N.L. MP Clifford Small owes more than $350K in unpaid restaurant rent and taxes, lawsuits claim

N.L. MP Clifford Small owes more than $350K in unpaid restaurant rent and taxes, lawsuits claim

Central N.L. MP owns Smitty's restaurant in Mount Pearl

Central Newfoundland Member of Parliament Clifford Small and his company are being sued for over $353,000 in unpaid restaurant rent and taxes.

In recent months, statements of claim have been filed by both the property owner and the City of Mount Pearl.

Small’s parliamentary office has declined to comment at this time.

The Conservative MP has been leasing space to operate a Smitty’s Family Restaurant franchise in Mount Pearl at 26 Gibson Drive since 2004.

The property's landlord, Calloway REIT (Pearlgate) Inc, also known as SmartCentres, filed a statement of claim on March 17. It claims that Small has continued to operate the restaurant despite failing to pay rent.

According to the claim, Small was given a letter on June 2, 2025, demanding payment of past-due rent — and claims Small has missed more payments since.

As of March 13, Calloway REIT claims Small owes them about $232,370 total.

The company is suing Small, and his company Small’s Holding Ltd., for that amount plus any other missed rent payments accrued before trial, interest and legal fees.

Meanwhile, the City of Mount Pearl is also suing Small's company for allegedly not paying the restaurant's taxes.

In a statement of claim filed earlier this month, the city claims the company failed to pay utility taxes from 2019 to 2025, and failed to pay businesses taxes from 2021 to 2025.

The claim states that Small’s Holdings owes $15,490 in past-due utility taxes and $105,206 in past-due business taxes.

In total, the city is seeking $120,696 in unpaid taxes, interest, and other costs.

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Abby Cole is a journalist with CBC News in St. John's. She can be reached at abby.cole@cbc.ca.