More than 100 individuals gathered at a meeting organized by Green Party Leader Matt MacFarlane on Monday evening to address land use concerns and learn about a proposed bill he intends to introduce. The bill seeks to mandate the public disclosure of land investigations to residents of Prince Edward Island.
The proposed amendment to the Lands Protection Act aims to make all reports and associated documents from investigations accessible for public viewing. MacFarlane emphasized that the goal is to restore Islanders’ trust in the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission (IRAC) and the decision-making processes concerning land matters.
Recently, Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) were informed that a crucial land report from 2018, which was anticipated but never materialized, does not exist. A legislative committee issued a subpoena for this report, which was supposed to address various concerns, including the land holdings of Buddhist groups in eastern P.E.I.
Jan Matejcek, one of the meeting attendees, expressed surprise at the revelation that the report was non-existent and voiced skepticism about the current processes. He stressed the importance of transparency and the public disclosure of reports, likening it to the transparency of court judgments.
Ian Petrie, a retired CBC journalist who participated in the discussion on land issues at the meeting, commended MacFarlane’s initiative to shed light on IRAC’s decision-making processes. Petrie highlighted the necessity of transparency in limiting the acquisition of land by affluent individuals.
MacFarlane disclosed his intention to present the bill during the fall session of the legislature, emphasizing the need to enhance transparency in the IRAC process to instill confidence among Islanders in the institution responsible for land decisions in Prince Edward Island.
Minister of Housing, Land, and Communities Cory Deagle addressed the gathering during an open question session. Deagle expressed his commitment to releasing the findings of a separate investigation into land holdings of Buddhist groups, conducted under the previous minister, Steven Myers. He also raised concerns to MacFarlane regarding the definition and scope of investigations under the proposed bill.
Responding to Deagle’s concerns, MacFarlane emphasized the importance of the bill in promoting transparency, clarity, and accountability within IRAC. He expressed hope that any challenges regarding the definition of investigations would not impede the bill’s progress.
The MLAs are set to reconvene for the fall session on Tuesday.