Les's brother involved in farm-property development

JUSTINE HUNTER Globe and Mail
VICTORIA -- It was once rich fields of corn; now the Rosebank Place land in Chilliwack is covered with sprawling, luxury homes. Just how the protected farmland - a property that was bought, subdivided and then sold by former solicitor-general John Les - came to be developed was the subject of scrutiny last summer when RCMP officers questioned staff at the provincial Agricultural Land Commission. "There was no search warrant; the commission is co-operating," Colin Fry, an executive director for the commission, said in an interview yesterday. The RCMP commercial-crimes section is investigating allegations that former City of Chilliwack officials improperly benefited from commercial deals involving land developments.Mr. Les resigned as the province's top law enforcement officer on Friday after learning he is one of the subjects of the probe, which began at least a year ago.

The Rosebank Place land is still technically in the Agricultural Land Reserve, but when RCMP interviewed several commission staffers last summer, authorities were particularly interested in whether any rules were bent to allow that property to be developed. "They were basically looking at application processes, Agricultural Land Reserve legislation and regulations, as well as looking at inquiring into whether or not we have had applications on certain properties," Mr. Fry said. "Subsequent to that, it has come to our attention the land has been subdivided with the apparent use now being rural residential lots." Although specifics of the investigation remain unclear, police also have interviewed witnesses regarding another Chilliwack property deal that involved Mr. Les and his brother, land developer Larry Les.

In 1997, while John Les was mayor, council rejected a rezoning application by the owners of an agricultural parcel at 10542 Bell Rd. After he left City Hall, Mr. Les successfully applied to have that parcel rezoned in 2000, and took ownership of it. Although Mr. Les said on Tuesday that he has had no business dealings with his brother, the city council minutes indicated Larry Les was the property developer. In an interview yesterday, Larry Les said he was initially involved in the development but later withdrew. "He is absolutely correct, we did not ultimately do business together in that sense," the Genica Development Corp. builder said. "Ultimately, however, I did come back in with a partner and buy some lots there from John." Larry Les said he believes the police investigation centres on a former city bureaucrat, and that his brother has been drawn in only peripherally. "Obviously, it's a sad turn of events for a person who values their good name and reputation," he said. "While this cloud is hanging around, it is obviously not something I'm sure John enjoys very much. Hopefully, it will be settled rapidly."

On the Rosebank Place development, Mr. Fry could not say whether any rules were circumvented. He said the commission rejected a request from the previous owners to rezone the property. After Mr. Les bought the land in 1997, while he was mayor, the City of Chilliwack approved an application to adjust the property boundaries. Mr. Les then sold the subdivided parcels, which were developed for homes. Mr. Fry said such boundary changes are within the city's authority - provided the goal is to create more efficient use of the land for farming. "Our legislation says that approval authority is in that circumstance given to the local government and the intent is to facilitate subdivision that enhances farming. "So why it was done? You'll have to ask the city."The city's top official, Mayor Clint Hames, refused to comment yesterday, citing legal advice.The former solicitor-general also had little to say yesterday. "I really don't want to be feeding into speculation. When this is done, I'll have lots to say."Mr. Les has maintained since Friday that he was careful to excuse himself from council decisions that affected him or his family.Police have not interviewed him, and he said he has no idea why he is being investigated. Until Friday, Mr. Les was the province's top law-enforcement officer, unaware that for at least nine months the police were investigating him.