Kelowna companies said it was time to lose everything – Okanagan

CORRECTION – Publisher Update: Mazu says that it does not require a loan from SIDIT or additional funds. He says he got a loan from another institution and that SIDIT is blocking this extra investment. Mazu also claims that he did not write a letter to SIDIT, but submitted to the media a letter written by other companies in similar situations.

The owner of a Kelowna company, Janice Taylor, is biting the hand that feeds her, but says the Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust (SIDIT) is "decommissioned".

Taylor runs a company called Mazu, a website dedicated to protecting children from online harbadment. Part of its funding, in the form of a loan, comes from SIDIT, a province-funded trust that distributes taxpayers' money to help small businesses get started.

Taylor says SIDIT refuses to give her more money than she desperately needs to pay her employees.

Taylor sent a letter to the SIDIT board of directors, accusing him of miscommunication and failing to fulfill his mandate.

"And I received a completely threatening letter," Taylor said.

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In response, SIDIT stated:

"If you think your best solution is to make your confidential loan record public, including the fact that you are in default of paying the loan, SIDIT is not able to stop you."

The letter adds that she will sue Taylor if she does not pay attention to her words, saying ". . . take any measures it deems appropriate to preserve that reputation, even going as far as to sue you for defamation. "

Taylor denies being in default of his loan with SIDIT, but admits that the money is so tight as to prevent him from paying his employees.

"And they have not been paid," Taylor said. "And they come every day."

Leah Marshall is one of those employees.

"As a mother, as a wife, I can go back to my husband and say, 'Oh my God, I love what I do, but I could not be paid. It's a definite challenge. "

Global News has been trying to get the SIDIT side of the story. She declined to comment on Taylor's complaint, citing reasons of confidentiality.

In the meantime, time is running out for Taylor, who has said that if SIDIT does not change tone and has no more funds, it will be forced to close in a few days.