New all-male liquor board

On Feb. 23 in the legislature, David Simailak, the minister of finance, announced the appointment of eight new board members of the Nunavut Liquor Licensing Board:

* David Wilman, Iqaluit (Chairperson)
* Hamish Tatty, Rankin Inlet
* Stu Kennedy, Iqaluit
* John Ningark, Kugaaruk
* Peter Peetooloot, Taloyoak
* Percy Kabloona, Whale Cove
* Ronald Tologanak, Kugluktuk
* Joshua Curley, Arviat

The members of the board will hold office for a period of two years.

The board controls the conduct of licence holders, the management and equipment of licenced premises and the conditions under which liquor is sold or consumed on licenced premises. The board also issues, renews, transfers, suspends or cancels licences, and will advise Simailak on all matters of policy and legislation relating to the sale and consumption of liquor.

“As Nunavut grows in population and sophistication, liquor issues will become more complex and I have complete trust that the new liquor board will meet the future challenges in a fair and unbiased manner,” Simailak said in his minister’s statement. “The new board is a mix of people from all walks of life, from hunters to business people to academics.”

However, the new board does not include any female members.