FW: News Release / Communiqué

WRT yesterday's post about the Mirabel airport land being sold back to private hands amid first nations land claims: apparently there are wetlands there too that also need to be protected somehow... I agree it might have been excessive, but gee, do you think these might have been contributing factors the Trudeau government considered to go ahead and expropriate all this land, supposedly (or at least primarily) for an airport?

Regardless, how many people think the government will actually set an accessible price for the farmers to buy back their land? Or will it be so expensive only (Tory-friendly?) big developers will be able to afford it, so they can lease it to the farmers for twice the price until the construction permits are approved? Government has not shown itself to be a cost-effective custodian, but at least it has ethics and answers (more or less) to the public for its custodial duties.

(emphasis mine)

PROMISE MADE, PROMISE KEPT: CANADA'S NEW GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES SALES PROGRAM FOR THE 11,000 ACRES OF LAND IN MIRABEL, QUEBEC
December 18, 2006, Mirabel
Prime Minister Stephen Harper fulfilled a longstanding commitment today by announcing the establishment of a sales program for the 11,000 acres of farmland in Mirabel. In November 2004, while in opposition, Prime Minister Harper tabled a motion in the House of Commons calling on the government to sell these acres, which were "needlessly" expropriated in 1969. "I'm pleased to announce today that our new government is going to allow Mirabel farmers to buy back the land they are currently leasing," said Prime Minister Harper. "We made a promise and we kept our word."
"Today's announcement finally gives Mirabel farmers the chance to own the land they have worked for so many years," added Minister of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Communities Lawrence Cannon. "For some, this means a chance to reclaim the land that has been in their family for generations, as well as an opportunity to close one chapter and open a new one."
A transition committee made up of representatives of the Union des producteurs agricoles, tenants, Transport Canada, and Public Works and Government Services Canada will be set up within the next few weeks to develop the details of this sales program.
The transition committee will be responsible for recommending the terms of the program implementation for selling land to farmers and for proposing solutions to any issues that may arise. Daniel Picotte, a lawyer with a thorough knowledge of issues related to the airport's transactions and acquisitions, will serve as chair of the body.
In accordance with the government's commitment to the environment, a management partnership between Transport Canada and Environment Canada will also be created to protect wetlands located within the 11,000 acres.
The 11,000 acres of land are now part of a lease between Aéroports de Montréal and Transport Canada. Discussions between the department and Aéroports de Montréal to remove these lands from the lease are already underway.