In the first episode of this Monkileaks sequel series, I presented argument and evidence making a very strong case justifying a suspicious assessment of the PEI government announcement to instruct IRAC to undertake another investigation of the Buddhist land holdings in PEI.
There is simply no need for an investigation, given that we know now with solid documented and uncontested evidence, that there is ONE controlling corporate entity behind everything associated with “Buddhist land purchases” in PEI – BLISS AND WISDOM INC.
Most Islanders – including our MLAs – likely have little or no sense of the Belt and Road initiative launched by Xi Ping, the head of China, many years ago. If they were to investigate, they’d learn of a new, sophisticated manner of ‘take-over’ that results in complete displacement of the welcoming, (but unsuspecting, and very naïve) host-land politicians following DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) programs and thinking, as has been the case in PEI
That first article in my new series came out the same day as the announcement of “new” investigation by Hon. Steven Myers. These subsequent articles will be very much shorter, and will build on that initial foundation which made observation of key facts which need to be acknowledged and allowed to ‘guide’ the establishment of the ‘Terms of Reference’ for the new IRAC investigation into Buddhist land holdings.
I have not yet seen those Terms of Reference articulating the parameters to guide IRAC in their investigation. But even before seeing them, it’s critical to reflect on their power, or lack thereof, depending on what the former Auditor General said about the government’s terms of reference for the egaming study put together by former Premier Wade MacLauchlan is worth recalling at this time:
“We did not conduct any audit work on MCPEI or any private companies connected with the E-gaming initiative, the loyalty card program or the establishment of the financial services platform. E-gaming was essentially a government project. Government allowed this project to operate outside the normal control framework of government. A local law firm provided legal and other services in relation to the E-gaming initiative. Government did not have a documented agreement that would address government’s right to access the records created through the course of their extensive work on the project. The firm would not consent to meeting with our Office and did not provide the information we requested. Therefore, we do not have important project management information in relation to the E-gaming initiative. E-mail accounts of some former senior government officials who were key participants in the E-gaming initiative, the loyalty card program, and/or the financial services platform were closed, deleted, and could not be recovered. We were not provided any e-mails or other government records for these individuals. We have received some records from other public bodies and sources external to government that should have been retained from these e-mail accounts. We requested from government all relevant texts including instant messages and PINS. There were none provided by government even though we were advised, and have evidence that some government business relevant to these files was conducted through these forms of communication.” (P. 46 of the report).
Not only were the parameters for that egaming investigation restricted, establishing boundaries regarding what could or could not be investigated by the so-called “independent” Auditor General’s Office, but with respect to getting the necessary information from government….well, that was pretty much a bust as well, with outright denials to the AG’s request, preventing the AG from discovering what really went on with egaming, although she did receive a lot of information from third-parties involved, including Paul Maines and disclosed more than what MacLauchlan was likely expecting.
Consider what Ms. McAdam was forced to write in her final report to justify not “getting to the bottom” of things. In fact, she felt compelled to include an entire statement of “limitations” on the study as an Appendix:
“We requested from government all relevant texts including instant messages and PINS. There were none provided by government even though we were advised, and have evidence that some government business relevant to these files was conducted through these forms of communication. Further, we were advised there were instances where interface issues were encountered with the archives of government’s e-mail system which led to electronic data being lost. Therefore, we could not determine if the information we received included all relevant government record (P. 47 of report).
Similarly, it will be the terms of reference that IRAC follows that will determine the outcome and substance of what is in the final report.
I completely stand by my initial article’s claim that a “second” investigation of Buddhist land holdings in PEI is unnecessary; however, after pondering the matter more carefully, I’ve come to consider that it is now entirely possible that new pressures are coming upon the provincial government as they move beyond their DEI (DIE – Diversity, Inclusion, Equity would have been a more-appropriate Acronym), and there may be a sincere push coming from within our own government, but likely from NEW people becoming involved, which is to say, that some of the “old-guard” who knew the truth all along but chose to remain “mum” with the government no doubt would love to keep things hidden under the table.
An honest assessment of the “status quo” with IRACs Operational relationship with the Buddhists
Whatever wording we find in the directive to IRAC can not rely solely on the new provision that was added to the Lands Protection Act which addresses “indirect” connections when assessing land totals. That’s a new provision in the ACT since the initial investigation that expands what can be considered, which is good, but again, useless if that scope is not utilized properly because of the foundational assumptions upon which the investigation commences.
In my first episode, I stated that “IF” Scott MacKenzie’s advice to the Standing Committee in October, 2019 is correct, i.e., that the legislation would need to change before IRAC could disclose any information about investigations to the government members, then to ask IRAC to investigate again would be pointless.
Turns out a major amendment to the Lands Protection Act happened shortly after Scott’s appearance that does provide exactly that power to the government to ensure that the outcome of any investigation by IRAC called by the Minister is provide in full to the Minister, who would then have the freedom to release it to the public:
Here’s what the old section said:
12. Investigations
(1) Where the Minister, upon request of a person or corporation, is satisfied that it is not in the public interest for the shareholdings of individual shareholders to be disclosed, the Minister may accept as sufficient compliance with the requirement for an aggregate land holding declaration under sections 10 and 11 a statement that indicates
(a) the aggregate land holding of the corporation certified by an officer of the corporation; and
(b) the names and addresses of each shareholder holding more than five per cent of the shares of the corporation. Idem
(2) Where the Minister, upon request of a person or corporation, is satisfied that it is not in the public interest for the shareholdings of individual shareholders to be disclosed, the Minister may accept for the purposes of an application for permission under section 4, 5 or 5.3, a statement that indicates
(a) the aggregate land holding of the corporation certified by an officer of the corporation; and
(b) the names and addresses of each shareholder holding more than five per cent of the shares of the corporation. 1998,c.79,s.11; 2014,c.5,s.11.
Here’s what the much-longer, new section 12 says:
12. Investigations
(1) The Commission may on its own initiative, and shall at the direction of the Minister, request information and authorize an investigation to be conducted in order to determine whether a person or corporation has contravened this Act or the regulations. Appointment of investigator
(2) The Commission may appoint a person to conduct the investigation under subsection (1). Powers of commission, investigator
(3) In conducting an investigation, the Commission and an investigator appointed by the Commission have, in addition to the Commission’s powers conferred under the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission Act and the specific powers set out in this section, all the powers, privileges and immunities of a commissioner appointed under the Public Inquiries Act R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. P-31. Production, retention of documents
(4) The person conducting the investigation
(a) may demand the production of and copy any books, documents, papers and records that in that person’s opinion are relevant to the investigation;
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ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS Prince Edward Island Lands Protection Act Section 13
(b) may retain any books, documents, papers and records produced pursuant to clause
(a), including the originals, that the person considers relevant to the investigation; and
(c) shall return any originals retained under clause (b) at the conclusion of the investigation. Report of investigator
(5) At the conclusion of the investigation, the person conducting the investigation shall provide a full report and supporting documents to the Commission, and the Commission shall provide copies of the report and supporting documents
(a) to the person or corporation that was investigated; and
(b) where the investigation was directed by the Minister under subsection (1), to the Minister.
Notwithstanding the legislative change giving more power to government to circumvent the previous blocks keeping information ‘confidential’ and out of everyone’s eyes, both the government and public, what the Minister “asks” for specifically will still set the parameters for the investigation.
The most “foundational” of all those parameters is the very foundation upon which the investigation will be launched – not the “goal” to be achieved so much as the assumptions upon which the course ahead toward that goal will be traversed.
The Need for IRAC to move beyond their “status-quo” assumption about Buddhists
Unless the Terms of Reference for the investigation specifically instructs IRAC to begin from the assumption that behind all land owned by Buddhists is one Corporation: Bliss and Wisdom Inc.
IRAC knows this is true, as does our government, yet have carried on with the fraud that all these many separate entities “incorporated” by the various groups under Bliss and Wisdom Inc. are independent.
There are new provisions within the legislation as well that give more scope to exploring “connections” between entities and individuals, both direct and indirect; however, if the “status quo operational relationship” that IRAC has had with these Buddhists groups remains unchanged – i.e. based on the lie propping up the circumvention of the Act and land fraud – then the grounds for suspicion that the outcome of the investigation will be disappointing.
In episode 1, I included a screen capture of the registration document of GEBIS identifying the monks as a subsidiary of Bliss and Wisdom Inc. That SHOULD be enough evidence of the fraud inflicted upon us since then, but for the purposes of showing just how extensive that fraud has been, the next few episodes will give concrete, documented examples.
The King government has been informed of many examples of fraud and has, to date, chosen to do nothing. Premier King and the Minister responsible have had no shortage of information about Buddhist fraud, how Bliss and Wisdom has FAR EXCEEDED the 3,000 acre limit for land holdings, yet have chosen to remain silent about the fraud, and take no action….until now.
That’s suspicious right-off-the-back just because it’s such a reflex move in the PEI political puppet playbook – when the heat comes on with an issue, INITIATE A STUDY, then make people sit down, shut-up, and wait. Hopefully an election will come along for the ruling Party before that “study” is complete.
Other grounds for being suspicious is just how “independent” the leaders at IRAC currently are! I already reported how Doug Clow was a signatory to a $1 million fraudulent loan that went to McInnis Cooper law firm AFTER THE EGAMING PROJECT WAS ENDED, against all the laws in place at the time (2012).
Kerri Carpenter has been a “senior” supporter of King since before he even became Premier, getting into a controversy for being on the PC executive, and “leadership issues committee,” when she rented her building to him for a campaign office. That office was expanded and became headquarters for his campaign for Premier.
Carpenter is one of a handful of “Intermediaries” allowed by our government to nominate immigrants under the PNP.
Kerri Carpenter joined Cox & Palmer in July, 2023.
Murry Murphy is on the provincial executive of the PEI PC Party AND is the a Managing Partner at Stewart McKelvey law firm.
Is this the pool from which an “investigative team” will be picked to put together a report? Some would say that since both the government and IRAC have known the truth about Buddhist land fraud and have ignored it – to the detriment of Islanders and the Island – these “connections” are too close, and to ensure the appearance of complete impartiality from government while undertaking the investigation, I hope there are competent researchers, auditors, etc., who will be found to conduct the investigation, and that they be given the full “independence” without interference or restriction.
Summary
I look forward to seeing the Terms of Reference, and will offer my opinion of them when in a future series article when I do.
In the meantime, I wanted to put out this little article to clarify the following:
- The province and IRAC know about the fraud, but have ignored it. A new investigation MUST have parameters that are founded on the foundational belief that hall Buddhist-related land purchases in PEI have Bliss & Wisdom Inc., as the ultimate “owner” in control of those purchases. Any “exception” (and they would likely be very rare, if there are any at all) would have an opportunity to dispute being included in those aggregate land holdings and disavow a connection with the Buddhists and Bliss & Wisdom Inc.,
- The PEI government has access NOW – and can disclose to the public as it pleases – information about how General Lu (see Episode #1) paid the property taxes of an untold number of corporations, nuns, monks, laypersons and himself WITH CASH. That’s how that first IRAC investigation was initiated: someone in the tax department went to IRAC to disclose information about the fraud. That was in 2014 or 15, but if that was the mode of payment being used in 2014-15, it’s likely it was also the mode in previ0us years. The province can see from THAT TRAIL all the connections with Bliss and Wisdom Inc., with the most powerful director paying for all those “separate” corporate entities and individuals out of the same pool of cash!
Also, something to consider is the enormous pressure now coming against Canada from Trump to tighten and secure borders. With the current issue with border security resulting in tariffs against Island products, perhaps THAT is exerting a big effect on how the King governments is viewing Chinese immigration these days, with Trump’s pressure on Ottawa trickling down to the provinces with expectations and, no doubt, directives to take action to better secure both immigration and the migration of foreign temporary workers and students, including here in PEI.
And don’t forget that IRAC – the agent now being asked to “get to the bottom” of this matter, has been fostering a lie operationally for years, and has had NO inclination to initiate a “second” investigation when it was given more powers with the latest legislation amendments, so vigilance in the public overseeing how IRAC precedes will be critical, starting with a demand that the foundation upon which the Terms of Reference given to IRAC be the truth about all the Buddhist land holdings on record being with the same corporation, Bliss and Wisdom Inc., with a 3,000 acre limit, and the many thousands of acres over that limit which they have been allowed to purchase over the years by politicians at Cabinet meetings approving what they knew should not be approved.