Some of the last major groups of Western chorus frogs in Quebec live in the region of La Prairie, on Montreal’s South Shore. There, the tiny, elusive frogs have caused a years-long dispute after the federal government in 2016 issued an unprecedented emergency order to halt development on two square kilometres of land to protect their habitat. The decision was lauded by environmental groups, but raised the ire of developers, the city of La Prairie, and the provincial environment minister, who suggested it was an example of Ottawa meddling in provincial affairs.
Now, three years after the order was issued, one developer is going to court next week to fight for compensation for the land he claims the government has effectively expropriated, even as Ottawa says it has yet to make a decision about whether payment is necessary.
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