![['P.E.I. Innovation Minister Allen Roach']](https://saltwire.imgix.net/p-e-i-innovation-minister-allen-roach-2558946.jpg?cs=srgb&fit=crop&h=568&w=847&dpr=1&auto=enhance%2Ccompress%2Cformat)
BY DOUGLAS CAMPBELL
GUEST OPINION
There are serious problems within the P.E.I. Legislative Standing Committee on Communities, Land and Environment; which is attempting to examine land holdings on Prince Edward Island. One of those problem lies with committee member Allen Roach, Liberal MLA for District 3, Montague – Kilmuir.
In November 2017, the committee passed a motion to invite Cavendish Farms, Vanco Farms and GEBIS (Buddhist monks) to appear before the committee to discuss their land holdings. Letters were to be sent to each entity.
In January 2018, when Roach became a member of this committee, he unsuccessfully tried to have GEBIS excluded from the motion. Roach seems to have made it his personal mandate to convince everyone that GEBIS is within the land holding limits of the lands protection act, as well as to keep the group from having to appear before the committee to openly answer questions about their land holdings. He seemed entirely focused on GEBIS. As of today, none of the named entities have appeared before the committee.
RELATED: P.E.I. Potato Board chair questions loopholes in Lands Protection Act
Allen Roach has been condescending and demeaning to groups who are providing sound information and asking for full transparency of land holdings. He has also been less than respectful to the other committee members. Some observers have used the word bullying. To view Roach in the March meeting and the recent September 6th meeting, which members of the Potato Board appeared, Islanders can go to the Legislative Assembly website.
Perhaps most harmful and insulting to all Islanders is his implication that the request to GEBIS is racist and anti-immigrant. He doesn’t even mention the other two corporations. How sad that Roach is resorting to trying to shame Islanders who legitimately wish to know, and have the democratic right to know, if the spirit and intent of the Lands Protection Act is being broken by any company. And if so, why isn’t the current government standing behind the law and preventing such violations. If there is one thing we don’t need is Roach trying to deflect from the land issue by implying the want of honest answers is racist and anti-immigrant.
If GEBIS and other companies are following the Lands Protection Act there should be no reason not to appear before the committee and tell their story; putting to rest all “those anecdotal things” Roach is talking about. Islanders have had a long hard struggle to protect their primary resource, the land. All that is asked of anyone wishing to make P.E.I. home and/or a place to do business is to respect the land ownership laws, which are constitutionally sound. This is extremely important in an age of the worldwide land grab.
Islanders have good reason to question Roach’s behaviour and motives on the committee. If he is not there with the intent to examine the issues openly, but rather to obstruct, which does appear to be the case, he needs to step down or be removed by the Premier immediately. Roach has already made it known he will not be running in the next election. However, he is still a representative of the people – so, he needs to act like one.
- Douglas Campbell is a dairy farmer in Southwest Lot 16, and District Director of the National Farmers Union.
