Talk about a case of premature declaration.

Two Parksville city councillors — Al Greir and Carrie Powell-Davidson — say they are in a conflict of interest over the proposed expansion of the city’s fire hall. Greir, because he is a neighbour of and pals with fire Chief Doug Banks. Powell-Davidson, because her husband and daughter are firefighters.

That’s two voices gone from any future debate over the scope and cost of the expansion.

Would a reasonable person think either of these councillors are in a conflict? No chance. And here’s why.

Powell-Davidson is the closest to a conflict as her family members are part of the fire department. Yet, they do not stand to gain financially in any way. Even if the project never goes ahead, her family will still be volunteer firefighters. And if the project does go ahead, there’s no reasonable expectation that translates into more pay for any member of the department.

Greir’s conflict, everyone admits, is only a perception. Of course in politics, perception is everything. Let’s remember, then, that Greir was elected for his stand on the fire hall — not to cancel the project, but to find ways to get it for a good price.

In fact, all city councillors elected last November were — and are — supportive of the expansion. That alone says the voters want this council to make decisions on this issue — probably the biggest one of the ‘08 election.

The bottom line is, the conflict of interest card was played too soon. Voters, who said last November they were OK with this slate of councillors, now find their decisions undermined by an overly-cautious, rookie mayor.

In a community this size, many people have fingers in many pots, so if councillors excused themselves from every perceived conflict of interest, nothing would get done.