Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Tuktoyaktuk (Aug 04/00) - Residents in Tuktoyaktuk are divided over plans to bring a liquor store into the community.

The proposition for the store was first tabled during municipal elections held last December. At that time, an opinion poll was conducted, asking residents if they wanted a liquor store opened in the community.

The poll results included 126 who said yes, while 76 said no, and a motion to begin planning for the store was passed by the hamlet council last January. Since then, however, the proposition has been mired in controversy.

"Instead of focusing time and energy on negative ventures, it would be better to focus on a swimming pool or a recreational centre," said Rosemary Lundrigan, a former resident who returns to her hometown regularly, but who now resides in Yellowknife.

"Too many people are going into the grave unnecessarily."

The move to open the liquor store was initiated by the local justice committee, who, according to Mayor Ernest Pokiak, felt that bringing a liquor store to the community would help curb the operations of bootleggers in the area.

Dorothy Loreen, a resident who organized a petition against the store last March, which collected 186 signatures, said the rationale behind putting bootleggers out of business by bringing in a liquor store was ridiculous.

"They think it will solve the problem but it won't," said Loreen.

"It's easy enough to order in your booze from Inuvik, but the people who drink don't understand that."

At a public meeting July 19 to discuss plans for the store, Loreen vented her frustration with the hamlet council. She said the opinion poll held in December was undemocratic and, like Lundrigan, feels that the money to open the store could be better spent elsewhere.

"They won't let us do anything about it," Loreen said.

"They had an opinion poll, but there was no vote (by the community). The whole town had no say.

"When I was on the school board we asked for years for a bigger school but they said they had no money, but now they have money for a liquor store.

"In Tuk, people have no gun control, people are shooting their guns around town. Their kids have no place to go when their parents are drinking. There's spousal abuse, elder abuse, children are neglected and hungry. People are killing each (other) because they're drunk."

Mayor Pokiak acknowledged there could be difficulties by opening the store, but said that the hamlet council is only following the wishes of residents based on the opinion poll last December.

"What I see with the opinion poll was that a lot of people voted for it," Pokiak said.

"If the people feel that strongly about it, there's an election in December and the people can be heard at that time. Yes, the process for the liquor store is in place but it can be shut down again.

"Families have to pull together and talk to their kids about alcohol."

While the motion to open a liquor store was passed, the proposal is still in the planning stages and no date for opening one has yet been set.