LAC-MÉGANTIC, Quebec — The Lac-Mégantic bypass will not be completed by its 2023 target date after the Canadian government extended the period for negotiations with landowners, Omar Alghabra, Canada’s transport minister, has announced.
In a March 24 statement, Alghabra said the negotiation period has been extended until Aug. 12, 2022, at the request of the communities of Lac-Mégantic, Nantes, and Frontenac.
“This three-month extension will allow affected landowners to have more time to properly analyze their offer to purchase, to obtain expert advice and reports related to the evaluation and sale of their property, if required, and will allow for constructive discussions during negotiations,” he said in the statement. “… This will push the completion of the bypass beyond 2023 given the construction seasons in Quebec.”
The 8-mile bypass of the Canadian Pacific line through the three communities will require the purchase of 80 parcels of land belonging to 44 owners, Transport Canada said last year [see “Land negotiations begin …,” Trains News Wire, Nov. 8, 2021].
“Respect for the communities of Lac-Mégantic and the surrounding area is at the heart of our priorities,” the statement concludes. “We remain attentive to their needs, and we will continue to work with all our partners to complete this project.”
Apparently there is a limit to how much sympathy costs to the Canadian government and what they are willing to pay landowners.
Perhaps they should call the Quebec Pension Fund, they have a lot of cash to toss around it seems.
Yes, taxpayers will pay the bill. The decision to re-route the rail line was made by the government. The delay is also caused by the government which requires three additional months to purchase the properties.
Ten years after the tragedy, still nothing? Why is it that the US and Canada with their wonderful light-touch regulation of railroads cannot manage to build 8 miles of railroad? No doubt taxpayers will foot the entire bill.
Meanwhile Ed Burkhardt is enjoying retirement with his millions…