P.E.I. government orders new investigation into Buddhist land holdings in the province

P.E.I. Minister of Land Steven Myers has ordered the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission to launch a new investigation looking at the land holdings of Buddhist organizations in the province.

In a media release Wednesday, the province pointed to two specific groups — the Great Wisdom Buddhist Institute (GWBI) and the Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society (GEBIS) — both of which have significant land holdings in Eastern P.E.I.

Those land holdings have been the topic of speculation and controversy for years. In recent months, that's led to accusations against members of Three Rivers Council and even safety concerns for council members, who have maintained all along that issues of land ownership fall within provincial jurisdiction.

"Islanders have valid concerns about who owns land and how it is being used, especially since we are a small province with limited land," Myers was quoted as saying in the media release. "But it's important too that these discussions are based on evidence, not assumptions."

Prince Edward Island encompasses 1.4 million acres, and historically had the nickname "The Million-Acre Farm." Critics of land acquisitions from outside the province say they increase the cost of land disproportionately and will leave future Island residents unable to afford to buy land for housing and farming. 

Myers said he will release the report IRAC eventually produces to the public.

Green MLA Matt MacFarlane said the investigation has been a long time coming, but he feels it's crucial that the entire process be transparent.

"I'd like to see updates as to how the investigation is going, what are the terms of reference of the investigation, will there be an opportunity for people with knowledge to come forward and share information?" he said. "The results of the investigation have to be available to the public in full, including all of the data used to formulate the report."

This is not the first time IRAC will have conducted such an investigation.

A previous investigation wrapped up in 2018, but the results have never been released to the public.

When CBC News filed a freedom of information request seeking that report, IRAC replied that it could neither confirm nor deny the report's existence. That request has been appealed and is now before the province's privacy commissioner.

Last week, the P.E.I. legislature's all-party Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability filed a request with IRAC to provide a copy of that report by Thursday, Feb 13.

The committee also agreed to ask Myers to order a new investigation.

Both motions were put forward by MacFarlane.