Zero tolerance for public drinking, City of Iqaluit says ahead of festival, Nunavut Day holiday
NULC liquor stores will be closed Tuesday for Nunavut Day but offering taxi vouchers
The City of Iqaluit underscores its ‘zero-tolerance’ policy for public drinking in light of the Alianait Arts Festival and the July 9 Nunavut Day celebrations. (File photo by Jeff Pelletier)
There is “zero tolerance” for public drinking in Iqaluit, especially in city-owned spaces, residents were reminded Friday.
The City of Iqaluit issued the public service announcement one day before the start of the annual Alianait Arts Festival, which runs from July 6 to 9, and days before Nunavut Day on July 9.
Throughout the summer, the Department of Justice, RCMP and Iqaluit municipal enforcement officers are organizing random driver checkpoints to “ensure the safety, health and well-being of all community members,” according to the announcement.
Meanwhile, Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis Commission stores and offices in Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet will be closed on Nunavut Day and reopen July 10, the NULC announced.
The commission is offering taxi vouchers ahead of long weekends and holidays to stop people from driving while impaired, the Government of Nunavut announced Friday.
The vouchers will be available at NULC stores, licensed establishments and RCMP check stops in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet and Cambridge Bay.
Iqaluit’s efforts to limit alcohol consumption in public come as city council has pushed for tougher preventative actions by the RCMP.
In May, council voted unanimously to ask the RCMP to start confiscating alcohol from people seen drinking in public areas such as streets and parking lots.
Last month, the RCMP announced it will increase patrols and use ATVs to allow officers to reach less accessible areas of the city to enforce Iqaluit’s zero tolerance on drinking in public spaces.
“There is “zero tolerance” for public drinking in Iqaluit…”
This is zero tolerance? Meaning that is the way it is right now? So, how many fines have been handed out and paid? The fines on the sign in the picture, I mean. How do they ensure the fines are paid. If someone is perpetually unemployed and has no money to pay, what are the next steps? And who hands out those fines? Bylaw? They don’t seem to keep the hours that would allow for effective enforcement . Actually asking here.
Please, NN, find out how many fines were distributed after Nunavut Day. (Not pay, just distributed…) I bet zero is the correct answer!
Who cares about the tickets and fine. The RCMP under this law can seize open alcohol. While they cant pay a fine, these individuals already bought alcohol, if they value not wasting that money they wont drink in public. I hope to see the RCMP dumping out booze on the road side like prom night, that will stop this blatant open drinking.
Good!
If properly enforced, this should lead to a positive change of culture around drinking in Iqaluit.
Closed tuesday . Time to stock up
So how are they supposed to pay the fine?
We all know what kind of people are walking around drunk,
we all know their situations, fines will never get paid, lol.
The truth has been said here
Yup best to take away their B&W store access for a week or 2…..that’ll deter them. Fines don’t get paid in nunavut.
Who is that best for?
.
Seems like it will only really benefit the bootleggers…
.
Addicts don’t stop because of stuff like this, they just go through worse avenues to get their fix.
But a few days in jail may help.
thank you John Fanjoy
that guy
In my defence your honour, I thought the sign meant no public prostitution 🤑 Charges dismissed 🤙🏽 Party on Wayne🌎
Oh well, weed is legal. Party on people.
open the store man getting the shakes
You all need to read up on the Canadian law and stop watching American shows. There is no law in Nunavut for RCMP to confiscate open alcohol, unless there’s a criminal offence. I hate to say this but unless the people are causing any disturbance, open alcohol and public intoxication is not against the law in Nunavut.
Nunavut Liquor Act:
UNLAWFUL CONSUMPTION
92. (1) Except as provided by this Act, no person shall consume liquor in a public
place.
Evidence of unlawful consumption
(2) The possession by a person in a public place, other than licensed premises, of
liquor in any container other than
(a) a bottle that because of the condition of any seal or covering on the
neck or cap appears not to have been opened,
(b) a beer bottle from which the cap has not been removed, or
(c) a beer can that has not been punctured or opened in any way
is, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, proof that the person was consuming liquor
in that public place.
His leg is getting reaal stanky in that sign!
This should be applied to all not just the people who are stumbling around in the core but also drinking at a bonfire at road to nowhere or the summer excuse to drink in public of softball beers in the dugout.
It seems like we turn a blind eye when it is the white people
I think you must of drank too much, blind eye for white people LOL pffft this is the only place in the world where a murderer (Inuk) can get 2 years less a day in jail ffs. Go ahead tell me that hasn’t happened many times…
it has happened southern united states, not a day in jail cause its a black man and the guy was feared for his life, what’s his face, that kid rittenhouse, ain’t that right?