HALIFAX – Nova Scotia’s natural resources minister says he has withdrawn his application to buy Crown land following a political uproar from critics who said the transaction broke government rules.
Charlie Parker says he is no longer buying the 0.2-hectare strip of riverfront property that was next door to a home he owns in Pictou County.
“It’s been challenging for my family. I decided today I’m going to withdraw my application and that will allow the other 10 land owners in the queue to certainly move forward on their own merit,” Parker said.
Parker says he discussed the matter with his wife and they decided the bid wasn’t worth the negative controversy it has generated.
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“We followed all the steps along the way. I guess it’s the perception. It’s optics as minister. I’m in a different perception that ordinary land owners,” he said.
Earlier in the week, Premier Darrell Dexter defended the sale, saying the transaction was not unusual and Parker was not being treated any differently from private citizens who have previously bought Crown land.
Parker says he believes the application was done properly, had talked to the conflict of interest commissioner and had recused himself from the file since last winter.
It is general government policy not to offer Crown land for sale, but the Natural Resources Department said officials concluded Parker’s application was valid as the land was previously expropriated.
Parker says he and his family have not yet decided whether they will re-apply to buy the parcel of land.
– With files from Julia Wong
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