- The Government of Canada continues to work in collaboration with its partners to complete the Lac-Mégantic Rail Bypass Project as quickly as possible, while minimizing the project's impact on the community and ensuring the best possible integration.
- The Department is actively working to finalize the required environmental and public consultations report for the Canada Transportation Agency (CTA) while also advancing land acquisition required for the construction of the bypass.
- Construction of the bypass will begin once the necessary lands have been acquired and all regulatory approvals have been obtained.
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- Le gouvernement du Canada continue de travailler en étroite collaboration avec ses partenaires pour terminer le projet de la voie de contournement ferroviaire de Lac-Mégantic le plus rapidement possible, tout en minimisant l’impact du projet sur les communautés impactées et en assurant la meilleure intégration possible.
- Le ministère travaille activement à la fois à finaliser le rapport pour l’Office des transports du Canada (OTC) résultant des consultations environnementales et publiques, tout en faisant avancer le processus d’acquisition des parcelles de terrains nécessaires à la construction de la voie de contournement.
- La construction de la voie de contournement commencera une fois que les terrains nécessaires auront été acquis et que toutes les approbations réglementaires auront été obtenues.
SUPPLEMENTARY MESSAGES
- On December 20, 2022, the Prime Minister and Premier of Québec met and agreed that both governments will increase their funding for the construction of the Lac-Mégantic rail bypass, to the same ratios as initially announced in 2018.
- As part of the 2022 Federal Budget, $237.2 million was allocated to Transport Canada over five years for the construction of the Lac-Mégantic rail bypass, the dismantling of the existing track and the implementation of environmental measures.
- Budget 2023 reiterated that the completion of the Lac-Mégantic rail bypass project remains a priority for the federal government as the community continues to recover from this tragedy.
- On February 18, 2023, the notices of intent to expropriate were published in the Canada Gazette, marking the beginning of the 120-day expropriation process to complete the acquisition of land required for the project.
SUPPORTING FACTS AND FIGURES
- The Minister of Transport's 2021 Mandate Letter outlines the commitment to continue to work with the community and stakeholders toward the rapid completion of the Lac-Mégantic bypass.
- Budget 2022 provided $237.2 million over five years to Transport Canada to complete the project as soon as possible.
- As of April 2022, Transport Canada has spent approximately $19 million on the project. These costs include expenditures related to the development of engineering plans and environmental and technical field studies. A steel order of approximately $11 million has also been placed.
BACKGROUND
Rail Safety:
Canadian Pacific (CP) is designing and constructing the bypass. CP will carry out the project in accordance with all applicable regulatory requirements. For example, it will design, build and operate the bypass in accordance with Transport Canada’s Rules Respecting Track Safety.
Once the bypass is constructed, Transport Canada will conduct inspections to ensure that the trains are operating at the appropriate speeds and that the track is maintained in accordance with the Rules Respecting Track Safety. Additionally, companies must carry out risk assessments to begin operating on the new track as well as with any changes to operations that may affect safety under the Railway Safety Management System Regulations, 2015.
The Rail Bypass allows the railway to be removed from downtown Lac-Mégantic and significantly reduces the number of residential buildings (from 258 to 8) located 100 metres from the track.
The Rail Bypass also results in a significant reduction in the number of at-level crossings (from 16 to 4), and a reduced slope.
Engagement:
Transport Canada carried out various activities to engage mayors, municipalities, affected landowners, Indigenous communities, as well as the general public, about the various stages of the project and to answer questions, such as:
- holding working meetings with the municipalities;
- holding in-person and virtual information and consultation sessions, including in November 2022;
- soliciting comments in writing;
- consulting the Huron-Wendat and Wabanaki Nations; and
- opening an office in Lac-Mégantic to meet the affected in person and answer questions.
Residents of Lac-Mégantic, Nantes and Frontenac regularly receive updates in writing to inform them about the next steps of the project and provide them with all necessary information regarding the acquisition of their lands.
Transport Canada meets with municipal elected officials on a regular basis to provide updates on the project and discuss concerns raised by the municipalities.
The main tools to inform the affected communities are the web page (https://tc.canada.ca/en/rail-transportation/lac-megantic-rail-bypass) dedicated to the project, which also includes a question-and-answer section, the Transport Canada newsletter (which is published and sent by mail regularly to the citizens of Lac-Mégantic, Nantes, and Frontenac), and the various mobilization activities in the field.
Approval is required from the Canadian Transportation Agency (the Agency) if a federally regulated railway company is proposing to construct a railway line, such as the Lac-Mégantic bypass project.
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Location: Lac-Mégantic and Municipalities of Frontenac and Nantes
Issue: Lac-Mégantic Rail Bypass Project update
Date: April 17, 2023
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, while minimizing the project's impact on the community and ensuring the best possible integration.
- The Department is actively working to finalize the required environmental and hydrological consultations report for the Canada Transporation Agency (CTA) while also advancing land acquisition required for the construction of the bypass.
- 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
- On December 20, 2022, the Prime Minister and Premier of Québec met and agreed that both governments will increase their funding for the construction of the Lac-Mégantic rail bypass, to the same ratios as initially announced in 2018.
- As part of the 2022 Federal Budget, $237.2 million was allocated to Transport Canada over five years for the construction of the Lac-Mégantic rail bypass, the dismantling of the existing track and the implementation of environmental measures.
- Budget 2023 reiterated that the completion of the Lac-Mégantic rail bypass project remains a priority for the federal government.
- On February 18, 2023, the notices of intent to expropriate were published in the Canada Gazette, marking the beginning of the 120-day expropriation process to complete the land acquisition process.
Background Information
- The Project consists of building a new 12.5 km rail corridor going around the Lac-Mégantic downtown area. The proposed bypass project will significantly reduce the number of residences located close to the new rail track (from 258 to 18 within a 100m right of way). The Project’s main objective is to help the Lac-Mégantic community to move forward and mitigate the traumatic effects associated with the accident of 2013.
- On May 11, 2018, the Prime Minister of Canada and the Premier of Québec, announced the Lac-Méganctic Bypass Project, which was estimated to cost $133 million at the time. It was to be jointly funded by the federal government (60%) and the province (40%).
- On January 19, 2023, in a 5 to 1 vote, the members of the Nantes City Council decided to withdraw their support for the project. A month later, on February 19, 2023, the municipality of Frontenac held a referendum on the Lac-Mégantic rail bypass project. Citizens voted 92.5% against the project (697 citizens voted out of approximately 1300 eligible to vote), and Frontenac's publicly state opposition to the expropriation.
- TC conducted public consultations on the Hydrogeological Report from September to November 2022. During the information sessions, the municipalities, Indigenous communities and affected landowners had the opportunity to ask questions and raise concerns. A consultation report outlining the community's comments, concerns and suggestions is being prepared and will be submitted by CP to the CTA [ Redacted ] CP is also updating the Project’s Environmental Effects Evaluation Report to finalize the CTA application [ Redacted ]
- Deadline to submit objections in the expropriation process ended on March 20, 2023. A Hearing Officer will be appointed who will have 30 days to hold public hearings and submit a report to the Minster of PSPC.