GN to help Baffin hamlets brace for impact of beer-wine store

A view of Iqaluit’s aging liquor warehouse. Baffin mayors are counting on the Government of Nunavut to ramp up social responsibility programs and funding for alcohol education committees if a proposal to open a beer and wine store in the Nunavut capital, likely out of a space inside this liquor warehouse, passes this year. (FILE PHOTO)

(Updated 4:15 p.m., March 20)

Nunavut Finance Minister Keith Peterson told mayors of the Baffin region that, if a proposal to open a beer-wine store in Iqaluit goes ahead, his department would help their communities brace for the impact.

One of the finance department’s “big initiatives” of the year, “which may have some bearing on you, as communities of the Baffin region, is we’re planning on holding a plebiscite on a beer and wine store in Iqaluit,” Peterson told representatives of the region’s 13 communities at the Baffin Mayors’ Forum March 19 in Iqaluit.

Elections Nunavut used Twitter March 20 to announce that the beer and wine store vote will take place on April 20. To vote, you have to be a Canadian citizen, a Nunavut resident for the previous 12 months and 18 years old by April 20.

The plebiscite is non-binding, meaning it will not be the final deciding factor.

Elections Nunavut will organize and administer the vote, which is part of the government’s public consultation process to gauge support for the wine-beer store.

“We’ll return to cabinet after that, with a roll-up of consultations made to date,” said Chris D’Arcy, deputy minister of finance.

Only then will the government decide whether to open a store.

Many communities of the Baffin region have alcohol education committees, which administer restrictions on the importation of beer, wine and spirits into some communities.

The forum chair, Pond Inlet Mayor Charlie Inuarak, and other mayors, said the committees are typically strapped for cash, and asked if the finance department give added support for their operations.

“We are planning to provide more resources to the municipalities,” Peterson said.

Under a liquor revolving fund, the department has up to $500,000 approved for social responsibility programs, he said.

Peterson estimated the government is using less that $100,000 of the fund.

“We’re developing materials that we can distribute to municipalities,” including communities without alcohol education committees, he said.

The government’s liquor commission gives “administrative support” to alcohol education committees.

Peterson said his department may provide added funds to the committees though honoraria.