Former Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse and his spouse are currently engaged in a legal battle with the Ontario government concerning the government’s refusal to reimburse them nearly $700,000 in foreign buyer tax that they paid for their residence in Mississauga. A notice of appeal, dated July 6 and submitted to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, claims that the province unjustly denied Nurse and his wife a refund for a non-resident speculation tax (NRST) they paid when acquiring their property for $4.65 million in 2021. This tax is imposed on residential properties bought by foreign nationals, as stated on the province’s official website. The notice argues that Nurse and his wife were not the type of real estate speculators targeted by the legislation.
Nurse and his wife resided in the home from 2021 to 2023, making it their primary residence. The appeal highlights that while Nurse and his wife were foreign nationals in Canada during their stay at the property, Nurse held a work permit for foreign nationals and was employed by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment LTD., the parent company of the Raptors, for close to a decade. The notice emphasizes the significant economic and social contributions Nurse made to the province during his tenure.
In 2019, Nurse led the Raptors to their inaugural championship victory before being dismissed in 2023 after an underwhelming season where the team failed to qualify for the playoffs, subsequently moving on to coach the Philadelphia 76ers. According to the appeal, Nurse and his wife were eligible for an NRST rebate on their property in accordance with provincial regulations. The couple’s legal representative, Mike Collinge, mentioned in an email that the law firm has no additional comments at this point.
The appeal document outlines that Nurse and his wife applied for the rebate in March 2024, following the sale of their Mississauga home in September 2023. Despite filing an objection to the denial of their rebate application, the government upheld its decision in April 2024. Seeking justice, Nurse and his wife have now taken their case to court, seeking a rebate of $697,500 plus interest and any further relief deemed appropriate by the court.