The provincial body in charge of regulating agricultural land is conducting its own investigation into a land-development deal involving former solicitor general John Les.

The inquiry by the Agricultural Land Commission is in addition to an RCMP probe that forced Les to step down as the province's top cop last week, after it was revealed he is the subject of an investigation into allegations he may have improperly benefited from a deal in Chilliwack, B.C., where he once served as mayor.

A senior official with the commission said its enforcement and compliance branch is investigating properties at the centre of the police probe, including one development known as Rosebank Place.

"Let's put it this way: Learning of the scenario, it wouldn't be in the best interest of the commission for senior staff not to look into it. Now, that would be senior staff to look into it and any others that come our way of a similar ilk,'' Colin Fry said Thursday.

"That would be with the sole intent of providing advice to our commissioners and also whether or not, or how to proceed.''

Fry said the commission provided RCMP with information last summer and will continue to co-operate with police.

"The RCMP had contacted our office, going back to the summer of last year, and we have freely co-operated with them and tried to provide what information they were seeking,'' he said. "And I expect that we would continue to do so, if asked.''

Les, who was mayor of Chilliwack from 1987 to 1999 and a city councillor from 1984 to 1987, has denied any wrongdoing.

Les has said he never benefited from land deals while in municipal politics. He said he always excused himself from any council decisions or deliberations involving issues that may have involved himself or family members.

The Agricultural Land Commission is an independent provincial Crown agency whose mission is to preserve agricultural land and encourage and enable farm businesses in B.C.

Fry noted there are administrative remedies that the commission chair can order under current regulations for violating the act.

"The fine is zero to $100,000 per occurrence,'' he said, adding that the chair must take into consideration whether there has been a similar contravention by the individual, the gravity and magnitude of the contravention and whether the contravention was deliberate, repeated or continuous.

Also to be taken in consideration is "whether there was economic benefit derived'' by contravening the act.

Under the act, the chair also has the discretion to order re-mediation of the agricultural land, including the removal of buildings and structures.

If, on the other hand, the commission sends the case to court, a conviction can carry a fine of up to $1 million and or a jail term of up to six months.

"That's not to suggest that this is applicable in this case,'' Fry added. "But as I said, management here at the commission believe that with matters coming to light, it would be prudent to look into the situation to provide advice to the commission''.

Agriculture Minister Pat Bell refused to speak specifically about the case, but agreed to talk generally about the role of the commission, which he said functions in a quasi-judicial fashion.

"The numbers, in terms of exclusions, are extremely low,'' he said, referring to applications that allow for land to be taken out of the agricultural land reserve. He said that exclusions are at historic lows.

"About 1,400 hectares in the entire province came out last year,'' he said.

"I think, really, this government has a record second to none and I can demonstrate that quantifiably in terms of exclusion rates.''

Former solicitor general Les, meantime, continues to represent his Fraser Valley constituents as the MLA for Chilliwack-Sumas, shuffled in the legislature from the cabinet benches to a seat immediately beside his replacement, John van Dongen, another Fraser Valley Liberal.

However, Les' seat was empty for Thursday's sitting. Aides said Les had contracted the flu and was absent due to illness.