Mr. Speaker, our Bloc Québécois colleagues want Canadians to believe that building a high-speed rail line will harm their communities, that it will be done without consultation and without the measures we have put in place over the past 60 years. They are trying to justify their opposition to high-speed rail and their goal is to kill the project before the legislation is even passed.
They have joined Conservatives in the past to try to cut the initial funding required, and they are trying to do it again today by blocking Bill C‑15. Indeed, their actions are quite fitting, given their name
I want to be clear. Expropriation remains a measure of last resort. Negotiating with landowners will always be the preferred approach. That principle will not change.
Before turning to Bill C-15, I want to acknowledge what we have heard in recent weeks. Since public consultations began, residents of the Mirabel region have raised concerns about land acquisition, expropriation and the need for direct, respectful engagement. We have heard those concerns clearly, and I can confirm today that Alto will be holding an in-person public session in the Mirabel area later this month, to ensure transparency, dialogue and accountability.
I want to explain why Bill C-15 is necessary for this linear project and how it is maintaining appropriate protections for landowners. Bill C-15 is necessary because the high-speed rail initiative is unprecedented in Canada. It involves a corridor of nearly 1,000 kilometres, crossing hundreds of communities and requiring the acquisition of hundreds of pieces of land. Because of the time, cost and complexity involved, land acquisition represents one of the most significant risks to the project, particularly if we are to begin construction in 2029, as announced.
The current federal Expropriation Act is a statute of general application. It was not designed for a project of this scale or this complexity. Without a framework adapted to this reality, delays multiply and costs escalate, precisely what communities and taxpayers want to avoid.
The land acquisition measures in Bill C-15 are not intended to increase uncertainty. They provide tools to help the government coordinate more effectively and get shovels in the ground faster while maintaining fundamental protections for property owners. Some of these measures have raised concerns, and I want to address them directly.
First, contrary to what has been said, expropriation does not take place over email. The intention is to allow communication by email only when the owner has indicated that this is their preferred method of communication and has provided their email address. This is an additional method of communication that supplements, rather than replaces, those provided for in the law.
Second, a prohibition on work does not mean that owners lose the use of their land. They will be able to continue their existing agricultural or commercial activities. Owners will also be able to carry out normal maintenance, repairs or work needed to keep their land from deteriorating.
Third, Bill C-15 does not prevent landlords from putting their buildings up for sale or allow the federal government to set land values.
The right of first refusal is a management tool that informs Alto when an owner is ready to sell. Owners remain completely free to put their property on the market. This tool simply allows Alto to acquire the property on a priority basis at a price previously agreed to by the owner.
The Government of Quebec has even given this power to the municipalities in recent years. It is called the right of first refusal. It allows cities to protect strategic or sensitive land without affecting the owner's property value. In my riding of Morin‑Heights, municipal council used this tool to acquire and protect one of the most beautiful pieces of land in the municipality. It is called Castel-Marie, and it is one of the municipality's most stunning parks. The tool works well for buyers and transferors. I can vouch for that.
We must also be honest with Canadians about what it takes to deliver projects of this magnitude.
High-speed rail is one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in our history, a true nation-building initiative. Projects of this scale cannot be delivered without using adaptive tools. This project cannot advance responsibly without these land acquisition measures. Inaction would not preserve the status quo. It would mean delays and higher costs. Importantly, these measures are not unheard of. They are aligned with similar provincial regimes, including Quebec's act respecting expropriation and Ontario's Building Transit Faster Act.
The economic stakes are significant. High-speed rail will create tens of thousands of jobs, strengthen productivity, improve regional connectivity and deliver lasting economic benefits for Quebec, Ontario and Canada as a whole. Every year of delay carries real costs for workers, businesses, taxpayers and communities.
I support the construction of high-speed rail and Bill C-15. I am asking my Bloc Québécois colleagues to stop blocking the project and get on board.