Practice & Procedure

Rule R98-1


Approved and Adopted by the Executive Committee on November 5, 1998
Amended: April 28, 1999 and January 29, 2001
Effective:  January 30, 2001

The Executive Committee of the Commission, pursuant to the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission Act, hereby makes the following rule:

Rule R98-1

Procedures under Sections 15 and 15.1 of the
P.E.I. Lands Protection Act
 

Definitions 1. In this Rule
Act  

(a) "Act" means the Prince Edward Island Lands Protection Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. L-5;

Formal hearing  

(b) "formal hearing" means a formal, recorded proceeding where oral evidence is adduced or argument is heard, or both oral evidence is adduced and argument is heard, before a panel of the Commission;

Panel - review panel  

(c) "panel" or "review panel" means a quorum of Commissioners;

Regulations  

(e) "regulations" means regulations approved under the Prince Edward Island Lands Protection Act;

Respondent  

(f) "respondent" means a person or corporation under investigation.

Short title 2. This Rule may be cited as the Lands Protection Act Investigation Rule.
Application of rule 3. This Rule applies to investigations pursuant to Section 15 of the Act and to procedures pursuant to section 15.1 of the Act.
Rule may be varied 4. In any proceeding, the Commission, or a panel thereof, may vary or supplement any of the provisions of this rule.
Investigating officer 5. The Commission may appoint an investigating officer or officers to conduct an investigation pursuant to section 15 of the Act.
Terms of appointment 6. The investigating officer or officers appointed pursuant to section 5 shall conduct the investigation in accordance with terms of appointment issued by the Commission.
Completion of investigation 7. On completion of the investigation, the investigating officer or officers shall prepare and file with the Commission a report summarizing the investigation.
Service of report 8. Within 30 days of receipt of the report filed pursuant to section 7, the Commission shall serve a copy of the report on the respondent.
Response to report 9.(1) The respondent shall, within 30 days of receipt of the report of the investigating officer or officers, file a response with the Commission.
Determination by Commission,  separate review panel   (2) Following the 30-day period specified in subsection 9(1), the Commission may appoint a separate review panel to consider the report of the investigating officer or officers and any response filed by the respondent and the review panel shall thereupon determine whether the respondent has contravened the Act, regulations or an order or orders of the Commission.
Review panel may conduct formal hearing   (3) Notwithstanding subsection 9(2), the review panel may, prior to determining whether a contravention has occurred, conduct a formal hearing.
Imposition of penalty   (4) Where the review panel determines that a contravention has occurred, it may impose a penalty pursuant to section 15.1 of the Act.
Idem

10. (1) If a response is not filed within the 30-day limit prescribed in subsection 9(1), the review panel shall

(a) consider the report of the investigating officer or officers; and

(b) determine whether the respondent has contravened the Act, regulations or an order or orders of the Commission;

    (2) If the review panel determines that a contravention has occurred, it may impose a penalty pursuant to section 15.1 of the Act.
Effective date 11. This rule comes into effect on January 30, 2001.

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