Cross v Gatineau Power Company     Privy Council – Canada – Compulsory expropriation of land – Hydro-electric power
company – Statutory powers – Whether all affected property to be vested in power company.
The appellant owned property on the Gatineau River, including a saw mill used for his timber
business and a plant for the production and distribution of electricity, both worked by water
power. The respondents were attempting to expropriate for the purposes of a scheme for
development of hydro-electric power on the river, and had erected a dam with the result that
much of his property was submerged and other seriously affected. An action in respect of this
damage had proceeded to trial, and judgment had been reserved, when a special Act was
passed by the Quebec Legislature to prevent any disturbance of the respondents’ operations.
The respondents were by the Act to make just and fair compensation to the appellant for all
his properties and rights taken or affected, and the court was to determine what properties and
rights should upon payment of the compensation become vested in the respondents:—