Lac‑Mégantic railway bypass: temporary land rights

Summary#

The Department of Public Works and Government Services published a notice saying the federal government intends to take temporary land rights across many properties in and around Lac‑Mégantic to build and operate a railway that bypasses the town centre. The notice (published February 18, 2023) gives affected parties 30 days to object in writing.

What it does#

• Creates temporary servitudes (legal rights over land) for different purposes related to the Lac‑Mégantic railway bypass:
  • Workspace and storage areas for construction (up to 10 years).
  • Works in hydric (wet) environments, including possible diversion of watercourses and environmental monitoring (up to 20 years).
  • Right of way on existing roads to use and improve them for construction and access (some parcels up to 10 years, others up to 20 years).
  • General construction, improvement or redevelopment works (up to 10 years).
• Those servitudes allow activities such as access by vehicles and heavy machinery, temporary storage of materials, erection of temporary offices and fences, cutting or removing trees, excavation, installing culverts, and moving or replacing objects that interfere with the work.
• The construction work is expected to be carried out by (or under the authority of) Central Maine and Québec Railway Canada Inc. (named in the notice).
• The government promises to indemnify owners for claims, to restore lands where possible after work ends, and to either repair or compensate for damage.
• The notice asks the land registrar to record the plans and the notice in the land register.

Who's affected#

• People and organizations who own the specific parcels listed in the notice. The published list names many private owners and companies, including Roger Carrier, Yolande Boulet, COOP DE VIE COMMUNAUTAIRE LA CHAÎNE, and the City of Lac‑Mégantic, among others.
• Businesses and residents near the bypass route and along the identified parcels and roads.
• The entity named to run the construction, Central Maine and Québec Railway Canada Inc., and its contractors.

If you live, farm, or run a business on any of the listed parcels, you are directly affected. The notice itself lists each parcel and owner; if it’s unclear whether your land is included, the published plans and the land register entry are the authoritative sources.

Why it matters#

• People near the route could see heavy construction, temporary storage yards, new or altered road crossings, tree clearing, and changes to local watercourses.
• Landowners may temporarily lose use of parts of their property, but the government says it will restore land or provide compensation or repairs for damage.
• This is a notice of intent, not the final expropriation. Affected people had 30 days from publication (February 18, 2023) to file written objections as described in the notice.
• The registered plans in the land registry will make the intended rights and limits official on the property records.