LOCATION: Lac-Mégantic and municipalities of Frontenac and Nantes
ISSUE/SOURCE: Lac-Mégantic Rail Bypass Project
DATE: February 9, 2022
SUGGESTED RESPONSES
- Transport Canada continues to work in collaboration with the Canadian Pacific Railway and other partners involved, including the municipalities of Lac-Mégantic, Nantes and Frontenac, with the intent of delivering the Bypass as quickly as possible.
- The Lac-Mégantic bypass project is progressing rapidly. The construction phase is expected to begin in 2022 once authorization is obtained from the Canadian Transportaion Agency.
- Purchase offers have been submitted to the vast majority of landowners, allowing negotiations to be launched for the required parcels of land.
- This is a social reconstruction project that has at its core the safety of the community.
IF PRESSED
- The Government of Canada is committed to providing owners with a fair and equitable value for their properties.
- Transport Canada is working in close collaboration with all its partners, including the mayors of Lac-Mégantic, Nantes and Frontenac, to reduce the impacts on the community.
- The recent CTA consultation was an important opportunity to hear from residents and respond to their questions. Transport Canada will continue to provide regular updates to the residents of the impacted communities.
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 will be funded by the federal government (60%) and the province of Québec (40%). In December 2019, the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) purchased the Central Maine & Québec Railway, and have indicated publicly they will continue to support the project.
- Transport Canada and the Canadian Pacific Railway signed an agreement on May 27, 2021, enabling the launch of the plans and specifications phase and negotiations with land owners to acquire the properties required for the bypass.
- A series of field work and studies were conducted during summer and fall 2021, and CP submitted their application to the Canadian Transportation Agency.
- TC conducted public consultations from January 21 to February 4, 2022, to gather information and respond to questions from the public.