Sandspit regional district director Duane Gould says he's worried that the land use plan getting underway here could end up being a waste of time and money.
In fact, he compared the strategic land use plan to the federal government's gun registry program, saying it has the same potential for disaster.
"It will be worse than gun control," he said. "That was supposed to cost a million dollars, and ended up costing a billion."
Mr. Gould said he doesn't know how much the province is spending on the land use plan, which is supposed to get down to serious discussions in May, and take about 15 months to complete. The process is being co-managed by the province and the Council of the Haida Nation.
Mr. Gould said he is looking forward to learning more about the plan from Leah Malkinson, the process coordinator from the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Development. His main concern, he said, is whether it's worth spending time making land use decisions which could be made redundant by the Haida Nation's claim for aboriginal title to the islands, now heading for BC Supreme Court.
"I'm suggesting my heart's not in it," Mr. Gould said. "It could all go out the window with one court decision."