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Docket: LP12-108
Order LP12-008

IN THE MATTER of an alleged contravention of subsection 5.(1) of the Prince Edward Island Lands Protection Act by Urbainville Farms Ltd.

BEFORE THE COMMISSION

on Monday, the 19th day of November, 2012.

Allan Rankin, Vice-Chair
John Broderick, Commissioner
Jean Tingley, Commissioner

Order

WHEREAS subsection 5.(1) of the Act reads as follows:

A corporation shall not have an aggregate land holding in excess of five acres or having a shore frontage in excess of one hundred and sixty-five feet unless it first receives permission to do so from the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

AND WHEREAS, on February 16, 2012, the Commission received several applications from the Corporation of Wellington, Prince County, to acquire land; 

AND WHEREAS the applications reported that the Corporation and 3798313 Canada Inc. had amalgamated on August 1, 2011; 

AND WHEREAS, by email dated February 16, 2012, the Commission advised the Corporation's legal counsel that the Commission had no record of the Corporation applying for or receiving approval to acquire the land holdings of 3798313 Canada Inc. at the time of amalgamation; 

AND WHEREAS, on March 8, 2012, the Corporation's legal counsel filed a retroactive application for the Corporation to acquire an interest in the 998.53 acres owned by 3798313 Canada Inc. at the time of amalgamation on August 1, 2011; 

AND WHEREAS the application was subsequently approved by Executive Council on May 2, 2012 (Executive Council Order No. EC2012-241); 

AND WHEREAS, by Notice of Intention dated September 28, 2012, the Corporation was advised of the apparent contravention and provided with an opportunity to respond; 

AND WHEREAS, on October 16, 2012, the Commission received a response to the Notice of Intention from the Corporation's legal counsel; 

AND WHEREAS the Commission has fully considered the original application, the Notice of Intention, the Corporation's legal counsel's response to the Notice of Intention and other relevant material before it; 

THE COMMISSION HEREBY FINDS that the Corporation contravened the Act when it acquired the land owned by 3798313 Canada Inc. at the time of amalgamation on August 1, 2011, prior to making application to Executive Council for approval pursuant to the Act to acquire such land;

THE COMMISSION HEREBY IMPOSES, pursuant to clause 15.1(1)(a) of the Act, a penalty in the amount of $50.00 for the aforementioned contravention of the Act; 

THE COMMISSION HEREBY FIXES January 4, 2013 as the date by which the Corporation must pay the $50.00 penalty. 

DATED at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, this 19th day of November, 2012.

BY THE COMMISSION:

Allan Rankin, Vice-Chair

John Broderick, Commissioner

Jean Campbell, Commissioner 

TAKE NOTICE that any person or corporation that has contravened section 2, 4, 5, 5.3, 6.1 or 6.2 is liable to a penalty, pursuant to Subsection 15.1(1) of the Act, of not more than $10,000;

Subsection 15.1(3) reads as follows:

15.1(3)  If any person or corporation fails to pay any penalty imposed by the Commission within the time fixed by the Commission for the payment of the penalty, the Commission may make application, without notice to the person or corporation, to a judge of the Supreme Court for an order that judgment for the amount of the penalty or any unpaid portion of the penalty may be entered in the court against the person or corporation.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that Section 12 of the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission Act reads as follows: 

12.  The Commission may, in its absolute discretion, review, rescind or vary any order or decision made by it or rehear any application before deciding it. 

Parties to this proceeding seeking a review of the Commission's decision or order in this matter may do so by filing with the Commission, at the earliest date, a written Request for Review, which clearly states the reasons for the review and the nature of the relief sought. 

Sections 13.(1) and 13(2) of the Act provide as follows:

13.(1)  An appeal lies from a decision or order of the Commission to the Court of Appeal upon a question of law or jurisdiction.

(2)    The appeal shall be made by filing a notice of appeal in the Court of Appeal within twenty days after the decision or order appealed from and the rules of the court respecting appeals apply with the necessary changes.

NOTICE: IRAC File Retention

In accordance with the Commission's Records Retention and Disposition Schedule, the material contained in the official file regarding this matter will be retained by the Commission for a period of 2 years.