Leaders of P.E.I.’s two opposition parties are welcoming the provincial government’s call for a federal investigation into allegations targeting certain Buddhist groups in the province, but they say more could be done, and it should have happened sooner.On Thursday, Premier Rob Lantz wrote letters to the RCMP and Canada’s anti-money laundering agency, FINTRAC, requesting investigations into allegations of foreign interference and money laundering involving the Buddhist groups.Some of the allegations, which are unproven, claim that P.E.I. has been used as an “operating base” for the Chinese Communist Party.Speaking with CBC News on Friday, P.E.I. Green Party Leader Matt MacFarlane said there is evidence to suggest breaches of the law may have occurred.“From the information that I’ve seen, the number of people I’ve talked to, the research that I’ve done and seen others perform, basically all the evidence on this suggests that… at least at the land level, there have been breaches of the Lands Protection Act,” MacFarlane told Island Morning host Mitch Cormier.LISTEN | Opposition parties react to P.E.I.’s call for investigation into Buddhist groups:Island Morning14:04Opposition parties react to P.E.I.’s call for investigation into Buddhist groupsWe speak with Matt MacFarlane and Robert Mitchell, leaders of P.E.I.’s two opposition parties, for their reactions to the provincial government’s call for a federal investigation into allegations of foreign interference and money laundering involving Buddhist organizations.While he is glad the province is calling for a federal investigation, he said it should have happened sooner.“The [Provincial Nominee Program] — that’s where this started back in the Robert Ghiz government. So for years, the doors have been opened. People have been coming to our province. There has not been the oversight or enforcement of the Lands Protection Act by IRAC through the previous Liberal government or this government,” he said.“So I’m pretty confident at the land level that a proper investigation will reveal that we need to make some serious changes.”Call for a public inquiryThe recently elected leader of P.E.I.’s Official Opposition, the Liberal party, said he’s also glad the province is calling for a federal investigation into the allegations.But Robert Mitchell says the government should call for a federal public inquiry instead, which he said would be more robust and transparent.“There’s stronger powers, so that it can be researched fully. What’s going to take place here now in an RCMP investigation and a FINTRAC investigation will basically be behind closed doors. And we will be waiting for an unspecified period of time for that to be done and brought forward to Islanders,” he said.WATCH | Lantz says it’s time to separate fact from fiction on allegations against Buddhist groups:Lantz says it’s time to separate fact from fiction on allegations against Buddhist groupsPremier Rob Lantz speaks with CBC’s Tony Davis about his decision to ask federal authorities to investigate allegations of foreign interference and money laundering that have been levelled against Buddhist organizations in eastern P.E.I.Mitchell added that a public inquiry would have stronger subpoena powers and could take a more comprehensive look at international financial flows.In a statement to CBC News, a FINTRAC spokesperson says under the the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, “FINTRAC is prohibited from speaking to any information that it may have received or financial intelligence that it may have disclosed to law enforcement or national security agencies in relation to the allegations of money laundering and foreign interference within Prince Edward Island.”MP cautions against directing policeCharlottetown MP Sean Casey said the province’s call for an investigation reflects growing public concern, but he cautioned against elected officials directing law enforcement.“It is not for elected officials to direct the police force. The police force determines when to open an investigation. It’s normally based on a complaint that’s found with reasonable, probable grounds. That is absolutely their call to make,” Casey told CBC News.“And I respect their ability, professionalism and record in making it, so I would never want to be seen or perceived as trying to infringe upon the independence of investigative bodies.”An aerial shot of the Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society compound in Little Sands, P.E.I. (Submitted by GEBIS)Casey added that he has “tremendous regard” for the contributions Buddhist groups have made to the Island.“I fear that much of the allegations that have been leveled against them are unfair, and I’m not well enough informed to be able to enter into the fray and I prefer to trust the integrity of the institutions that are and should be there,” he said.“This… I firmly believe, is a loud minority of people who are levelling these accusations. I hope and expect that they will be eventually fully investigated, and found to be groundless.”New investigation underwayEarlier this year, a legislative standing committee and the Coalition for the Protection of P.E.I. Lands called on then-Minister of Housing, Land, and Communities Steven Myers to order a new investigation into the Buddhist groups’ land holdings in the province.Myers officially made that order in February, while the standing committee awaited a report from IRAC detailing a 2018 investigation into the land holdings of the Buddhist groups.Just this month, MLAs learned that the report was never completed.“My job going forward in the legislature is to make sure that that February investigation that Steven Myers had ordered plays out, gets done transparently, with a report at the end of the day so Islanders can see what stones were turned over and what we’ve learned,” MacFarlane said.Racism, xenophobia not key issue in land talks: Opposition leadersMacFarlane said discussions around Buddhist land holdings have been ongoing for a long time and have sometimes touched on concerns about racism and xenophobia.“That’s not the concern. The evidence I’ve seen shows… these issues aren’t strictly exclusive to a particular group. We’ve seen the Lands Protection Act breached by different groups and played fast and loose with. So I don’t think that that issue is one that we need to spend a whole lot of time talking about,” MacFarlane said.“The divisions that have been created in the communities down east are a result of lack of government action at the provincial level to address the concerns that were very valid and substantiated very early on in this process.”WATCH | P.E.I. pushing for federal investigation into foreign interference allegations aimed at Buddhist groups:Why this P.E.I. MLA says now is the time for a federal investigation into land holdings in her districtP.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz is calling on the RCMP and Canada’s anti-money-laundering agency to investigate allegations of foreign interference and money laundering involving Buddhist groups on the Island. CBC’s Louise Martin speaks with MLA for Belfast-Murray River and cabinet minister Darlene Compton, who says it’s time to dig into the allegations.Mitchell agreed.“I don’t think the intention is to attack any one particular group, immigrant group, or religious group or sector of that nature. It’s about looking at other aspects of it,” he said.Those other aspects, Mitchell said, include sources and flows of money and the status of properties after purchase, such as whether some are left vacant or unfarmed.“Islanders, by nature, are very friendly, very welcoming community. If they see something that’s bothering them, certainly they speak up, and they have the right to do that,” Mitchell said.“As far as government is concerned, government needs to answer, investigate and determine good, solid answers to those questions, and most importantly, transparently do that.”Casey, however, sees the issue differently —saying this when asked how much of the debate may be centered in racism:“I fear that too much of it is,” he said.
P.E.I. opposition leaders support call for federal investigation into allegations aimed at Buddhist groups
