Cambridge Bay still waiting for beer and wine store, 9 years later
Hamlet residents want government-run store to curb bootlegging of hard liquor, MLA says
Cambridge Bay MLA Fred Pedersen says his community has received “no notices” on the Government of Nunavut’s plans to eventually open a beer and wine store. (File photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Nine years after Cambridge Bay residents voted in favour of a beer and wine store in a bid to cut down on bootleggers selling hard liquor, there is still no timeline for when a store might actually open, says Premier John Main.
Main, who is also the minister responsible for the Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Commission, provided little explanation for the delay while responding to questions from Cambridge Bay MLA Fred Pedersen in the legislative assembly Monday.
“To date, there is still no beer and wine store and no notices from the government or the commission on when one will open,” Pedersen said during a question period exchange.
“The main reason for opening one was to curb the illegal sales of high-content alcohol by bootleggers.”
Cambridge Bay falls under the Nunavut Liquor Act’s unrestricted system. That means access to alcohol is not prohibited in the community, and residents do not need the permission of a local alcohol education committee to make purchases.
However, residents are finding the current ordering and import process costly, slow and “frustrating,” Pedersen said, before asking Main to provide an update on the store’s progress.
Main said the government is learning from the experience of running stores in Rankin Inlet and Iqaluit “with an eye to developing a plan for Cambridge Bay.”
In a May 2017 plebiscite, 349 Cambridge Bay residents voted in favour of having the government open a beer and wine store while 71 were opposed.
The territory’s liquor commission is exploring “different options” for how the community’s store might operate, Main said.
They include opening a distribution centre with an attached store, a small store, or a private business selling on behalf of the commission.
“Those are the options that are being looked at, and we hear from the community that there is still interest in having something established in that community,” Main said.
“We are being informed by the desires of the community to see something move forward.”
Main also said he would “commit to having the commission work with the business community in Cambridge Bay,” as his department determines how a beer and wine store could operate.
Come on Freddy! Let’s be honest here — worrying about hard liquor while talking about opening a beer and wine store misses the reality of the situation. Most people in town drink hard liquor, and everyone knows it. Pretending a beer and wine store will somehow fix bootlegging is pretty naive when it doesn’t even address what people are actually buying. And if we’re really going to talk about substance problems in the community, alcohol isn’t the only issue people see every day. Hard drugs are already a serious problem in town, and focusing all the attention on beer and wine stores feels like ignoring the bigger picture. If leaders actually want to help the community, they should be talking about the real issues people are dealing with, not pretending a beer and wine store is going to fix them.
Cam -Bay elected someone to bring up the store that was promised LOL, Another MLA focusing on the real problems. “Where is the store we were promised” Wake up people, you’re MLA has real issue to deal with!
Makes one wonder if this was his platform running for MLA? “Vote for me and I’ll get the store in town”! I was blown away that this guy even got in!
Hard liquor being the drink of choice is just cargo economics. It is easier and cheaper when you have to order it in. Cargo cost is by weight, a flat of beer weighs 3 times as much as a 60 of vodka, and is only 60% the number of drinks. Per drink, you’re paying 5 times as much in cargo to buy beer.
If you’re a government institution that has the means to sealift beer in to sell at a store, then it’s a different story.
I think your missing the “WHOLE POINT” of the conversation.
You should have an MLA whom tables real problems, not being worried about A Store! Why did he promise you a store for a vote? We have a Camp for “Healing”, Table a possibility of getting a Treatment Centre for central Nunavut, Screw a beer store Freddy! Get my point Mr. Weight and Balance?
Be careful what you ask for from the GN, they don’t take responsibility on anything after it leaves its premise. No rehab facility, no public intoxication support for city, all the littering from residue of products of sales.
And when affected citizens raise the problems, the GN claims it can’t do anything without undermining all the progress made to date.
No idea what this progress they speak of is.
I’m not saying it’s the most shallow question to raise in the Legislature, but asking the Premier/Minister in the Legislature about a beer, wine store timeline that has been ongoing for 9 years has to come close to being the most shallow question ever asked in the Legislature.
I had opportunity to live in CamBay few yrs back. It was bad socially, now they want to ignite the fuel? The community can’t drink nor majority can’t handle their beer and their wine. Criminal ppl (gangs) from Yellowknife, Alberta or any other province will devour the community with ailments, family fabric will be torn to pieces. The author seems to be in rush to destruct his community and move on with his $$$ elsewhere to Canada. Addiction has no care.
What are you talking about? People can’t handle their drink? If you lived there, you should know people there drink for “DAYS” (not one evening) “DAYS”…..then try and go to work HUNG to the gills! It’s a party town…..not to sure what gangster you saw partying, but YEAH…..you move to Cam-Bay to Party not work, just ask anyone.
“FRED?” why not ask to expand the Healing camp you already have into a real facility rather then asking about a Liquor Store nine years later? Get real and ask hard question and healing first maybe?
Yes I suppose a beer store would be nice but I don’t really see it as a priority for Cambridge Bay at this time. How about getting a rec center so that everyone can get out and enjoy life more and stay happier by playing sports and even just going out for a swim just for fun.
The amount of crack and cocaine moving in Cambridge Bay, the addictions from hard drugs which is painful to witness from friends and family is incredibly difficult to hear about.
The Arena which has sat idle for the last 5 or 6 years? What’s the plan for this huge building former hamlet employees thought could be built for a fraction of true amount.
The water and sewer. Anyone who knows how many days would one go with toilets backed up and unable to clean your kitchen, let alone bathe knows the frustration of waiting 3, 4 and even 7 days without running water.
And your battle is a beer and wine store? Dang.
What a question, Cambridge Bay asking for a Beer & Wine Store? It’s old news and no longer relevant. Current issues: hard drugs and housing!
Well well well ,
Open this and have bigger issues later we see the facts in bigger effects,
Not so funny seeing issues of public intoxicated people walking around day after day ,
Wait a little longer Main get the facts findings what will the outcome be if the crime well lower down because of drinking sure is a problem in Iqaluit a d Rankin 🤔
LOL, Cam bay MLA has his priorities!! Your town is going to through the dumpster and you are worried about a liquor store. Get a grip Fred, open your eyes! I’ve seen the metal shack you call the arena, maybe ask about that instead, or more Family and Youth programs/facility’s??
Maybe even ask about having a Treatment Centre for Central Nunavut?
What a bonehead question, If I was a Cambridge Bay resident I’d be thinking about whom did we vote for??
Okay CamBay stop your whining and be thankful that you haven’t got a B&W store.
Do some research and some followup with the Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet RCMP and find out how they are doing with the availability of Beer & Wine everyday.