What the blazes is going on here??? Is is getting more and more difficult to figure out this governments’ motivation in all these recent announcements. To begin with, it is worth noting that this amendment was crafted and released while IRAC was still charged with investigating Buddhist Land Holdings. Any findings forthcoming from this so-called Inquiry clearly should be reflected in any LPA amendments. Has Government been given some kind of “interim report”. Is there any timeline on its release?
Also the administration of the “land holding declarations” and any resultant “divestiture schedules” is the responsibility of “The Commission” – meaning IRAC, a public tribunal this government has committed to restructure. Please let us know what you think!
Amendment to Lands Protection Act could reduce land holding limits for non-profits
The amendment would create a new land holding limit for non-profit corporations of 400 acres
Lucas McInnis · CBC News · Posted: Oct 28, 2026 7:00 PM ADT | October 28
The P.E.I. government has put forward a proposed amendment to the Lands Protection Act. If implemented, the change would significantly reduce land holding limits for non-profit organizations, including religious groups. CBC’s Kerry Campbell reports.
Intensified debates surrounding land ownership limits in Prince Edward Island have occurred in recent years, with the land holdings of Buddhist groups in the eastern part of the province often at the centre of the conversation.
As it stands, the Lands Protection Act limits ownership of 1,000 acres for individuals and 3,000 acres for corporations.
But the provincial government has put forward a proposed amendment to the act, which would require Buddhist groups and possibly other non-profits to begin selling land.
Non-profit corporations would have a new land-holding limit of 400 acres under the new amendment, and it would also remove the ability for non-profits to increase the limit if the land owned cannot be farmed.
A graphic depicts squares that represent the amount of land non-profits, individuals and corporations are allowed to own in P.E.I.
The Lands Protection Act currently sets ownership limits of 1,000 acres for individuals and 3,000 acres for corporations. The amendment would create a new land holding limit for non-profit corporations of 400 acres. (CBC News)
The amendment targets non-profit corporations that “pursue objects of a patriotic, religious, philanthropic, charitable, scientific, artistic, social, professional or sporting character,” and corporations would be given a timeline to divest land above the limit.
Some organizations that qualify through a federal program for donations of land would not be subject to reduced limits, such as Island Nature Trust.
The Great Wisdom Buddhist Institute and the Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society own less than the current ownership limit, based on their own figures, but would be required to sell about half of their land under the proposed amendment.
CBC News found that inter-related Buddhist groups in the province, together with their spiritual leader, own upward of 3,200 acres.
The province ordered an investigation into the land holdings last year, but the results have not been released.
“GEBIS recognizes the importance of the Lands Protection Act and its role in protecting Prince Edward Island’s land resources,” reads a statement to CBC News from the Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society.
“We are reviewing the proposed amendments to better understand their scope and potential implications before responding in more detail. We look forward to learning more through the consultation process.”
Other groups such as the Catholic Church — which CBC News has determined owns more than 1,700 acres through parishes in the province — could also be affected by the change.
CBC News requested an interview with P.E.I. Minister of Land and Environment Darlene Compton or anyone else to speak about the amendment, but no one was made available by the time of publication.
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The provincial government is accepting feedback on the proposed amendment until Nov. 10.
