Iqaluit MLA says GN must consult Inuit on beer-wine store

Paul Okalik resigned as minister of both health and justice last month in opposition to the government’s plans to open a beer and wine store in Iqaluit. The MLA says Nunavummiut across the territory should have a say in the issue. (PHOTO BY LISA GREGOIRE)

The territorial government has a legal obligation under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement to consult Nunavut Inuit before moving ahead with plans to open a beer and wine store in Iqaluit, says Nunavut’s MLA for Iqaluit-Sinaa and former health and justice minister, Paul Okalik.

Okalik, who resigned from cabinet last month in opposition to those plans, has said the territory needs an addictions treatment centre before a retail liquor store opens.

And he’s taken his argument to Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., calling on the Inuit birthright organization to ensure the GN meets its NLCA obligations.

In a March 14 letter to NTI Vice President James Eetoolook, Okalik cites Article 32 of the NLCA, which provides that Inuit “participate in the development of social and cultural policies.”

“I am confident that you will agree that substance abuse and addiction has had a devastating impact on our society, as evidenced by the shockingly high rates of violent crime and incarceration in Nunavut,” Okalik wrote in the letter to Eetoolook, tabled during the legislative assembly’s most recent sitting.

“I am also confident that you will agree that the government has a clear obligation under Article 32 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement to hold formal and meaningful consultations with Inuit prior to taking any decision that will clearly have a significant impact on our society.

“Unfortunately, I do not believe that such consultations have actually taken place.”

Neither Eetoolook, nor NTI has so far responded to Okalik’s letter.

NTI has not been directly involved in the issue, although the organization had a representative on the task force that looked at Nunavut’s Liquor Act — the same task force that recommended a treatment centre be in place before a retail beer and wine store opened.

Okalik acknowledged that while some consultation did take place in Iqaluit in 2014, Keith Peterson, Nunavut’s finance minister, also committed to the legislature in 2013 to consult neighbouring communities on the issue.

“There’s this prior commitment by the current minister to consult outlying communities before opening a beer and wine store that hasn’t been fulfilled,” Okalik told Nunatsiaq News.

“Before you actually commit to opening one, you may want to hear from the outlying communities about their concerns, about how they would like to see things in place. We’re getting a good feel that it’s not just an Iqaluit issue.”

The Iqaluit-based plebiscite held to gauge public support for the project saw a low turnout, at just 39 per cent turnout, Okalik noted, while the result of the vote was non-binding.

But 77 per cent of those who voted, voted in favour of the project, and Okalik said he still supports his constituents’ wishes.

“I resigned as a matter of principle,” he said. “I’m not opposed to a liquor store per se. But we need to have supports in place to prevent so much abuse of alcohol [because] we’re opening the door further.”

Paul Okalik letter to NTI VP James Eetoolool