Published Mar 29, 2025 • Last updated 12 hours ago • 2 minute readTrish Altass (right) reads a motion before the standing committee on health and social development in 2021. The motion, which passed without dissent, was to compel the agriculture minister to disclose an investigative report into the Brendel land sale to the committee. Also present for the motion were Gord McNeilly and Michele Beaton. – Stu Neatby Photo by Stu Neatby /Stu NeatbyOn Feb. 12, Minister Steven Myers directed the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission (IRAC) to initiate an investigation into the land holdings of Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society (GEBIS) and the Great Wisdom Buddhist Institute (GWBI) under section 12(1) of the Lands Protection Act (LPA).Although hampered by its limited scope, any formal inquiry could uncover the evidence necessary to untangle the rat’s nest of corporate and non-resident ownership, direct and indirect control of land on the Island. Application and interpretation of the LPA’s beneficial ownership regulations in particular would impact land acquisitions tip to tip.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentUnfortunately, both previous IRAC LPA investigations had disappointing outcomes. From both of which, we don’t know what evidence was compiled by whom under what terms of reference.The report on the Brendel Farms inquiry has been withheld from the public for four years. IRAC has neither confirmed nor denied the existence of a report drawn from its original Kings County investigation, on some of the same organizations, which was stopped without explanation in January of 2018.Clearly, if this newly launched inquiry is intended to be of any substantial value, we can’t use the same template.We need comprehensive terms of reference, transparency and accountable oversight established at the outset.The commission must be given the resources needed to undertake a thorough investigation.A secure pathway for presenting third party submissions must be established. If people in possession of relevant information are not able to step forward without risking litigation, then any evidence gathered would be incomplete and findings inaccurate.The results must be shared with the public. It is easy to promise transparency, but history indicates IRAC’s reluctance to provide it.Article contentWithout adopting more comprehensive terms of reference this investigation’s validity is in jeopardy. Given past practice a likely scenario could be as follows: Attorneys representing IRAC depose attorneys representing those organizations being investigated. A consensus is struck reflecting some possible mitigation. An agreement providing parameters for a future land transaction model is drawn up.This would be done behind closed doors with no public access to the supporting documents. A brief summary would be released to the public.It is critical that some version of this scenario does not come to fruition. Both the minister and the “investigator” have an abundance of flexibility granted to them by the Public Inquiries Act. They can establish parameters defining their investigation. It hinges on what they “deem to be relevant.”If they choose to adopt a narrow view of this relevance the process will be fatally flawed, and any outcome tainted. It is easy to deny any evidence of wrongdoing if you choose not to look for it.Boyd Allen of Pownal, P.E.I., submitted this article as a private individual. He is also a member of The Coalition for the Protection of P.E.I. Lands, which will hold a forum on April 5 at the New London Community Complex from 2-4 p.m.Article content
LETTER: On P.E.I. land holdings and IRAC
