Alongside the increase in major infrastructure projects across Canada, there has been a significant increase in expropriation activity.  Expropriation is the act of a government or other expropriating authority claiming privately owned property against the wishes of the owners, to be used for the benefit of the overall public.  The purpose of the expropriation often includes the building of highways/roads, power lines, and transit projects.  Under the various provincial expropriation acts, the “owners” of the property, which can include tenants, must be properly compensated for the property taken, as well as business losses and out-of-pocket costs directly attributable to the expropriation, among other things. 

CHS has vast experience as financial experts in expropriation matters, being engaged by both claimants and expropriating authorities.  We have been involved in hundreds of cases, many of which settled prior to a formal hearing before the relevant body (i.e. Ontario Municipal Board, Local Planning Appeal Tribunal, and Ontario Land Tribunal).  These mandates have involved obtaining the necessary information from the claimant and preparing detailed reports quantifying the claimant’s business losses and out-of-pockets expenses directly attributable to the expropriation and/or responding to an opposing expert’s report quantifying the same.  We regularly attend mediations and other settlement discussions to assist our clients and their counsel in these proceedings.