Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Sep 23/05) - The territorial government should repeal liquor rationing in Fort Simpson and allow the community to vote on the issue, Mayor Raymond Michaud said Monday.

"The method we were rationed was wrong," Michaud said after council received a letter from Finance minister Floyd Roland indicating the restrictions would probably continue.

"It was not democratically right."

Booze restrictions were placed on Fort Simpson several years ago by the territorial government.

The only other community in the Northwest Territories with forced rationing is Norman Wells, Michaud pointed out.

Coun. Tom Wilson agreed that while less alcohol in the community was preferable, citizens should be given the right to choose. "There should be a plebiscite. Let the people vote," he said.

Ewwwww!

Coun. Tom Wilson said he has received several complaints lately of a foul odour emanating from the Fort Simpson sewage treatment plant.

The smell of waste has wafted into homes around the plant within the last few weeks, he said.

"Why is that?" he asked Monday.

"Because it's a sewage treatment plant," said Mayor Raymond Michaud.

Senior administrative officer Bernice Swanson urged anyone who catches a whiff of the offending smell to contact the village office.

Wheelchair access

Councillors approved a steel wheelchair ramp for the village office Monday, which would become one of the few handicap accessible buildings in Fort Simpson.

"We need to make the public aware of (accessibility issues)," Mayor Raymond Michaud said.

Most buildings in the village of 1,200 have no wheelchair ramps.

That includes federal and territorial government offices, downtown businesses and the health centre, Michaud said.

He hoped other building owners would follow the village's lead.