SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A business owner's presentation to council has spurred the city to move toward allowing bars to be open on Sundays and holidays.

Colin Snow, left, and Jason Perrino, co-owners of After 8 Pub, are requesting the city pass a bylaw that will allow them to operate their bar on Sundays, Good Friday and Christmas Day if they choose. Right now the pub, which is classified a liquor-primary establishment, is only allowed to be open up to 10 Sundays per year. - Randi Beers/NNSL photo

Jason Perrino, co-owner of After 8 Pub, stood before council at Monday's Municipal Services Committee meeting to ask for the right to choose whether he operates his business on Sundays, Christmas Day and Good Friday.

After 8 Pub is a Class A, or liquor primary, establishment. According to the NWT Liquor Act, Class A establishments are restricted from operating on these days, with a few exceptions. However, municipalities have the power to pass bylaws on this issue that supersede the act.

In his presentation, Perrino explained there are a lot of rules regulating liquor in the NWT, but the same rules that bar him from serving alcohol on Sundays do not bar people from buying alcohol on Sundays. Minors can even legally access alcohol any day of the week, according to Perrino.

"You just have to follow the rules," he said, going on to describe - to the amusement of council - a hypothetical Sunday where a family takes their child out for birthday drinks.

"Did you know that on any day of the week, including Sundays, you can go to a restaurant for, say, your kid's birthday ... and you can order a glass of wine and you can serve it to your child," he said.

"The reason it's legal is because the law says children can drink alcohol when their parents give permission."

Restaurants are Class B liquor establishments, which means they are food-primary. As long as a person's food bill is larger than their liquor bill, they can order drinks on Sundays. Next, he said, this hypothetical family could head to the bowling alley for a couple games and some drinks.

"So long as you're paying for some bowling, you can buy alcohol," he said.

"And you can also buy one for your kid - it's a special day of celebration, after all."

Yellowknife's bowling alley, the Kingpin Bowling Centre, is a Class D establishment, which means an activity - in this case bowling - is the primary way the business makes money. Council was not only receptive to Perrino's request, several councillors were intrigued municipal bylaws supersede the NWT Liquor Act.

"You say bars can operate 24/7 basically and (The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs) is just going to say, 'right on'?" asked Coun. Niels Konge to Perrino, who nodded in affirmation.

"Very interesting."

Coun. Cory Vanthuyne echoed support for Perrino's initiative, citing a Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment survey of conference delegates from a number of years ago that came back saying the number one complaint from out-of-towners was bars aren't open on Sunday. Perrino agreed, noting the timing for this is good because the city is embarking on a tourism strategy.

"You're going to attract all these people just to piss them off on Sundays," he said.

Mayor Mark Heyck indicated this issue was already an action item as part of the tourism strategy and said administration will begin work to draft a bylaw that could be ready within weeks.

He added another point to the issue during Tuesday morning's media debrief.

"It's important to note not necessarily everybody will move to take advantage of this," he said.

"Right now, (Class A establishments) can operate 10 Sundays per year and not everybody takes advantage of it."

A decade ago the GNWT relaxed liquor laws somewhat after banning smoking in bars by allowing them to operate six Sundays per year if they choose. In 2008, that number was increased to 10. Perrino later said he was encouraged by his experience at city hall.

"I think it shows they're not a bunch of talker-politicians," he said. "They seem to really want to get things done."

Heyck estimates council could be debating a liquor bylaw as early as January.

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