The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday, Nov. 25, edition that proposed powers in Ottawa's latest budget bill may lead to significant expropriations, according to Aird & Berlis partner Ajay Gajaria. The Globe's Bill Curry writes that the House of Commons is currently studying C-15, an omnibus budget bill that proposes a wide range of legislative changes related to the Nov. 4 budget. The bill includes a proposal for a new law regarding the planned high-speed rail network between Quebec City and Toronto, estimated to cost between $60-billion and $90-billion. Called Alto High-Speed Rail, the plan has been referred to the new Major Projects Office for support. The Alto Crown Corporation, an arm's-length subsidiary of Via Rail that is responsible for the project, has been consulting with communities along the route. Mr. Gajaria says, "Both in terms of dollar value and in terms of number of properties, if they go ahead and do the property acquisition for a new corridor from Toronto to Quebec City, that will be the largest number of expropriations in modern Canadian history." The law would grant Ottawa the right of first refusal related to sales of land that may be required for the rail line.