Lac-Mgantic residents allege pressure to sell their homes

Property owners in Lac-Mgantics red zone say they are being pressured to selltheir homes immediately, Radio-Canada is reporting.

The zone was the area hardest hit by the deadly derailment of a runaway train loaded with crude oil in July 2013.

Homeowners in the red zone say they've been invited to meetings withrepresentatives of the town and provincial government ministries responsible for the towns rebuilding to discussdetails of Quebecs recently announced $60-million compensation package.

A group of owners told Radio-Canada in an exclusive interviewthat theyre being warned of the possibility of long-term contamination from the thousands of litres of toxic crude that spilled and seeped into ground and nearby lake, and are being advised to sell.

Resident alleges 'intimidation'

Red zone resident Hlne Rodrigue said they're facing intimidation.

Its to make us scared, Rodrigue said of the claims of long-term contamination.

Rodrigue says shes not interested in selling her home.

Soil tests conducted by Quebecs Environment ministry show that her property is not contaminated, she said.

Theres no oil beneath the house. Theres absolutely nothing. My house is fine, she said.

She plans to return to her house once the red zone is deemed sufficiently decontaminated.

That goes against the advice of people like Michel Duval.

Duval is general manager of the regional Caisse Desjardins and part of a group of business peoplethat is hoping to redevelop the devastated downtown core.

Duval says the Quebecs environment ministry is making no guarantees that the red zone will ever be decontaminated, and property owners should sell while the offer still stands.

Who will finance and insure their homes? There are a bunch of problems that can arise. And what if the governments offer isnt valid in two years time, he asked.

Call for greater transparency

A group of red zone residents calling themselves the"Carr Bleu (Blue Squares) are challenging such assertions and demanding more transparency in the compensation negotiations.

Where are these facts coming from? Are there facts to prove these claims? Are thereexpert opinions on where the level of contamination will be at three years from now, said the movements spokesperson, Jonathan Santerre.

Line Crevier of the Insurance Bureau of Canada told Radio-Canada that residents have nothing to worry about.

Insurers are renewing their contracts. There have been renewals in the last 12 months [since the disaster occurred], she said.

Local mortgage brokers had the same message.

There is no evidence that mortgages arent being approved or renewed with people in that sector, said Julien Chaumont of the mortgage firm Hypotheca.