The Land Conservancy of B.C. is seeking a court order requiring former staff and directors to hand over documents relating to the non-profit organization’s properties.
This request is being made because the financially troubled conservation group was surprised when documents it did not know existed appeared in the hands of third parties, said the latest report from Wolrige Mahon Ltd., the court-appointed monitor.
These documents “hampered” efforts to sell two properties, the report said. Any sale must be approved by the court because Victoria-based TLC is in protection from creditors.
Previously unknown documents were given to the Attorney General of B.C., John Shields, TLC’s director of operations, said Tuesday.
The monitor then asked former employees, executives, directors, and certain individuals to supply documents. No one replied to the request, the report said.
TLC will be in court in Vancouver on Friday on the matter.
If its application is successful it would mean if documents showed up later that could become a contempt of court issue, Shields said.
Money problems sent TLC into creditor protection in the fall of 2013, with debts estimated at $7.5 million.
To deal with the debt, the non-profit organization is trying to sell some of its 50 properties but opponents do not want to see land go into private hands.
So far, TLC has won permission to sell two properties. The historic Keating Farm in the Cowichan Valley sold for $749,000 and an owl conservation property in Oliver sold for $50,000. Conservation work is continuing on that land.
The monitor is asking for another extension to creditor protection, to June 25.
Also requested is the ability to keep certain information regarding some of its properties confidential as the sales process continues. Among one group of properties, the monitor estimates that between $2.1 million and $6 million could be netted through sales, the report said.
— Carla Wilson
