The owners of land needed for the construction of the Lac-Mégantic bypass saw their period of negotiation with Ottawa come to an end on Friday.
They are 43 owners concerned, including the City of Lac-Mégantic and the Ministry of Transport of Quebec, whose lots are in the municipalities of Nantes, Lac-Mégantic and Frontenac, in Estrie.
“There are still agreements that have not been finalized,” acknowledged Transport Minister Omar Alghabra in a statement on Saturday.
His firm was unable to specify how many landlords do not have an agreement. Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), which was mandated by Transport Canada to acquire these lands, did not immediately respond to The Canadian Press.
A government source has nevertheless confirmed that expropriation is the option considered for the remaining owners and that it should be triggered in the coming weeks.
The land acquisition process had begun in October 2021, with the opening of an office in downtown Lac-Mégantic where the owners could meet with Canadian government officials, according to Mr. Alghabra’s statement.
The Mayor of Lac-Mégantic says the owners received their offers between November 2021 and February 2022 and that they “had the time and the opportunity to negotiate for those who wished to do so”.
“For the City of Lac-Mégantic, it’s good news that we can move on to a subsequent stage of the project,” said Mayor Julie Morin in an interview with The Canadian Press.
The municipality has reached a mutual agreement settlement with Ottawa for the 20 lands it owned and which will be needed for the project. The agreement was concluded last November.
“We received our first offer like all owners. We had it evaluated on our side by professionals who were paid by the Government of Canada – as for all citizens, she explains. We were able to make a counter-offer and there were some negotiations. »
The date for the end of negotiations has already been postponed three times. Mme Morin also recalls that the municipalities had requested an extension, out of respect for the residents, judging the initial deadline too short.
“The Government of Canada informed the owners concerned by the acquisition of parcels of land on Friday that it would not extend the period of negotiation by mutual agreement beyond January 13, 2023. For those who have signed an offer of purchase with the Government of Canada, note that these agreements remain valid,” said Minister Alghabra.
The mayor says it’s a step to take, even if “it’s delicate and not pleasant to get there”.
“We are still 10 years after the tragedy, we cannot say that this project is going fast and the citizens have had a year to negotiate”, underlines Mme Morin.
If the stage of agreements with the owners is crucial, according to her, there is still the process of approval of the project by the Canadian Transportation Agency (OTC).
In its latest decision, dated Dec. 13, the CTA announced that it required a more specific assessment of environmental impacts.
“We are told that Transport Canada and CP (Canadian Pacific) are about to file the last documents that are missing from the CTA […]. Once he begins the analysis, we are told about six months to take a position, ”reports Mme Morin.
Above all, it wishes that, on July 6, 2023, a clear direction be announced and that construction deadlines be given.
On July 6, 2013, 47 people lost their lives in the worst rail tragedy in Canadian history. A train filled with crude oil had just rolled down a slope upstream from the municipality before derailing in the heart of downtown Lac-Mégantic, triggering explosions and a huge fire.
The bypass project aroused opposition, particularly from the neighboring municipality of Frontenac and some citizens. The Mayor of Lac-Mégantic says she understands the negative impacts, but that the benefits are greater.
“The purpose of having a bypass is to minimize risk. Currently, the road is in the heart of downtown, close to more than 82% of all buildings in the city of Lac-Mégantic,” she recalls.
The Quebec Ministry of Transport was unable to comment on the file on Saturday.