"A Risk of Expropriation That is Costly" with Isabelle Landry

Our municipal law partner Isabelle Landry spoke with the team of the program La Facture, broadcast on ICI Radio-Canada.

The municipality of Saint-Mathieu wishes to build a new school on its territory. In doing so, the Ministry of Education requires a lot of more than 10,000 square feet for such a construction. The municipality has therefore had to issue a reserve notice to some residents while it obtains approval from the Department of Education.

Is the municipality right to do so?

During the interview, Isabelle explained that a reserve notice allows the municipality to "freeze" the land when it intends to expropriate in the future. "Is the way [the municipality] is proceeding in this case correct? I think so, given that the school project is not yet approved," she says. She also says that unfortunately it is not possible to force the municipality to act more quickly, since it can take up to four years on its expropriation notice.

Residents will be able to seek reimbursement for some of the expenses caused by the reserve notice at the end of the process.

To listen to the full interview, click here.