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Friend --
“Such blatant disregard for the Act is upsetting for many
Islanders,” said Ms. Beaton.
On August 14th, the Office of
the Opposition released the following press release:
 Charlottetown, PE – Recent revelations
about how corporations are exploiting loopholes in the Lands
Protection Act seem to confirm what Islanders have been suggesting for
years. Despite the Opposition bringing concerns about corporations
circumventing the Act in the Legislature during the last sitting of
the House, the government has done nothing to investigate these
concerns.
“On July 10 of this year I rose to speak on this issue in the
Legislature,” stated Michele Beaton, Opposition Critic for Agriculture
and Lands. “When I asked the Minister about this problem, he stated he
was unaware of any issue. I then asked him if he would investigate
these concerns. At that time, he said he would look into it if it came
across his desk. Well, the evidence has been put across his desk. Will
the Minister to now act upon it, review the Lands Protection Act, and
report back to Islanders just how big this problem is?”
The Act was created to protect the limited land resources we have
on Prince Edward Island. It limits the amount of land a person or
corporation could own. These limitations mean Islanders would continue
to enjoy the freedom to govern their own affairs, both private and
public, as it relates to land use and ownership while providing
prudent, balanced, and steadfast stewardship of the province’s
ecology, environment, and lands.
A recent Guardian news article on August 13, 2019
showed that a transaction by Haslemere Farms, a corporation owned by a
member of the Irving family, to purchase Brendel Farms exploited a
loophole in the Act. This was done in a manner that circumvents the
Act as a previous request for the sale of the land to a group of
companies owned by Irving family members was denied by Executive
Council on March 26, 2019. A representative for Haslemere Farms (now
known as Red Fox Acres) did not dispute this when questioned about it
in the news article.
“Such blatant disregard for the Act is upsetting for many
Islanders,” said Ms. Beaton. “As soon as these facts became evident, I
spoke with the Minister responsible for Agriculture and Land,
reminding him of his government’s commitment to uphold the Lands
Protection Act. I have also written a letter to the Chair of the
Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental
Sustainability asking for an extensive formal review of the Act. These
loopholes must be closed. We must protect and be faithful stewards of
our limited land resources.”
For media inquiries, please contact:
Jonathan Hamel
Director of
Communications
Office of the Official
Opposition
Tel: (902) 213-0718
Email: [email protected]
Green Party of PEI
http://www.greenparty.pe.ca/
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