Lac-Mégantic Railway Bypass Expropriation

Summary#

This is a notice under the Expropriation Act that the federal government plans to take pieces of land in the municipality of Nantes to build and operate a railway bypass around downtown Lac‑Mégantic. The notice was published in the Canada Gazette on February 18, 2023 and gives affected parties a short window to object.

What it does#

• The Department of Public Works and Government Services says it needs parts of multiple lots for the construction and operation of a railway bypass for Transport Canada.
• The lands are shown as parcels 68 to 79 on survey plans attached to the notice.
• Parcel sizes in the notice range from about 266.6 sq. m up to 25,058.7 sq. m.
• The notice covers ownership and "immovable real rights", which the notice says includes rights of any tenants or lessees.
• The notice has been registered in the land register under number 27 853 052.

Who's affected#

• The named landowners listed in the notice include Cabane à Sucre Mégantic S.E.N.C., Josée Morin and Sylvain Côté, Les Investissements Raypi Inc., Les Opérations Forestières Yves Carrier Inc., and Marcel Fortier.
• Tenants or lessees of the affected land are also covered by the notice.
• Residents and businesses in Lac‑Mégantic and Nantes may notice the project through construction, changes to rail traffic, or other local impacts.
• If it’s unclear whether other nearby properties or rights are affected, the official plans and the land register entry are the authoritative source.

Why it matters#

• Landowners and tenants named in the notice can object in writing within 30 days of the Canada Gazette publication. The notice gives a specific office and contact for objections and questions.
• If the expropriation proceeds, affected owners can expect their land interests to be taken for the bypass and to seek compensation through the usual expropriation process.
• For the local community, the bypass could change where trains run through the area and bring construction, noise, and traffic changes around downtown Lac‑Mégantic.
• For anyone wanting the official record or to act (owners, tenants, local officials), the land register entry 27 853 052 and the contact named in the notice (regional contact Nicholas Chan) are where to get more details.