Iqaluit councillor floats possibility of temporary alcohol ban
Coun. Kyle Sheppard says 2-week prohibition is an option if RCMP don’t start seizing liquor from people drinking in the street
At Tuesday’s Iqaluit city council meeting, Coun. Kyle Sheppard said the city could consider a temporary alcohol prohibition if enforcement measures don’t curb public drinking in the community. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Iqaluit Coun. Kyle Sheppard floated the possibility of imposing a temporary “special” alcohol purchasing and consumption prohibition this summer if nothing is done to stop people from drinking at outdoor public places.
Sheppard mentioned the idea during Tuesday’s council meeting while proposing a motion asking the RCMP to take alcohol away from people who are imbibing in areas like streets and parking lots.
His motion also called on the Government of Nunavut to “contribute to a solution” by helping enforce the Liquor Act.
Councillors voted unanimously in support of the motion. Deputy Mayor Kim Smith and Coun. Harry Flaherty were absent from Tuesday’s meeting.
“There does not seem to be enough enforcement action being taken to curb this activity,” Sheppard said, remarking on the frequent sight of residents with open beer cans in parking lots and walking down the street.
Coun. Simon Nattaq echoed his support for the motion, noting the numerous empty beer cans littered across Iqaluit.
“They’re even drinking around the streets, especially around Northmart and other stores,” Nattaq said, speaking in Inuktitut through the city hall interpreters.
“Perhaps through this motion, we’ll be able to address it.”
The City of Iqaluit is limited in what it can do to enforce the Liquor Act, Sheppard said, and local bylaw officers don’t have the authority to seize open alcohol — an authority the RCMP does have.
However, Sheppard said, city council has the option to implement a “special” temporary prohibition if it wants to.
“By declaring a ‘special occasion,’ we can prevent the consumption and sale [of alcohol] for two weeks at a time, and we can do that three times,” Sheppard said.
Baker Lake is a recent example of that provision being used.
There, the hamlet council voted to prohibit alcohol for the last two weeks of 2023 and the first week of 2024 to coincide with Christmas and New Year’s.
“I don’t want it to come to that, but we need action to be taken to curb the things that are happening right now,” Sheppard said.
“I think some strict action in this regard, with the seizure of open alcohol, that message gets out pretty quickly.”
Earlier in the council meeting, Staff Sgt. Darrell Gill, Iqaluit RCMP’s detachment commander, presented monthly activity reports for March and April.
Last month was the busiest of the year with 1,002 calls for service, of which 547 involved alcohol.
There were also 65 Liquor Act offences in April, compared to 46 in March.
Sheppard asked Gill if the RCMP would be ramping up alcohol enforcement as the weather gets warmer and people are more inclined to drink outside in public places, especially around the beer and wine store.
Gill said they would, and that officers are doing their best.
“We see it as well, obviously with the amount of people that get arrested,” Gill said.
“We’re going to, certainly, up our patrols in, I guess, the hot areas where we see that activity for sure.”
Iqaluit is becoming North Battleford, ever heard or seen North Battleford? And… Iqaluit your are putting Thompson to shame, you took their most dangerous town in Canada title.
Where did you get this information ? ” Iqaluit your are putting Thompson to shame, you took their most dangerous town in Canada title “
Must be talking about Thompson Mb. Thompson Mb. was called the most dangerous town in Canada due to size of population. Town council had years ago decided to put the liquor store right in the Walmart parking lot right near the front doors. The drunk violence and litter tripled with in a month.
I see Nunavut is still the scariest place to live in Canada.🥱
I agree, dome days I would rather be out on the land with the Polar Bears than to be hanging out around some of our communities.
Iqaluit, not dangerous, I haven’t seen any of the homeless or semi homeless attack anyone physically. You perceived there is violence, there maybe some but not towards the public.
I guess you are not a walker. Iqaluit is dangerous, I cannot walk alone even on the federal road stretch without seeing some drunks. I, myself have been harassed a few times while walking home. I, and many of the iqalumiut should not have to endure this.
I do walk, no one bothers me, even if they are drunk, so have you been physically attacked or threaten? Most times if they are drunk they leave me and most people alone. I am sure you’re exaggerating a bit.
You need to a page out of the former mayor’s book and give them the left resulting in some stanky leg. Try it next time and the water is fine!
Prohibition works, ask the bootleggers!
Shepard is threatening to abuse a loophole in the liquor legislation in order to pick a fight with the territorial government. This community celebration provision from the 80’s was never intended to be used the way he is threatening. Abrupt and temporary bans are inconvenient for all drinkers but much more importantly DANGEROUS for people with alcohol dependency.
It is important to note this treating is ONLY Shepard, the resolution passed by council is not talking about a ban just enforcement of existing rules.
It is also important to note that even if there was a resolution from council, it would still be a REQUEST to the territorial government. There is no need for the panicked lines at the store, lucky for everyone Shepard is not actually the Supreme Leader of Iqaluit.
Mostly agreed, but with a small correction.
Council does have the power to pass up to three two-week bans as long as they claim it is for three different special occasions. See section 51.01 (1) of the Liquor Act.
Kyle has a history of justifying bad decisions simply by saying they are not technically illegal decisions. Just this year they ignored the election when filling the vacant council seat, and they sole sourced a million dollar contract which they knew they needed for more than two years.
Iqalummiut should be a little alarmed.
I know, how about police just start enforcing existing laws? It’s insane how lawbreakers run the show these days. It doesn’t have to be that way. Just enforce the existing laws.
It’s kinda hard to enforce a law that the justice systems simply pushes a side and allow people off without any repercussions. You want law enforcement to enforce liquor laws, ask your elected officials to put pressure on the justice system.
What do you suggest the judges do? Put them all in jail? Fine them?
This is the exact type of response used by the public. If the police can’t put people in jail or give them a fine, what do you expect them to do? There is no repercussions for the people who are causing these types of issue.
A bit facetious on my part, but, at the same time a legit question.. There isn’t a large enough drunk tank in Iqaluit is there? Fines are nice, but who is going to collect them. Fines are given for driving infractions in Iqaluit. But how many go uncollected? I don’t know the answer to the problem of public drinking, but!!
No, you force them to do community service. Free labor and they cant drink while working. If they fail that then jail.
And the RCMP stands over them to ensure it’s done?
“We’ve tried nothing, and we’re all out of ideas” – Iqaluit City Council
Let me Narrow the search area for the police “patrols”.
Disco side wall facing the beer store
Baffin Gas Bar
Coast Guard/Sealift Beach area
Northmart Tim Hortons
It’s not rocket appliance? Crime rate probably needs to drop to have time to snatch a drunk person’s bottle. Iqaluit people need to control consumption of alcohol. Limit their drinks. That’s not rocket science.
The triple parking lot behind 935 and the Qamutiq/Service Canada buildings gets pretty rowdy too.
NEW Boarding home,Near Container-Far Side from street, they sit there on the ground or just standing,back againts the New boarding home wall, or down the stairs of the 2 house facing Damp Shelter, just wished to add these locations
They really just need to ban people who abuse alcohol or are involved in crimes while under the influence from using the beer and wine store… problem solved..
I know of people , who were no allowed to drink , some out on parole , still sent family or friends out for beer or wine , problem still there.
Well ban them too if they buy alcohol for people who are not allowed to purchase it any longer.. Not a perfect solution but a lot better than what we are doing currently.. having no repercussions for those who cause the issues and trying to punish those who drink responsibly.
May 12, 2020:
“The bootlegging activity, like the arrests made in Apex last week, is far more detrimental and causing far more harm in our community with the hard alcohol than I believe we’re seeing from the beer and wine store, I would definitely support keeping the store open as is.”
The headline posted by NN is somewhat dramatic. The councillor was merely noting the city’s limited jurisdiction over public intoxication. And while it pains me to say this, Councillor Sheppard is right. The City has no mechanism to deal with this other than outright two-week bans on sales as per the act. (not that this would fix the problem)
Their bylaw officers also have no authority to confiscate open alcohol; this responsibility falls to the RCMP. Moreover, bylaw officers should focus on municipal offenses, not criminal violations. Ultimately, the Government of Nunavut holds the contract with the RCMP for local policing and needs to ensure they are held accountable for addressing this issue.
During Covid when nearly everything was closed… the B & W remained open as it was medically necessary for alcoholics. How could this ban be any different? I think the difference may be that those “making the decisions” are presently stocked up for 2 weeks and are okay with it going ahead. Explain… please. In other news, those going on medical and vacations just went through the roof
Look to the history of prohibition to learn how effective it was. In promoting bootlegging and other crime. Whatever you think, since the wine and beer store opened there had been a decrease in break and enters for alcohol acquisition purposes. Shut down the store and that will change. The city needs a different approach to addiction. Maybe work with Iqaluit Mental Health and Addictions to increase on the ground services areas of having virtual employees working from outside the territory and instead of hosting movie nights and community feasts actually provide treatment by qualified professionals.
Typical.
Drinking in public is already illegal. Are you going to make it EXTRA illegal?
This is just virtue signaling meant to pander to the prudes and busy bodies in Iqaluit who hate that the Beer store exists at all. Because they’re our most vocal and consistent voting block.
Another one of those 2 week bans to slow the spread….because the last one worked so well.
Maybe city councillors need to start going to the court house and see in real time that it doesn’t matter what the cops do because every single charge gets tossed….so it’s a waste of time and paper work with very little accomplished.
Finally some people are trying to do something about this out of control situation we find ourselves in due to the GN beer and wine store in Iqaluit!!! Iqaluit is not safe at all anymore. You see people openly walking around town drinking beer as if it was coffee or pop! And this is anytime of the day and night. They feel they can do that because they know they can get away with it!
I used to think that people in Iqaluit were mature, responsible drinkers compared to other places I have been in Nunavut. However, in the past few years, especially since COVID, public drunkenness and disruptive behavior from people walking by seems to have tripled. It doesn’t feel safe anymore to walk around with a child without worrying about being jumped from behind or being asked to go back home.
A two week long RCMP blitz on public drinkers with automatic confiscation of all alcoholic drinks found on their person would calm things down in a hurry.
think about it… the problem is people drinking outside bothering other people, itdoes nt make any difference where or when or how and from who they get theirs alchool, bootlegging or b&W, no different, they will get drunk anyway.
Isn’t this a bylaw issue? Perhaps the city needs a much, much larger force, and one that had around the clock shifts.
“Last month was the busiest of the year with 1,002 calls for service, of which 547 involved alcohol.
There were also 65 Liquor Act offences in April, compared to 46 in March.”
These numbers mean absolutely nothing. I bet $100 that 90% of these calls are the same 4 houses and the same 4 couples. This does not mean that out of a population of 9,000 people in Iqaluit this was 1,002 calls to different people. We can probably all name the 10 addresses were the cops show up all the time.
Stupid is that we are all affected because the numbers are “SOOOO BAD”.
Bring all those homeless people waiting for court or banned from their home communities back to their home!!!! alot of people mistake these homeless guys to Iqalummiut!!! Dept. of Justice stop dumping them here
Oh look, it’s Kyle Sheppard at it again.
Who voted for this guy?
The people who actually bothered to go out and vote that’s who!!! The people who were not drunk! Not sure if you voted but anyone who chose not to vote should not be upset their voice is not being heard!!
It’s good this is being discussed because it’s not even summer and it’s already bad! Women are being attacked and kids can’t play outside without seeing drunks being violent, arguments all hours of the night. Agreed the government has to be engaged in this given the fact they opened the beer and wine store. Honestly just try anything at this point, it’s going to get worse, do something before someone is murdered or raped. We can’t ignore the fact it’s gotten worse in Iqaluit because of the beer store, it’s how people are drinking is the issue. Hope the discussion and actions doesn’t get dropped, this needs to be prioritized.
Why not place local taxes on the sale? Why not double the price and put towards bettering the community? Only fair that the people causing issues pay for their fair share. When a beer is near the same price as storehouse, everyone wins.
In addition, let’s put a higher recycling deposit.
take people to the drunk tank if they’re intoxicated in public. levy fines for public drinking, or open containers in public. in Yellowknife, its a $230 fine if you are drinking in public or have an open container. bring it in, enforce it, consistently, people will learn. there’s no enforcement, does anyone care anymore?
Councillor Sheppard doesn’t care. He would have cleaned up the parade along the beach years ago if he did. This isn’t news. Our safety matters!
There is “zero” enforcement in Nunavut for anything anymore. There is no respect for the rule of law. For example, the wastage of meat, there is no patrols or enforcement action in any Nunavut community. Conservation officers are in popularity contests as they all use their positions to gain elected positions. Why would they enforce the law, the are thinking about the net election.
Nunavut, the land of the antisocial.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but. in Canada, anyone can live in any community they choose, including in the hamlet of Iqaluit.
If this enforcement does happen & when it does,
well the bootleggers will make even bigger profits.
So what can we do? It is not a win- win situation.
But something has to happen.
The people who will be most affected by this are those who need a daily drink. I still don’t understand why people who choose to drink daily do it. Why? Are you going through a separation, divorce, abuse, or grief? Why do you drink, and what do you get out of it? It’s only numbing the pain you might be feeling, and it’s costing you hundreds of dollars a week. It is likely ruining your relationships with others and your health, which you cannot get back if you damage your liver, heart, or stomach.
I don’t drink myself, so closing it wouldn’t affect me. However, I have seen the damage it has done to marriages and children’s lives, and it’s very sad to see those I know going through this.
Dear Nunatsiaq News,
I am writing to express my full support for Councillor Kyle Sheppard’s initiative to ban the purchase and consumption of alcohol in Iqaluit for six weeks this summer. This bold proposal is not only necessary but crucial for the safety and well-being of our community.
The streets of Iqaluit have become a battleground, marred by the scourge of public drunkenness and violence. It’s a heartbreaking reality when we can no longer walk our own streets without fear of confrontation or harm. The recent incidents of people mugging others outside the beer and wine store for cans of beer are just symptoms of a larger problem that is tearing at the fabric of our society.
I applaud Councillor Sheppard for having the courage to address this issue head-on. His proposal is not about depriving people of their freedoms but rather about reclaiming the safety and dignity of our streets. It’s about protecting our children from witnessing scenes of violence and chaos, and ensuring that every member of our community feels safe and respected.
I have seen firsthand the devastating effects of alcohol abuse on families and individuals in our city. I have comforted friends who have been victims of alcohol-fueled violence, and I have mourned the loss of loved ones whose lives were cut short by addiction. We cannot afford to turn a blind eye to the suffering that alcohol brings into our homes and communities.
By implementing this temporary ban, we have an opportunity to break the cycle of violence and addiction that plagues our city. It’s a chance to send a powerful message that we will not tolerate behavior that puts innocent lives at risk. It’s a chance to show compassion for those who are struggling with addiction and to offer them the support and resources they need to heal.
I urge the members of Iqaluit City Council to stand united in support of this ban. Let us put the safety and well-being of our community above all else. Let us show the world that Iqaluit is a place of strength, resilience, and compassion.
Sincerely,
Tommy
Would be nice if the judges actually stopped throwing out charges for things and actually started giving adequate sentences..
The Government of Nunavut created this disgraceful situation by creating the beer and wine store. How can the legislators that allowed this travesty face themselves in the mirror knowing that they are contributing to the moral degradation of the Inuit? Shame on the lot of them. They accepted the lies presented to them by the bureaucracy about how much revenue the government could make by operating a beer and wine store. And they drank the Koolaid without due consideration of the social harm that would be done, the beaten spouses, the neglected children, the blot on the community’s reputation as a safe place to live and raise a family. Close the beer and wine store permanently. Admit that it is dismal failure. Admit that it is not worth the price that alcoholics, families, and children are paying for the GN’s irrational quest for the almighty dollar. That’s what real leaders do – they admit their mistakes and accept responsibility for their actions. Close the store. Put money into rehabilitation and treatment. Then you can face the electorate in the next election with clear consciences and be able to point to your positive actions for the benefit of the electorate.
And find a way to stop the bootleggers. I have always supported the concept of putting a sniffing dog at the airport(s and cargo) to check for the booze and drugs coming into the community illegally.
Sorry I have to disagree with you Ken.
The City of Iqaluit is a match box that was built in an unstable foundation. Over the years it has been doused with tar, diesel, gasoline, and pressurized gas tanks are stored in there.
Over the years leaders have renovated it, extended it, made it look nicer and bigger but it was all built on a shady foundation so the structure is weak and in a constant state of disrepair.
This group of leaders did not build this structure, they may not have doused it with gasoline, they may have not even lit the match but this structure is on fire and has been for sometime.
These leaders are at a cross roads, and have a few options. 1. Do nothing and watch it burn to the ground slowly and painfully 2. add more fuel and watch it burn to the ground faster but still painfully, or 3. call the fire department to put out the fire and save what they can.
Maybe it is best to just let it burn to the ground cut our looses and move on and try and save Rankin Inlet before that community goes down the same path.
all those problems were hear long before there was a beer store … the problem is the culture of this place , we need to change it though reform. We need to give people alternatives other then just sitting around drinking. They need reasons to quit.They need counsel , they need programs and activityies , they need to understand why they do what they do … banning alcohol and punishing them will only cause even more problems down the road.Not an easy task but it would work .. change their views , Chang’s their habbits
The Beer and Wine Store makes it a little easier for people to acquire alcohol. These are most of the same people that would steal from an Elder to go and buy a bootlegged bottle also. It is not the avenues or accessibility to alcohol that needs to change, it’s how, when and why people consume alcohol. This starts with proper modelling in the home and community… and boy, we are a long way from that!
Iqalummiut acting like royals again. First you ask for a low cost city transportation. What do you say when you guys get one? Who’s going to wait 20 mins in the “cold” for a bus service? And when iqaluit homeless citizens and non homeless citizens start harassing other iqalummiut, you guys blame it on the criminals your correctional facilities handle. And you expect rcmp to snatch a bottle out of their hand, while your people beat each other up near death. Stabbing. Manipulative, selfish, narcissistic. Elder and child abusing criminals of iqaluit.
Nothing good ever comes from alcohol, slowly destroying families and the individuals. It’s very powerful and takes over your life.
Makes you delusional and pretend everything is ok when it is really not.
Pretends to give you courage and pretends to make you sophisticated, in reality it just takes more control of you and you start to not be able to go through the week or day without having to drink, just to get through your day.
There are so many functioning alcoholics here, way too many, it is why we have all these issues in this young territory, priorities in the wrong place.
Keith Peterson was the minister for liquor when he opened the beer and wine store. He is now the chair of the qulliq energy corporation. Why does he get a nice cushy job for creating this mess? Where is the accountability?
You’re about half right. Keith Peterson was finance minister when the beer and wine store was opened for trial period. It was actually George Hicks who was finance minister and made the announcement that it would be left open permanently. Give him a call, he is still a sitting politician in the legislative assembly.
counselling, support services, possibly education on the effects of alcohol given to all students, why are people resorting to drinking and all that.
Because there is a lot of trauma here, from forced relocations, sled dogs being killed and wiped out, forced to live in communities, residential schools, loss of culture and language, schools not representative of Inuit, colonialism, the list goes on, this is a fine example where the GN goes against what is needed in Nunavut and makes it easier to get alcohol instead of doing the right things, we have to ask ourselves who does the GN represent in Nunavut, it’s definitely not Inuit.
In every decisions there are expected and unexpected outcomes.
When GN announced plans to run a plebiscite to make a decision there was the expected outcome of a point of sale for purchase of limited amounts of beer and wine.
The unexpected results were public intoxication, charitable organizations like the Legion teetering on the edge of bankruptcy , beer cans thrown on the side of the road and public violence.
The mythology of GN is making huge profits was a pipe dream as so far have been the idea of a treatment center.
But the public spoke and now everyone in Iqaluit struggles with unanticipated outcomes.
“sled dogs being killed and wiped out, forced to live in communities”
Never happened.
Stop repeating revisionist garbage and read QIA’s own Truth Commission reports.
Do you think Rankin isn’t in trouble? B and W store, discussions about opening a liquor store. a murder last weekend.
I think Iqaluit and the GN is waiting for a murder to take place there, before any concrete action is taken.