New powers proposed in the government’s latest budget bill could set the stage for one of the biggest rounds of expropriations in modern history, according to a Toronto lawyer who specializes in expropriation cases.

The House of Commons is currently studying C-15, a more than 600-page omnibus budget bill that proposes a wide range of legislative changes related to the Nov. 4 budget.

Inside the bill is a proposal to adopt a new law related to the government’s planned high-speed rail network between Quebec City and Toronto . The megaproject has an estimated cost of 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 respon

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