Lac-Mégantic railway bypass expropriation notice

Summary#

On February 18, 2023, the federal government published a notice under the Expropriation Act saying it intends to take a perpetual right‑of‑way needed to build and operate a railway bypass around downtown Lac‑Mégantic. The notice names TAFISA CANADA INC. as the current rights holder for the registered servitude involved.

What it does#

• Announces that Her Majesty in right of Canada intends to expropriate a real and perpetual servitude of right of way previously registered under number 24,869,452.
• Identifies the affected land by cadastral lot numbers 3,396,663, 6,419,471, 3,743,281, and 6,303,262 and by plan M2022-10870 (prepared December 21, 2022).
• Asks the Land Registrar to register this notice and the attached plan in the land register (filed under number 27 853 055).
• Gives a window for objections: any person may file a written objection within 30 days of the Canada Gazette publication.

Who's affected#

• TAFISA CANADA INC., the named rights holder for the existing servitude.
• Owners or people with an interest in the specific lots listed above.
• Residents, businesses, or local authorities in and around Lac‑Mégantic who may be affected by a new railway bypass route.
• Anyone who wishes to object must do so in writing to the Minister’s office within the 30‑day period.

If it is unclear whether you are directly affected by the listed servitude, the notice gives contact details for more information.

Why it matters#

• The notice clears a legal step toward building and operating a railway that would go around downtown Lac‑Mégantic rather than through it.
• Expropriation transfers control of the specified right‑of‑way to the federal government, which can affect land use, access, and property interests for the parcels involved.
• People with a legal interest in the servitude have a limited time (30 days) to raise formal objections or seek more information from the contact named in the notice (for example, Nicholas Chan, Regional Director, Real Estate Services at Public Works and Government Services).