Booze laws stay put in three of four communities

This week only one of four Nunavut communities – Baker Lake, Rankin Inlet, Kugluktuk and Resolute Bay – voted to change their local liquor laws in a keenly-watched set of plebiscites.

By deciding in favour of change, Baker Lake is expected to clamp down on the amount of booze that residents can bring in to the community.

Keeping to the status quo has a different meaning for the other three communities. No change means Kugluktuk won’t put any limits on the amount of booze flowing into the community, but Rankin Inlet and Resolute Bay will still try to control how much and where their residents may legally drink.

The plebiscites were held on Mon. Nov. 10, one day before the Remembrance Day break.

Until Wednesday afternoon when a Government of Nunavut press release was finally issued, many people in the four communities, including RCMP constables, GN staff, hamlet managers and workers at the addictions program in Baker Lake and the Wellness Centre in Kugluktuk – who all had a large stake in knowing the plebiscites’ results – still didn’t have a clue whether or not their communities had voted to change local liquor regulations.

At least a 60 per cent share of the vote was needed to effect any change.

In Baker Lake, with 294 valid ballots counted, 62.7 of those who voted said “yes” to the creation of an Alcohol Education Committee.

Alcohol Education Committees have the authority to determine who may purchase, possess or transport liquor into a community, and, in an effort to cut down on bootlegging and booze-related violence, Baker Lake’s committee is expected to place limits on the amount of alcohol brought into the community.

“People are still going to get booze, but even if it means there are two less conjugal assaults and some kids go to school with breakfast, it’s worth it,” said one resident who was pleased to learn the results of the vote.

In Rankin Inlet, a vote in favour of change could have seen the opening of a new bar, club or cocktail lounge in the community.

But Rankin voters opted to keep their current liquor regulations, so the only place where residents can buy booze will continue to be a hotel or guest house, and at special events, and no cocktail lounge or full-time Legion bar will be allowed to open in Rankin Inlet.

Voters in Rankin Inlet had to answer four questions. A total of 566 votes were cast and, to each question, more than 60 per cent voted “no” and to stick with the current liquor laws.

* Did voters want to get rid of the municipal law that controls beer sales in Rankin Inlet that says you need a guest room license or a special occasion permit to see beer? – 65.71 per cent or 368 people said no;
* Did they want the Nunavut Licensing Board to give out cocktail licenses? – 70.27 per cent or 390 people said no;
* Did they want the Nunavut Licensing Board to give out dining room licenses? – 65.65 or 367 people said no;
* Did they want the Nunavut Licensing Board to give out club licenses? – 63.62 or 355 people said no.

In Resolute Bay, voters decided to keep the Alcohol Education Committee, as well as the existing limits on alcohol.

Residents over 19 may now bring in 120 ounces of spirits a month, but they must apply through the committee first.

Out of 119 eligible voters in Resolute, 90 turned out. Of these, 67 voted to keep the committee and the community’s limits on alcohol and 22 voted to dump them. One ballot was spoiled.

According to one resident, the vote’s result was almost a foregone conclusion because 30 signatures had asked for the plebiscite and these were the people who voted for change.

“Many people prefer the way life is in Resolute today compared to 20 years ago,” said mayor Aziz Kheraj, who is a long-time member of the local Alcohol Education Committee.

In Kugluktuk, voters were asked whether to wanted to have an Alcohol Education Committee and a community-based law that would limit the amount of alcohol to either 96 cans of beer or eight litres of wine for a total of 120 ounces of spirits.

Of the 255 who turned out to vote, 102 or 32.5 per cent voted to have an Alcohol Education Committee, but 138 or 57.58 per cent said they didn’t want one.

There were 85 or 37.78 per cent of voters who wanted limits placed on the amount of booze, but 140 voters or 62.23 didn’t want any.

Several years ago Kugluktuk did have an Alcohol Education Committee. Speaking in the Nunavut legislature last month, Kugluktuk’s MLA, Donald Havioyak, mentioned his service on this committee.

“I think that it is important to keep that simply setting up a committee would not be a magical solution to the problem of substance abuse and bootlegging. It is important for people not to think that such a committee will solve all the problems in this area,” Havioyak said in the legislature. “Everyone has a responsibility to choose a healthy lifestyle… Remember that the best solution will start at home.”