Quebec to pay out $39 million to victims of Lac-Megantic train tragedy
Quebec can now move forward with its intention to redistribute $39 million to those impacted by the Lac-Mégantic train derailment in July 2013.
Approximately $20 million will be redistributed directly, without deduction of legal fees, to victims recognized in the legal proceedings with Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway.
The amounts will be paid out by the end of the year.
The remaining $19 million will be invested in "significant projects" for the residents of Lac-Mégantic, the Quebec government confirmed, adding details of the investments will be announced at a later date.
"The government's priority has always been to act for the greatest benefit of the victims impacted by the July 6, 2013 tragedy," said Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette in a statement. "The redistribution of these sums is intended first of all to render justice to them, but also to allow this hard-hit community to continue its reconstruction."
The Superior Court stated last June that the government could redistribute the sums as it saw fit, in accordance with the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act.
The Court of Appeal refused to hear an appeal on the decision and the time limit for applying to the Supreme Court of Canada has now expired.
-- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Oct. 1, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6929776.1718638522!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
NEW Hurricane Beryl makes landfall near Tulum, Mexico as a Category 2 storm
Hurricane Beryl made landfall on Mexico’s coast near the resort of Tulum as a Category 2 storm early Friday after leaving a trail of destruction across the eastern Caribbean.
'I got no remorse': Greg Fertuck, convicted of murdering missing spouse, sentenced to life in prison
Greg Fertuck will spend life behind bars with no chance of parole until he is 90 years old, a judge ruled on Thursday at Saskatoon's Court of King's Bench.
'Ford's dry summer begins': All LCBO stores closed as workers go on strike
All LCBO stores are closed on Friday as thousands of workers hit the picket lines after their union and employer failed to reach an agreement.
How does Canada's lowest hourly minimum wage stack up to the rest of the country?
Hourly minimum wages increased in several Canadian provinces this spring with more on the horizon, which economists say will likely impact workers and businesses differently.
Biden ramps up unscripted events, travel and plans US$50 million ad buy amid intense scrutiny
President Joe Biden’s team is telegraphing a strategy to put the president forth for more casual, unscripted events and an accelerated public schedule as he seeks to shift the narrative away from his poor debate performance.
Possible shark sighting temporarily closes popular Maritime beach
A suspected shark sighting caused a popular Nova Scotia beach to close temporarily Thursday.
Canada's global reputation suffering under Trudeau, Garneau asserts in autobiography
Former foreign affairs minister Marc Garneau says Canada has lost its standing in the world under the tenure of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom he criticizes as an ill-prepared leader who prioritizes politics and makes big pronouncements without any follow-through.
Crocodiles cannot outnumber people in Australian territory where girl was killed, leader says
Crocodile numbers in Australia's Northern Territory must be either maintained or reduced and cannot be allowed to outstrip the human population, the territory's leader said after a 12-year-old girl was killed while swimming.
'How did it get there?': Young Humpback whale dies after swimming up Nova Scotia's Shubenacadie River
A young humpback whale has died after swimming up Nova Scotia's Shubenacadie River.