Liquor board delays Uvagut liquor licence decision

MICHAELA RODRIGUE

IQALUIT — Proponents of a new bar for Nunavut’s capital will have to wait a little bit longer for an answer to their application for a cocktail lounge licence.

The Nunavut Liquor Licensing Board has rescheduled a meeting to consider the Uvagut Bar application.

The board had been expected to make a final decision on the application at a meeting this week.

But now the board members will meet Jan. 27 in Iqaluit.

The meeting was rescheduled to allow all board members to attend, said Delilah St. Arneault, the manager of licensing and enforcement for both the NWT and Nunavut liquor licensing boards.

St. Arneault said she expects a final decision will be announced after that meeting.

Iqaluit residents Elisapee Sheutiapik, Ross Bennett and Carmen Kootoo want to open a 130-seat bar, dubbed Uvagut, in Iqaluit’s West 40 district.

Their application sparked an outcry from residents who say that another bar will aggravate Iqaluit’s social problems.

The liquor board held a public meeting Dec. 2 in Iqaluit. Board members also met in private, but did not make a final decision.

Board member Thomas Kudloo was unable to attend the public meeting and will not take part in the final decision, St. Arneault said.