I understand your position on this.
The legislative intent, at the time the bill was drafted, was to allow public transit organizations in large urban communities, such as the Montreal Metropolitan Transit Agency, to receive the offer directly. Urban communities generally have high population densities. In the case of smaller communities not located in an urban or metropolitan environment, the intent, with the definition proposed in clause 28, was to cover that possibility through the municipalities.
Basically, outside of urban environments, a public transit agency cannot directly acquire a railway line. Consequently, as part of the process, a municipality does have the option of purchasing the right-of-way on behalf of the transit agency operating in the area.