Nantes, Que., withdraws from Lac-Mégantic rail bypass talks with federal government

Elected officials of Nantes, Que., are putting an end to talks with the federal government about the Lac-Mégantic rail bypass, citing a lack of communication about the file.

The Nantes municipal council decided at a meeting on Tuesday evening to withdraw from discussions about the bypass, which would move the railway away from the city's core.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau first promised a bypass in 2018. But for years, trains have continued to pass through what used to be Lac-Mégantic's downtown core, much of it incinerated on July 6, 2013 when a train carrying crude oil crashed and killed 47 people.

Ottawa will pay for the work, but for the rail bypass to go ahead, the municipalities of Lac-Mégantic, Frontenac and Nantes must sign documents to approve the project.

Nantes Mayor Daniel Gendron said the federal government hasn't answered the municipality whenever it asks questions.

He added that elected officials adopted resolutions, namely demanding compensation for the loss of wetlands, but they haven't received anything in return.

"We're not signing anything. We're not talking to anyone anymore as long as we don't get something firm on the table, saying that it's true there will be injustice toward the municipality of Nantes," Gendron said. "It will take something written because, empty words, there have been three years of them, and that's enough."

Gendron said he wants to force the federal authority's hand so that it agrees to meet with the municipality and answer questions.

The bypass project has been in the pipeline for many years and nothing has been done yet, with the exception of preparatory work which started on Monday, without the Canadian Transportation Agency's approval.

Federal Transport Minister Anita Anand said in a statement on Wednesday that the ministry has been "working every day with CPKC and the Canadian Transportation Agency to finalize the approval request."

"We are always open to further discussions with Nantes to find solutions that provide benefits for them," the statement reads. "We owe it to the region and the people of Lac-Mégantic to complete this bypass."

Based on reporting by Radio-Canada's Brigitte Marcoux and Emilie Richard, with files from Rachel Watts, prepared by Holly Cabrera