Expropriation With Compensation

Edited by Stephen Antle

It is a defining attribute of government that it has the power to take private property for public purposes, without the owner's consent. However, most expropriations of land in British Columbia are governed by the Expropriation Act, which ensures a fair procedure and entitles owners to be paid compensation. There are many public infrastructure initiatives in the works to help stimulate the B.C. economy. If your business owns property these projects may have an impact on you, whether they affect access to your property during construction or involve an actual expropriation of part of your land. It is important for property owners to understand the process under the Expropriation Act and their rights, to avoid being "taken" by surprise.