70 small business owners in Ontario town could be forced to vacate over legal dispute [Video]

A dispute between the owner and property manager of a small business incubator in Whitby has left nearly 70 tenants days away from eviction and the mayor scrambling to see what help the town can provide.

The small business owners who rent office space at the Durham Corporate Centre at 105 Consumers Drive were told May 21 they had seven days to vacate. Many of the tenants learned at the time the lease they had signed was not actually with the property owners and a legal dispute between the owner and the property manager could leave them all high and dry.

Whitby Mayor Elizabeth Roy said she was “very concerned” by reports that close to 70 small businesses have been locked out of the Durham Corporate Centre and given seven days to vacate the premises due to the dispute.

“While the Town of Whitby cannot intervene in this legal matter, …