No. Q 005/07
For release April 18, 2007
MIRABEL (Quebec) -- The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities, today announced receipt of the report from the
Transition Committee, which was created to implement a sales program for the
11,000 acres of Mirabel land.
"I am pleased to see that the process of selling Mirabel land has reached
another crucial step with the end of the Committee's work and submission of its
report," said Minister Cannon. "I would like to thank the Transition Committee
members for their efforts to establish recommendations for implementation terms
for the land sale program, which will now be studied by our government."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced last December that Canada's New
Government would sell farmers the 11,000 acres of land at Mirabel airport. As
part of this announcement a Transition Committee, made up of representatives
from the Union des producteurs agricoles, tenants, Transport Canada, Public
Works and Government Services Canada and chaired by Mr. Daniel Picotte, was
created to recommend terms and conditions for the sales program. The
recommendations contained in the report will now be examined by the government
for considerations.
"By Fall, farmers will have the possibility of repurchasing the land they are
presently renting. Once again our government is keeping its word," added
Minister Cannon.
Along with the submission of this report, a request for proposal was launched to
conduct an environmental study, while two further calls will be launched by
early summer to grant contracts to professional firms for property assessments,
as well as for surveying the land that is part of the sales program.
On an environmental level, Transport Canada is working in cooperation with
Environment Canada to protect the peat bog located within the 11,000 acres of
land, in accordance with the Federal Policy on Wetland Conservation. This
requires a more precise evaluation of the area covered by the peat bog. The
assessment has already begun and will be finalized within the next few months.
This unique peat bog contains species of orchid and fern, which are in danger of
being designated threatened or vulnerable.
"These wetlands are greatly valued natural habitats, and we will make every
necessary effort toward preserving them," said Minister Cannon.
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Contacts:
Natalie Sarafian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport
Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
613-991-0700
François-Nicolas Asselin
Communications
Transport Canada, Dorval
514-633-2741
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
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