Landownership debated at public meeting

Prince Edward Islanders started the debate Tuesday night into legislation that limits the amount of land a person or corporation can own.

The Lands Protection Act puts a cap on land ownership at 1,000 acres for individuals and 3,000 acres for corporations. The province recently appointed Horace Carver to review the legislation, and Tuesday night's Vernon River public meeting was the first in what will be a series of public meetings.

"Maybe at the end of the day, people don't like what I have to say," said Carver at the beginning of the meeting, "and I don't even know what I'm going to say yet."

It was mostly farmers attending the meeting, and there were clear lines between large and small operators.

"Sometimes I think it's a method of controlling production of other people, and if that's the reason for the Lands Protection Act, that's the wrong reason," said Charlie Murphy.

Smaller operators like organic farmer Edith Ling believe the law should remain as it is.

"We're not going to be able to afford to buy these big operations," said Ling.

"We need to be careful, because farmland isn't being made anymore."

Carver said he was not surprised by the depth of feeling in the room.

"It illustrates to me, if I needed any reminding, and I don't, that people feel passionately about the land, feel passionately about Prince Edward Island," he said.

Carver will submit a report to the province in June, after the province-wide consultations conclude.

For mobile device users: What do you think should be done with the Lands Protection Act?