P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz is asking the federal RCMP and Canada’s anti-money laundering agency will begin “immediate and transparent” investigations into allegations of foreign interference and money laundering involving “certain Buddhist groups” on the island.
Lantz said his calls for further investigation came after Last week, comments were made during a press conference on Parliament Hill by a former attorney general and a former superintendent of the RCMP, who suggested there is information that could warrant a criminal investigation and urged the federal RCMP to review any potential evidence.
“It really came to a head last week with a press conference in Ottawa. It’s left Islanders unsettled, uncomfortable with all these questions and I think they deserve answers,” Lantz said.
“The islanders deserve to separate fact and fiction here… It’s time to get to the bottom of the matter.”
On Thursday, the prime minister’s office released two letters: one sent to RCMP Commissioner Michael Duheme and the other to Financial Transaction Reporting Analysis Center of Canada (FINTRAC) executive director Sarah Paquet. The letters ask federal agencies to investigate allegations that have circulated about two specific Buddhist groups located in eastern PEI for years.
“These allegations focus primarily on the activities of certain Buddhist groups and their affiliates operating in the province and are based on years of public speculation and uncertainty,” reads the letter to Duheme, signed by Lantz and newly appointed Housing, Land and Communities Minister Cory Deagle.
“Equally troubling are suggestions, made by the same individuals, that Prince Edward Island has been used as ‘a forward operating base for the Chinese Communist Party,'” the letter says.
“These are serious allegations. Allegations of clandestine foreign interference must be examined by the relevant departments and agencies of the federal government, including the RCMP, to determine whether there is any factual basis. Islanders expect these matters to be handled responsibly, through established legal processes and not through speculation.”
“The seriousness of these allegations cannot be underestimated,” the letter says.
“While these allegations remain unverified, their nature warrants careful review by the appropriate federal authorities, including FINTRAC. Islanders are proud of our province’s reputation for transparency, fairness and community trust. But that trust is now being tested.”
CBC News contacted the RCMP, which confirmed that Lantz’s letter was received, but no one was available for comment.
P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz is calling on the RCMP and Canada’s anti-money laundering agency to investigate allegations of foreign interference and money laundering in the province. The news comes after years of controversy surrounding Buddhist land ownership on the island. CBC’s Tony Davis reports.
Deagle said he’s worried things could get worse if the RCMP doesn’t investigate.
“It’s definitely a big concern, which will just add fuel to the fire, because I feel like people’s trust in institutions has been eroded. I think this is really a step to help fix that or rectify that,” he said.
GEBIS welcomes research
In February, the province announced an investigation into land holdings on the island and singled out 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 PEI.
Those properties have been the subject of speculation for years. Prince Edward Island covers 1.4 million acres, and critics of out-of-province land acquisitions say they disproportionately increase the cost of land and will leave future island residents without the resources to purchase property for housing and agriculture.
The province has said the results of that investigation, which is being conducted by the Island’s Regulatory and Appeals Commission, will be made public.
In a statement shared with CBC News on Thursday, GEBIS said the organization “welcomes the provincial government’s request for a transparent investigation by the RCMP and FINTRAC.”
He goes on to say that the group has “endured baseless and damaging accusations” for too long and that he is relieved to see steps being taken to provide clarity.
GEBIS is committed to fully cooperating with the authorities in this process, according to the statement.
“We understand the public’s concern about foreign interference, but such concern cannot justify speculation or unfair accusations against immigrants or religious communities. Any investigation must be based on solid evidence, not rumors or discrimination,” the statement read.
The city of Three Rivers, where the two Buddhist organizations are located, said in a Facebook post that it supports the call for a federal investigation.
“The Council believes these steps are an important demonstration of transparency and accountability,” the post reads. “Public confidence in our democratic institutions and in the integrity of land ownership and economic activity is essential.”
“It’s something I’ve heard for years because there is a presence in my district,” said Darlene Compton, Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Trade and MLA for Belfast-Murray River. CBC News: Compass presenter Luisa Martín. He said every week he hears from at least two or three people who are concerned about the allegations outlined in the prime minister’s letters.
“I hear from constituents all the time the concern…not only about the use of the land but also about where the money is coming from to make the investment they are making, purchasing the properties.”
He said he has been pushing for such an investigation for a long time, as there are limits to what the province can do to get answers for Islanders.
PEI Premier Rob Lantz is calling on the RCMP and Canada’s anti-money laundering agency to investigate allegations of foreign interference and money laundering involving Buddhist groups on the island. CBC’s Louise Martin speaks with Belfast-Murray River MLA and Cabinet Minister Darlene Compton, who says it’s time to dig deeper into the allegations.
“It’s outside of our jurisdiction, a lot of this is under federal jurisdiction,” Compton said. “I think as a province we just realized it’s probably time. We’ve heard enough accusations, let’s take the case to the federal government.”
Compton said the most important thing is for islanders to leave the investigation in the hands of authorities.
Lantz agrees.
He said the PEI government is committed to working with federal agencies to will complete a thorough investigation and share any relevant information.
“What I ask of everyone is to let this process play out. I want everyone to feel safe in a warm and welcoming environment, like Prince Edward Island has always been,” Lantz said.
“Let the authorities, who have the authority to do this kind of work, do their job and give the islanders some sense of clarity.”
