Council of the Township of Whitewater Region:
- Approve the purchase of part of the former CN Beachburg Subdivision found in Whitewater Region, including the interprovincial crossing, at at a cost of $193,344.13 including non-refundable HST funded from reserve; and authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute the necessary agreement of purchase and sale.
- Approve the entering into a lease with Canadian National Railway Company for those vacant lands forming part of the CN Beachburg Subdivision described as Lots 5 647 925 and 3 350 672 of the Cadastre of Québec, Registration Division of Pontiac, in order to facilitate the purchase by an appropriate party to ensure the continuance of the municipal active transportation corridor from Highway 301 in Pontiac to Laurentian Valley Township.
- Approve the single-source award of engineering services to WSP Canada for the completion of five bridge/trestle inspections at a cost of $36,297.82 including non-refundable HST to be funded from reserve.
- Approve the single-source award for a Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessment for the vacant lands forming part of the CN Beachburg Subdivision described as Lots 5 647 925 and 3 350 672 of the Cadastre of Québec, Registration Division of Pontiac to Cambium at a cost of $34,822.30 including non-refundable HST funded from reserve.
- Approve the single-source award for a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment for CN Beachburg Subdivision found in Whitewater Region, including the interprovincial crossing at a cost of $10,170.92 including non-refundable HST funded from reserve.
- Delegate authority to the Chief Administrative Officer to complete all due diligence as part of these transactions within the 90-day window and potential 60-day extension.
Sean Crozier said that they’d engaged with the Township of McNab Braeside, as well as the Active Transportation participants, the Township’s insurance agents.
He said the purchase price was budgeted for int he 2022 budget, and have currently incurred 20,000 in legal fees so far.
“We expect to incur 20-30 thousand more in legal fees.” he said.
They also showed a video taken via air by Renfrew county paramedics showing the route.
Councillor McLaughlin asked why they would purchase the Interprovincial bridge for the route. “what benefit is it to us if Quebec does not come on board. It’s a great big liability to us.” he said. “I think if I was guaranteed the Province of Quebec was on board and they purchased their fair share, I’d be on board. But if they don’t do that and sell it to private landowners, we’re stuck with it. I want nothing to do with the bridge until the Province
“Right now the Snowmobile club can use the bridge in the Province of Quebec, but ATVs cannot.” Mayor Moore said.
“The intent of this report is to get this started.” the Mayor said, asking CAO Burton if there a 90 day period to withdraw if the bridge purchase was not feasible.
CAO Burton said that if council passes the motion as drafted, the council enters into a purchase period with CN, which would allow them to enter into due diligence for purchase and assessments for a period of 90 days.
Mayor Moore also said that the Township could not purchase land in Quebec, only lease.
CAO Trembley said that the agreement would be a “hundred-year lease” with CN. “The direction would be to find an organization that could acquire them, which might be other agencies in Quebec.”
Councillor Olmstead asked if the City of Ottawa owned the bridge on the map near Arnprior.
“They do not in fact own that bridge.” Sean Crozier asked.
CAO Ivan Burton could not confirm who owned the bridge, but that the ATV club was doing improvements to the trail “entirely at their own cost”.
Deputy Mayor Regier expressed concerns with maintenance to the bridges.
“In Quebec they have the largest bike tourism in the world, and they would love to have that trail to access Ontario.” Councillor Mackay said.
Councillor McLaughlin asked if there was ‘any indication’ of whether CN was in negotiations with anyone in Quebec, which Burton said he could confirm the ATV club were ‘in discussions’ to secure the route.
“Why are we so anxious to purchase that bridge if the province of Quebec aren’t willing to purchase their own share?” he asked.
Councillor Mackay asked for a recorded vote.
The motion was carried six to one, with Councillor McLaughlin opposed.
