No. Q 005/08
For release - December 12, 2008
MIRABEL, Quebec — Christian Paradis, Minister of Public Works and Government Services announced today that the Government of Canada has kept its promise by presenting the first rights of purchase to the Mirabel tenant farmers, under the Sales Program of the 11,000 acres of reserve land at Montreal-Mirabel Airport.
In December 2006, Prime Minister Stephen Harper had announced that the Government of Canada would allow farmers to purchase the lands that they are currently leasing from the 11,000-acre Mirabel Airport reserve. At the time, a transition committee, chaired by Daniel Picotte, was set up to make recommendations regarding the terms and conditions of the Sales Program.
"This initiative is yet another example of the determination of our Prime Minister and our government in supporting the farmers and their families," said Transport Minister Baird. "The expropriated farmers of the region now have the opportunity to purchase and regain possession of the land that they have worked for many years in order to better plan for their future."
The selling prices for the properties will be established based on the market value as at December 18, 2006, the date on which the program was announced. Tenants and related expropriated owners will be given a 15% price discount.
"This program specifically addresses the wishes expressed by farmers to again become the owners of their lands, to investment in these lands and to help realize their full potential as some of the most fertile land in Quebec," added Minister Paradis. "By purchasing the lands that they are currently working, the farmers will encourage agricultural development in the region and stimulate the regional economy."
In light of these first rights of purchase, Transport Canada has delegated the task of managing the Sales Program to Public Works and Government Services Canada, effective immediately.
The wetlands located on the 11,000 acres will be henceforth protected under the Federal Policy on Wetland Conservation (1991), through a partnership between Transport Canada and Environment Canada.
A more detailed backgrounder on the Sales Program for the 11,000 hectares of land at Mirabel is appended.
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The Sales Program for the 11,000 acres of reserve land at Montreal-Mirabel Airport is to be implemented in keeping with the announcement made by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on December 18, 2006, which included the creation of a Transition Committee tasked with recommending the terms and conditions for the land sales program. The committee, chaired by Daniel Picotte, was composed of representatives of the Union des producteurs agricoles, tenants, Transport Canada and Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) representatives.
The Sales Program specifically addresses the wishes expressed by farmers to be able to purchase the lands they are currently leasing which are part of the 11,000-acre reserve. It takes into account previous programs, such as the 1985 sales program for 80,000 acres of airport land and the 1989 long-term leasing program for the 11,000 acres.
Overview of the Sales Program
Under the Sales Program, priority will be given to tenants interested in purchasing the land they are currently leasing. The selling price of the leased properties will be established based on the market value as at December 18, 2006, minus a 15% discount on the market value as at December 18, 2006, minus a reimbursement equal to the contributory value of leasehold improvements carried out by the tenant during the term of the lease and deemed eligible by the Crown.
- Termination of property lease
In the event of termination of the property lease, a termination bonus of 10% of the market value, as at December 18, 2006, will be accorded, together with a reimbursement equal to the contributory value of leasehold improvements on buildings carried out by the tenant during the term of the lease and deemed eligible by the Crown.
- For properties that are already vacant or that become vacant
The program takes into account the recommendation of the Transition Committee that consideration should be given to expropriated landowners in the order of property allocation. More specifically, properties that were vacant as at December 18, 2006 and those that become vacant following lease termination will be offered on a priority basis to the expropriated owners of the 11,000 acres who are not currently tenants of such land, and then to the expropriated owners of the 80,000 acres who were not able to take advantage of the 1985 sales program.
The properties that were vacant as at December 18, 2006, or subsequently became vacant, will be sold to interested parties in the following order of priority:
- Expropriated owner of the property;
- Expropriated owner of another property on the 11,000 acres who was unable to buy back all or part of the property he/she owned;
- Expropriated owner of a property among the 80,000 acres who was unable to buy back all or part of the property under the 1985 sales program;
- A tenant on the 11,000 acres who wishes to buy additional land for business expansion.
- Property will be sold in accordance with Treasury Board's Policy on Management of Real Property.
For an expropriated owner of the 11,000 acres or the 80,000 acres who is not a tenant and who was unable to buy back all or part of his/her property, the selling price of the property will be based on the market value as at December 18, 2006, minus a 15% discount.
Protected wetlands
In the northern part of the airport reserve, there is a 492-acre section that is occupied by a peat bog. The bog is of great interest for scientific research and is protected by the Federal Policy on Wetland Conservation. The land occupied by the peat bog and a buffer zone, together totalling 655 acres, will be kept by Transport Canada. Under the terms of the land sales program, a servitude for ecological purposes will be established to protect the peat bog and the buffer zone. A long-term management plan for the conservation of the peat bog and the buffer zone will be jointly developed by Transport Canada and Environment Canada.
Implementation of the program
Transport Canada has given PWGSC a mandate to administer the Sales Program. Offers to purchase will be processed individually as they are received.
The Sales Program is slated to end on March 31, 2011. Following termination of the Program, Transport Canada will continue to be responsible for managing the remaining leases.
