NUNAVUT
Three alcohol education committees said they would like to get funding from the Government of Nunavut to carry out programming in their communities.

Members of the Minister's Task Force on the Nunavut Liquor Act Review visited with the hamlet council and the alcohol education in Clyde River. There was also a community consultation in the community Oct. 6-7. Thoughts and comments are being collected about how liquor is made available in Nunavut. - photo courtesy of the Hamlet of Clyde River

"We get no funding from the GN and it says in the act the alcohol education committees are supposed to educate the public but we have absolutely no resources to do so," said Steven Aipellee, chair of the alcohol education committee in Clyde River.

Members of the minister's task force on the Nunavut Liquor Act recently travelled to Clyde River, Qikiqtarjuaq and Pond Inlet to collect feedback from individuals and organizations at community consultations. Finance Minister Keith Peterson appointed the panel members in March.

This is the second round of consultations as task force members were in Rankin Inlet at the end of August listening to concerns from residents there. Esau Tatatouapik, MLA for South Baffin Fred Schell and chair Donna Adams were in Qikiqtarjuaq on Oct. 4 and Clyde River on Oct. 6-7 and Pond Inlet from Oct. 7-9.

MLA for Akulliq John Ningark was scheduled to attend but could not make it.

All three communities fall under the "restricted with an alcohol education committee" category meaning the committee decides how alcohol is controlled and consumed in the community.

Those who want to order alcohol in Clyde River, home to 820 people, have to apply through the committee and pay a $10 fee. An individual cannot spend more than $50 a month in fees.

Aipellee said the fees account for the only revenue the committee generates right now. SinceApril 1, that has amounted to $1,750. Ideally, he said the committee would operate on up to $90,000 per year to pay for the seven members to be compensated, office space and supplies. Right now they get a $50 monthly honorarium, he said.

The comments were similar in Qikiqtarjuaq where only 20 people a month out of a population of close to 500 can order alcohol.

"We are going to have to fundraise," said Billy Mikoalik, chair of the alcohol education committee in Qikiqtarjuaq.

He has served on the committee for close to four years. Residents do not have to pay for their permit but they might have to soon. Mikoalik said the committee is considering charging residents $5 or $10 for each order.

Adams said many people in all three communities spoke of better managed committees prior to 1999 when the territory was part of the Northwest Territories.

"There is a real lack of support," Adams said.

Committees had secretaries, office space and members received honorariums over a decade ago.

James Simonee, chair of the Pond Inlet committee, said it would be nice to receive an honorarium for all the hard work, time and effort the committee members put into helping the community of 1,300 people.

"The work we do in the meetings (is) stressful and it is not easy," he said.

Many residents thought the committees should provide counselling as well. Simonee and Aipellee said they and fellow members would like to, but they do not have the training. Adams said she agrees counselling should be offered to those who are affected negatively by alcohol.

Simonee and Aipellee also shared the concern that once the act is in place it is enforced.

In one of these communities, she said a young man asked if the task force could ban alcohol for two weeks after an alcohol-related death. Adams said she thought it took a lot of courage for him to share his thoughts but that is exactly what the consultations are meant for.

The task force's next stop is scheduled for Oct. 18-22 in Arviat, Whale Cove and Chesterfield Inlet.

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