Billionaire Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté is offering $5 million in forestland worth more than three football fields to the municipality of Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville to protect his city's natural environment.
“I would like to warmly thank Mr. Guy Laliberté, who has agreed to cede this magnificent forest area to the city at no cost to our citizens,” said the mayor of Saint-Bruno, Ludovic Grisé Farand, in a press release published when asked about the questions. from The Journal.
“It is with great pleasure that I offer this land to the city of Saint-Bruno, the city where I grew up and where I still live. I have been going to the park since I was a child, so I was quick to accept the city's proposal when they offered to make this space a protected place for all residents to enjoy,” Guy said. Freedom.
Last October, Le Journal reported that Guy Laliberté had put his magnificent estate in the Outremont district up for sale for $13 million, 17 years after purchasing it.
Tax benefits?
In documents seen by Le Journal we can read in black and white that the area “may only be used for park purposes, with the aim of protecting riparian, wetland and forest ecosystems”.
When questioned by Le Journal, Anne Dongois, vice president of Lune Rouge, who works with Guy Laliberté, confirmed that the billionaire, like everyone else, was entitled to a tax receipt for donations.
“As with any real estate donation in Quebec, Guy must pay taxes and capital gains, but is also entitled to a donation receipt. In short, these are the usual procedures that apply,” she said.
Recall that in 2020, just weeks before the pandemic, the Caisse de dépôt etplacement du Québec (CDPQ) paid Guy Laliberté $75 million (100 million Canadian dollars) to buy his last Cirque du Soleil shares .
– In collaboration with Philippe Langlois
Can you share information about this story?
Write to us or call us directly at 1 800-63SCOOP.