Location: Lac-Mégantic and Municipalities of Frontenac and Nantes
Issue: Lac-Mégantic Rail Bypass Project update
Date: November 29, 2022
Suggested responses
- The Government of Canada continues to work in collaboration with its partners to complete the Lac-Mégantic Rail Bypass Project as quickly as possible.
- Recently, Transport Canada held public consultations on the hydrological reports and the proposed mitigation measures to mitigate impacts on private water wells and wetlands, and will continue to engage with the communities as the project advances.
- Construction of the bypass will begin once the necessary lands have been acquired and all regulatory approvals have been obtained, including from the Canadian Transportation Agency.
If Pressed
- The Government of Canada granted an additional $237M in Budget 2022 to continue supporting the project.
- In 2018, a cost-share between the federal government (60%) and the Québec government (40%) was established. As project costs have increased since then, Transport Canada is working to renegotiate a new financial contribution agreement.
- The total project costs are being assessed and will be finalized once the request for proposals is completed.
Background Information
- On May 11, 2018, the Prime Minister of Canada, together with the Premier of Québec, announced the rail bypass in Lac-Mégantic. The project, which was estimated to cost $133 million at the time of the announcement, was to be funded by the federal government (60%) and the province (40%).
- Transport Canada and the Canadian Pacific Railway signed an agreement on May 27, 2021, enabling the launch of the plans and specifications phase, and initiating negotiations with land owners to acquire the properties required for the bypass.
- At the request of the community and landowners, Transport Canada has granted three extensions to the negotiation period in an effort to arrive at an agreement with landowners for the sale of their lands. The negotiations are ongoing and offers expire January 13, 2023.
- The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) requested that public consultations be conducted on the Hydrogeological Report and the addendum to the Environmental Effects Report. Public consultations took place from September to November 2022 to allow the municipalities, Indigenous communities, affected landowners and the public to ask questions and learn more about the project. A consultation report outlining the community's comments, concerns and suggestions is being prepared and will be submitted to the CTA.
- The CTA will begin its review process once Canadian Pacific’s application is finalized.
- As part of the project, multiple measures will be implemented to mitigate impacts on groundwater and private water wells. Amongst others, targeted drinking wells will be monitored during construction and for a period of a minimum of two years following completion of the work. In the event that water flow or water contamination problems occur due to the presence of the railway, new wells will be built at no cost to property owners.