Nunavut MLAs vote to ease restrictions on booze

A pile of seized vodka is displayed at an RCMP news conference in Iqaluit this past March. (FILE PHOTO)

Retail beer and wine stores, and the ability to legally transport more liquor into the territory without a permit came closer to reality May 16 when MLAs voted for amendments to Nunavut’s Liquor Act.

The amendments would also allow for the funding of “social responsibility campaigns” from the Liquor Revolving Fund and increased fines for contraventions of the liquor act.

But not all MLAs were in favour of the amendments: Bill 64, an act to amend the liquor act, passed with 10 MLAs in favour, three opposed and four abstaining.

Amittuq MLA Louis Tapardjuk, Hudson Bay MLA Alan Rumbolt and Nanulik MLA Johnny Ningeongan all opposed the amendments.

That’s because they want a full review of the liquor act and then have the next government undertake any changes, including the opening pilot project beer and wine stores are made.

“We are not meeting the hopes of people in my riding,” Ningeongan said, because his community had hoped for the entire bill to be reviewed.

“When the government began its term, they established the Tamapta Mandate, part of the work was to conduct a comprehensive review of the Liquor Act,” Tapardjuk said.

He said it makes alcohol more accessible and without a complete review of the entire legislation and not just some sections, he won’t support it.
Rumbolt agreed: “the task force went through great lengths to gather information, opinions and suggestions on the use of liquor in Nunavut, and I commend them for the work they have completed, however Bill 64 only reflects a few changes to the current act,” he said.

Akulliq MLA John Ningark was in full support of the amendments, as he travelled with the Nunavut Liquor Act Review Task Force to communities for consultations.

“We visited communities that we were able to visit. People came. We held community resource talk shows. We attended public meetings, elders came, rain or sun. People came. Women’s groups, young people, and it cost money,” he said.

The GN has said that it doesn’t want to change the current system quickly, a system that includes dry communities where no one can order alcohol, communities where drinkers can bring in alcohol with limits and a permit, and others where there are limits but still a requirement for a permit.

Abstentions from the amendments came from Baker Lake MLA Moses Aupaluktuq, MLA Hezekiah Oshutapik, Tununiq MLA Joe Enook, and Baffin South MLA Fred Schell.

The bill has been referred to a standing committee that will report back to the legislative assembly.