Yellowknife (Mar 31/04) - The head of the NWT Liquor Licensing Board has resigned due to a lack of support for the board's policies and concerns for his personal safety.

John Simpson will officially step down on April 9th, ending his six-year tenure as a member of the board that oversees drinking in the territories' licensed establishments.

Simpson was unhappy with what he characterized as a "lack of support" for the board's policies among the NWT's top law-makers.

"Nobody said 'Hey you're doing a great job,'" said Simpson. "If they had, then things would have been different."

During a public meeting in Yellowknife last October, the board resolved to hand out stiffer punishments for offences like overcrowding, over-serving and underage drinking.

But board members have drawn fire from the hospitality industry for a series of lengthy license suspensions, including a three-month closure of Frosty's Arctic Pub in Inuvik and a three week closure of Yellowknife's Right Spot.

But the territorial government offered little support for the board's new policies said Simpson.

"They would like to see things back to the way they used to be... where everyone got a slap on the wrist," he said.

With Simpson's term set to expire April 13, board members met with Finance Minister Floyd Roland -- who oversees the board -- and asked for an extension.

"His response was guarded," said Vice Chair Liz Danielsen.

Simpson later said that he didn't expect to be re-appointed.

Yellowknifer was unable to contact Roland before deadline.

Simpson also said a series of contentious hearings made him -- and other board members -- worry about the fallout that could surround lengthy bar closures. "I had concerns for my own safety in relation to potential decisions we could make," he said.

Simpson, who owns his own business, said time commitments to the board -- up to several days per month -- was another reason for his decision to step down.

"My work has suffered," he said.

Other board members congratulated Simpson on his six-year tenure and said he would be missed.

"There are some big shoes to fill," said Wayne Smith.

Ultimately, Simpson said he enjoyed his time on the board despite ongoing frustrations with the territorial bureaucracy. "We were just trying to make a better society," he said.