Beer and wine store in limbo
Politicians push for answers but approval remains pending
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Monday, March 7, 2016
IQALUIT
Municipal and territorial politicians came out last week asking when a beer and wine store will open in the capital but no firm answers came back.
The issue has been ongoing for years, dating back to a government task force on the subject and following a plebiscite in April 2015 in which 77 per cent of voters opted in favour of a beer and wine store.
In the spring legislative assembly sitting, the Government of Nunavut established regulations for such a store, but a firm timeline for its actual opening has yet to appear.
During question period in the legislative assembly on March 2, Iqaluit-Niaqunnguu MLA Pat Angnakak asked Finance Minister Keith Peterson directly why a government-run beer and wine store has not yet opened.
"As I recall, the idea behind opening a beer and wine store was a part of the final report of the minister's own task force to review the Liquor Act," Angnakak said. "That report identified binge drinking, especially binge drinking of hard liquor, as the greatest threat to people's health and cause of related social problems. Can the minister indicate where opposition to opening a beer and wine store is coming from?"
Peterson acknowledged the plebiscite and said since Canada is a democratic country, the government must listen to both sides.
"We believe, through the task force and all our consultations, opening a beer and wine store would offset binge drinking and would reduce profits to bootleggers," Peterson said. "There have been success stories from Northern Quebec. They have opened beer and wine stores in the last year or year and a half. To stand here and say where the opposition is coming from would be very difficult for me to point specifically at one group or individuals."
Angnakak again pushed for a clear timeline but Peterson responded that he can't provide one and, "All I can say is the matter is still under consideration by cabinet."
One of those cabinet members, Iqaluit-Tasiluk MLA George Hickes, told Nunavut News/North he respects the vote Iqalummiut took on the issue.
"I look forward to seeing under what parameters that this project will move forward, respecting the time and energy that Iqalummiut took to go to the polls and vote," said Hickes. "Whether it be a non-binding plebiscite or not, they took the time to voice their opinions or their vote."
Following Paul Okalik's resignation as minister of health over the beer and wine store, Iqaluit
Coun. Terry Dobbin pointed to the Nunavut politician's history in the territory.
"Mr. Okalik was premier from day one and premier for two terms, plus the minister," said Dobbin.
"He had ample time to get a treatment centre if he so desired.""But as we all remember, there was a treatment centre in Apex back in the '90s, but nobody really wanted to go to the treatment centre because of the stigma of needing help."
The city overwhelmingly voted in favour of the store, Dobbin said, and he thinks it will cut down on bootlegging and social problems while generating revenue for the government.
"With regard to alcohol, all those tax dollars are being spent down south," he said. "The GN is missing out on all those tax dollars that could be created in Nunavut for projects like badly needed infrastructure."
