Justice minister offers meeting with Iqaluit MLAs, RCMP on public drinking
Karen Nutarak acknowledges concerns raised in city council motion last week
In response to a motion from Iqaluit city council, Nunavut Justice Minister Karen Nutarak said she has asked her department to arrange a meeting with the city’s MLAs and RCMP to discuss public alcohol consumption. (File photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Nunavut Justice Minister Karen Nutarak says she has asked her department to meet with the RCMP and local MLAs to discuss public drinking in Iqaluit.
The issue came up May 31 at the legislative assembly when Iqaluit MLAs Janet Pitsiulaaq Brewster and Adam Arreak Lightstone asked how the Justice Department is responding to a motion made recently by Iqaluit city council to call on RCMP to ramp up enforcement against open liquor in the city.
The motion spearheaded by Coun. Kyle Sheppard also called on the GN, which contracts RCMP for policing, to contribute to a solution.
“As the entity responsible for supplying alcohol and enforcing the provisions of the Nunavut Liquor Act, we believe it is imperative that the Government of Nunavut takes decisive action to address this issue,” Mayor Solomon Awa said May 30 in a letter to the Justice and Finance departments.
Nutarak said her department is working to address the concerns brought forward by Iqaluit city council.
“I have asked the department to meet with the Iqaluit MLAs and with the RCMP, if you are interested, so you might be invited for a consultation,” Nutarak said in the assembly, in response to a question from Lightstone.
Brewster also asked about looking into the reasons why people drink in public and providing solutions to the underlying issues.
She highlighted that some people in Iqaluit may not have a home to go back to where they can drink in private.
“Is there a thought about creating a public space where people can go and drink the alcohol that they purchase at the beer and wine store that’s managed and supervised, and that’s not a bar,” she asked.
Nutarak said she couldn’t say what the department’s response would be to this idea, but that her staff is working with their “partners” on a solution.
Lightstone said he would be eager to attend a meeting with Nutarak once he receives an invitation.
“I would like to find out what the RCMP and the Department of Justice have planned,” he said in an interview after the May 31 sitting ended.
Lightstone’s Iqaluit-Manirajak constituency includes the beer and wine store and surrounding areas where people are known to consume alcohol publicly, and where there have been incidents of assaults, fights and thefts.
On the topic of some sort of “safe consumption site” for alcohol, which Brewster asked about, Lightstone said it’s something that should be discussed.
While he highlighted the need for better longer-term treatment programs, he said such a site could help get some of the overconsumption out of public spaces.
“I really believe that a place for homeless and near-homeless [people] to consume alcohol in a private area, a controlled environment, would be beneficial to the entire community,” Lightstone said.
“It’s terrible when women and children feel unsafe due to public intoxication 24 hours a day or hear arguments and fights at any time of the day.”
The best they can come up with so far is a BYOB bar?
how will they manage that?
Only in “None of it”. 😂🤣😱
“Is there a thought about creating a public space where people can go and drink the alcohol that they purchase at the beer and wine store that’s managed and supervised, and that’s not a bar,”
Sounds like a daycare for adult babies. Hope they give out free diapers too.
There are Liquor Stores all over the world and they don’t have the same issues. Look into that. It’s not the Governments fault, the accountability falls on the people themselves… I know I’ll get hate on this, but so be it!!
It is the government’s job to ensure the city is safe for those who are innocent bystanders.
At least stop and start pouring out their alcohal on the ground, im sure the loss of their booze will help
Drinking and rowdy behavior… what is there to say. In parts of the country there is a trend moving away from binge drinking, given time it will be coming here.
So how many can the RCMP house nightly in their drunk tanks. Considering NU already leads the nation in crime per capita the boys are pretty busy. Then the reporting, day in court, court staff judge. That’s one mother load of grief you got going there.
Basically, a day care for alcoholics?
JUSTICE JUN 3, 2024 – 2:41 PM EDT
“”Brewster also asked about looking into the reasons why people drink in public and providing solutions to the underlying issues.
She highlighted that some people in Iqaluit may not have a home to go back to where they can drink in private.
“Is there a thought about creating a public space where people can go and drink the alcohol that they purchase at the beer and wine store that’s managed and supervised, and that’s not a bar,” she asked. “”
Answer: Yes on Dog Island or in Brewster’s front yard.
I cannot believe she even asked that question. The town drunks have already found that place, Janet. SMH
Janet doesn’t even go around her own constituency. I live there. Never met her yet. She’s a total disappointment, doesn’t fight for us.
Those who are educated and skilled and engaged in or preparing for gainful employment seldom make trouble. And, when employed in well-paid jobs, they can also provide for their own housing. Societal dysfunction starts in early childhood, with parents and the school system failing their duty to next generations.
“Atleast get there names and ask where they live.” They must have a home. Since they are located in iqaluit. Send them home. To a bed.
The government has implemented new requirements for schools to complete a substantial amount of paperwork in order to organize day trips. The government has also removed morning prayers from schools, stating that religion does not belong in the workplace. Additionally, the government has imposed regulations against drinking or being under the influence of any substances while driving.
Furthermore, there are concerns about Brewster’s comment about providing a place for homeless individuals to drink. For instance, what if, due to intoxication, Jane Dole encounters her ex and they end up in a fight? Who will call the authorities in such a situation? Will this policy lead to an increase in the use of drunk tanks on a nightly basis?
Start a ban list.
Anyone who buys from the B&W store needs ID. So anyone drinking in public should have ID so its easy to create a “do not sell” list.
Detain anyone drinking in public.
1st offense, warning.
2nd offense, 7 day purchase ban.
3rd offense, 30 day
And so on…
Easy.
If you watch the B&W for an hour you will see why a banned list doesn’t work. There is so much bootlegging going on in the parking lot. People charge 6 beer or 20.00 to go in for you to get your beer if you are too drunk or banned.
Weed don’t have this stupid problem. You all should smoke weed. The government always tries to hold things down. The GN is like a big water tank with holes. Haha. It’s trying to maintain it all, but water seeps out through holes. Lol. It’s like Donald Trump poking a wasp nest with a stick and kim Jong un sitting at the table keeps saying do it again! The GN can’t maintain small time nunavut.
I think you are bang on! This is precisely what it is like! Psych, you’re whack…
To alleviate the drinking problem, you need to get to the root of why they are drinking in the first place. Inuit are still dealing with trauma and colonialism. Think about it, we were forced into permanent houses and towns from a nomadic life only about 75 years ago. That’s not very long ago.
To keep us in towns they took away our transportation, sled dogs. We were promised houses but they were poorly built or maintained. Now there’s not enough housing.
They relocated us from our ancestral lands to the high arctic, where there was no wildlife, they were not familiar with the land, they were separated from their relatives, and don’t forget the longer darkness in the winter. All in the name of “Canadian Sovereignty” so the Russians wouldn’t steal Crown Land. They wanted to say we were “Canadians” living in these places, yet they didn’t treat us like white Canadians.
Let’s not forget the assimilation and religious brainwashing through the religious missionaries and residential schools. They sexually, physically, spiritually, psychologically and emotionally abused children to achieve this. Their “education” was laughable, the children didn’t learn anything that would get them ahead in life. They just made them feel ashamed to be Inuk.
We need to take our pride back. For that we need security with more housing. We need to go back to the land, not permanently, but with subsidized resources to be able to go out on the land to hunt, camp and fish. Also more flexible working times, and more paid time off (two days a year is not even close to being enough), to be able to go out at key times of they year for Inuit, like spring and fall. Being out on the land is very healing.
Speaking of healing, we also need more mental health resources, with Inuit elders providing guidance to the patients and mental health professionals. Those professionals need to be trauma informed and educated about the history of Inuit.
Once you start addressing these issues seriously, then they would not have a reason for drinking, doing drugs, beating up their spouses, killing themselves by suicide, and so on.
WOULD YOU PLEASE STOP WITH THE COLONIST EXCUSE ALREADY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No, because we’re still feeling the effects of it, it was only one or two generations ago. Would you say what you did if you were not one of the Settlers? Let me ask you, are you an Inuk?
June/July 2024 are “Stop blaming Qabloonaaq” months and take responsibility for your own bad choices.
Keith Peterson is a non Inuk and rushed to open the said store which is causing all the grief and to now blaming the victims is trying to bury it.
Keith brought it forward, but the members of the LA voted for it . (the Majority Inuit) could have said no.
Let’s be honest here: people will drink if they want to. No one forces it on them. The majority of those who drink are 55 and under, with more young adults feeling that alcohol is necessary for fun. Personally, I was abused physically and mentally in my past relationship, but I didn’t turn to alcohol or drugs, nor did I blame my problems on anyone else. I acknowledge that I got myself into that relationship in the first place; no one forced me.
I feel that Inuit people are now more vocal than they were 20 years ago. Racism exists in all of us, even if we deny it. If not based on a person’s color, it will be based on something else.
The City of Iqaluit needs to address this issue and work with the Government of Nunavut, as the government owns the B&W store building and provides staff, allowing people to consume alcohol when they want.
The Government of Canada has spent a lot of money compensating those who endured abuse from churches and providing funding for mental health programs, such as taking youth and adults to the land for counseling and healing programs.
It takes a person to realize that what they are doing is not improving their lives and make the choice to quit drinking and taking drugs to better themselves or their family’s situation.
“We need to take our pride back.”
Says the person blaming everyone else for everything.
Pathetic!
Always someone or something to blame but yourself.
You are responsible for your own actions.
About time self accountability was taught in schools.
Are we looking into a crystal ball of Iqaluit’s wanted future? With the small request of an unnoticable “safe consumption site” ? Remember… “it’s just 2 weeks?”
Today it’s just… A supervised safe house for homeless people to drink to get drunk. With no worry will be cut off like at a bar because it’s all your own booze. Party on!
“Safe consumption site” sounds oh so familiar to B.C. back in 2003 when creating a “safe place” to consume hard drugs. Which has grown to 40 and 40 safe consumption sites across Canada. As have the complaints from residents and citizens across Canada about the safety and crime around the SCS.
Looks like Iqaluit’s “safe consumption site” isn’t a grass roots local idea. Popping out of the blue and into Nunavut’s MLA heads.
What’s the wait time to get on a detox program in Iqaluit? How many detox beds are available in Iqaluit? What percent of police call requests and percent ending in charges because alcohol related?
Please give up the colonial bag of excuses.
It is getting boring to paint all social evils on that past.
Look for the future and give up trying to find excuses.
In the North it is always someone else`s fault.
Please look in the mirror once in a while
Thank you
Throw them (drunks) into the Thunder Dome. Last man standing gets a beer.🤘☠️
There are no bars, or fences, no one guarding you or preventing you to move freely anywhere in this land. You want to return to the old ways which you believe will solve your problems who and what is preventing it. You are not restricted in any way to do whatever you want to do. Educate if you want return to the land if you want. Stop blaming 75 year old history. Freewill is exactly that if you have the courage to act.
I wonder if anyone at Nunatsiaq is actually moderating these comments? Ignorant and racist comments should not be included. CBC did the right thing when they turned off their comments years ago. SMH. Not sure I want to read Nunatsiaq anymore.
The irony isn’t lost on me that someone who pleads for censorship because they don’t like the comments, even though theyre upvoted, uses the term “settlers”. I never understood how someone born here, something that they didn’t get a choice in, is considered a settler.
If this place pops up, it will be a place for coccaine and other hard drugs. Nasty.
There will be hard drugs, fights, lewd activity, and not all of the babies will not to go down when naptime hits the daycare. Going to be rough.
If cops don’t want to arrest people they can at least send a few officers on patrol to dump out open liquor. Easy, and will make folks think twice before drinking in public.
The prospect of a BYOB Bar (a succinct description I’m stealing from an earlier comment) is the most ridiculous idea ever to have come from the Legislature.
Where are the Education Awareness Programs?
On Youtube.
What, Lightstone? You’re waiting for the minister to contact you? Come on, you can just approach the inherent minister.
A lot of people, homeless or not, start their drinking about 5 minutes after they leave the B&W Store starting around Baffin Gas Bar and they continue along, drinking their beer and some get together around Northmart and some may continue along and drink outside Arctic Ventures. You don’t see too many people drinking outside the Nunavut Legislative Building, RCMP Building, Nunavut Arctic College. You will see some people drinking as they walk along. Part of my point is that these people know that nothing much will hap[pen to them at these locations if they drink openly. Because of the relatively few public locations that people will drink at, the RCMP shouldn’t have any problems monitor and take action.
WAIT!! Didn’t I just read that the Justice Minister quit her post?
Close it I mean
Would sober elders have power to close the beer and wine store?. Would it be possible to create something like that and push the Government to close it?. Their are a lot of elders in Iqaluit. They can tell what has happen in the last 60 years. Not really like AA meetings and that would be the start being accepted from the public who are addicted. I have a dream the elders would have a power to sent the addicted to have the treatments they need.