PEI·NewA Three Rivers town councillor has resigned over bylaw amendments that have been stuck in limbo for nearly a year. John Van Dyke’s resignation came into effect Sunday. John Van Dyke’s resignation came into effect SundayJenna Banfield · CBC News · Posted: Dec 08, 2025 7:45 PM EST | Last Updated: 1 hour agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Three Rivers councillor resigns, citing frustration over province’s delay signing off on bylaw amendmentsA Three Rivers town councillor has resigned over bylaw amendments stuck in limbo. The town has been waiting for almost a year for the province to approve the changes, and the mayor says frustration is growing. CBC’s Sheehan Desjardins reports. A Three Rivers town councillor has resigned over bylaw amendments that have been stuck in limbo for nearly a year. John Van Dyke’s resignation came into effect Sunday. In a statement, he cited frustration around the provincial government’s delay signing off on the town’s proposed bylaw amendments. The town says most of the bylaw changes are minor, but they would tighten the town’s oversight on development in institutional zones.The only properties zoned that way are owned by Buddhist monks and nuns, whose land holdings have been the topic of land use concerns and speculation for years. The town says it has been waiting for nearly a year for the minister of housing, land, and communities to sign off on the amendments — but that hasn’t happened.P.E.I. Minister of Housing, Land, and Communities Cory Deagle previously told CBC News he has heard “significant concerns” about the proposed bylaw amendments. (Rick Gibbs/CBC)Housing minister Cory Deagle previously said he has heard “significant concerns” about the proposed amendments in the community. He said he won’t sign off on the changes until those concerns are addressed. In his statement, Van Dyke said the town council’s work “has been met with hesitation, political avoidance, and a troubling disregard for the municipal planning process.”He stated that the lack of support and leadership from the province made it increasingly difficult to fulfil his responsibilities as a councillor.”I will continue to support the community in whatever ways I can, but it has become clear that meaningful progress is not possible without a respectful and cooperative provincial partner. At this time, that partnership does not exist,” he wrote. ‘I feel a lack of support,’ says mayorThe town’s mayor, Debbie Johnston, said she is not surprised by Van Dyke’s resignation.She said the town held multiple public input sessions when drafting the bylaw amendments, and heard from residents who attended that these changes are what they wanted.”We heard that they wanted stronger provisions and more clarity on what was going on in our two institutional zones,” she said. “We listened and we did tighten that up.”Three Rivers mayor Debbie Johnston says she understands Van Dyke’s frustration. ‘If there is a good reason that our bylaws cannot be accepted by the minister, please let us know. If they need to be rejected, then that’s still a step forward as well,’ she told CBC News. (Zoom)She said she is frustrated too, and just wants the province to approve or deny the amendments so that the town can continue forward.”We’re just kind of in limbo,” Johnston said. “I feel a lack of support right now for our bylaws… I do feel some lack of support, I guess, for Three Rivers.” CBC News contacted the Department of Housing, Land, and Communities, but they were unable to provide a comment by publish time.Johnston said plans on what to do with Van Dyke’s seat will be discussed at the next council meeting. John Jamieson, who is the chief administrative officer of Three Rivers, said Van Dyke presented his resignation letter to him last week, and that the Town is disappointed he is leaving. “He was a very effective councillor,” Jamieson said. “We are sad to see him go.”ABOUT THE AUTHORJenna Banfield is an associate producer for CBC Prince Edward Island. She can be reached at jenna.banfield@cbc.caWith files from Sheehan Desjardins and Connor Lamont
Three Rivers councillor resigns over bylaw amendments stuck in limbo
