Islanders will have a chance to voice their opinions about the Land Use Plan at a series of public open houses next week.
A draft agreement was initialed May 29, after several years of negotiation on the Land Use Plan between a variety of stakeholders. Most recently the plan has been in government to government negotiations between the Council of the Haida Nation and the province.
The initialed plan, known as the Strategic Land Use Agreement, targets an 800,000 cubic metres per year annual cut and new harvest standards known as Eco-system Based Management objectives.
Some logging companies have expressed concern at how much impact the EBM objectives will have on their ability to do business. But Agriculture and Lands Minister Pat Bell said that this version of the agreement has already received a lot of island-based support.
Now is the time for everyone to have their say on the initialed plan. Representatives from the Council of the Haida Nation and from the Integrated Land Use Management Bureau will be at each meeting to address questions and provide more detail on the agreement and the next steps.
The draft agreement, maps and other information will be available.
Dates are as follows:

Sandspit
Monday, August 13

Skidegate
Tuesday, August 14

Queen Charlotte
Wednesday, August 15

Port
Thursday, August 16

Old Massett
Friday, August 17

Masset
Saturday, August 18