win — and she wanted to avoid more stress on her family.
The provincial government compensated them for their new home and moving expenses. Later that year, the family watched as the home was demolished.
Cyndie said the family decided not to speak out at the time, but changed their minds after discovering the land has since been resold, with a new home under construction on the same property.
“To see what was yours and what was taken now belonging to somebody else, it’s a violation. It really is,” Cyndie said.
Hannah then contacted several media outlets, including CBC News and The Telegram, which originally reported the story last week.
In a statement, Transportation and Infrastructure spokesperson Janelle Simms said the department acquired the land “through a negotiated purchase agreement, not expropriation.”
The Stapletons are pushing back against that statement, pointing to the original letter from the provincial government, which specifically references the Family Expropriation Act.
New policy in development, says minister
The department’s statement says in 2017, it was determined that 1,104 square metres of the acquired land wasn’t needed for construction of the highway.
On Wednesday, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Barry Petten said the land wasn’t disposed of through a public tender process at the time, but a public tender process will be department policy in the future.
He said he’s spoken to Cyndie Stapleton about the situation.
“They didn’t leave on their own accord. They got 60 days to leave their home. That’s a really sad situation,” he said.
Petten said he has directed officials in his department to draw up a new land disposition policy, which will include notification of the original owners.
“It’s just a fair process. Respectful.”
Petten said he believes there are others who have gone through similar situations.
Hannah Stapleton said she wanted to speak out in hopes of preventing others from experiencing what she’s gone through.
“I want there to be stronger rules, stronger planning and more accountability from the government.”
Petten didn’t give a timeline for the new policy but said it should be ready soon.
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