IRAC orders disclosure of Irving land holdings
The Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission has ordered Irving to reveal its land holdings on P.E.I. to one of its investigators.
'It is the company's belief that we are in full compliance.' — Mary Keith
The Land Protection Act limits corporations to owning a maximum of 3,000 acres of land on P.E.I.
Last April, IRAC hired Summerside lawyer Derek Key to begin an investigation into land holdings of six Irving companies, including J.D. Irving Limited, Island Holdings Limited, Cavendish Agri Services and Schurman's — which Irving had just recently acquired and has since converted to Kent.
Key is particularly interested in how Irving leases land. Irving leases land to grow potatoes, and sublets the land in years it can't grow potatoesaccording tocrop rotation. Key asked for information on the companies' leases and sublets.
Irving files annual disclosure statements on its land holdings, andthe company'slawyer told Key it would provide no further documentation. Key reported to IRAC that without further information his investigation couldn't proceed.
Irving spokeswoman Mary Keith would not answer questions, but did prepare a statement.
"It is the company's belief that we are in full compliance with this permit issued by the province," Keith told CBC News.
"In addition the company also files annual returns every year which clearly identify both the owned and leased land on Prince Edward Island. We're currently reviewing the order that was received on Dec. 13, and we will be responding in accordance with the Jan. 19 deadline."
No one from IRAC would speak to the CBC about the order.
Irving has three choices. It can provide the information, challenge the IRAC order in the Supreme Court of P.E.I., or ask IRAC to reconsider, and rescind or vary its order.