IQALUIT
There are a few ways to turn the tide on bootleg alcohol flowing into the capital and the territory and, in Paul Okalik's estimation, opening a beer-and-wine store in Iqaluit is not one of them.

So he quit cabinet.

On March 3, during the last session of the legislative assembly, Okalik walked away from two critical portfolios, Health and Justice, and the progress he was making in both departments, because the issue had reached a head with his fellow cabinet ministers.

During question period, another Iqaluit MLA was asking what is the holdup on opening the store.

Okalik was losing sleep. He told Nunavut News/North in a wide-ranging personal interview that making a decision on the beer-and-wine store issue was a long process.

"It is something I thought about long and hard because I knew that I had done some good work in cabinet. But, look, if you can't carry the day on such an important matter, then what's the use in assisting, in aiding in these types of decisions that don't reflect our territory?"

Okalik's position is clear - do not increase access to alcohol until supports are in place for the vulnerable.

"We can't just open a liquor store when we're trying to tackle these issues. To open up more supply of alcohol, when we already have issues with it, is something I could not support.

"I was pushing hard and working with my colleagues to lobby for a delay in opening a liquor store while we create more support," Okalik said. "Unfortunately it didn't carry the day."

Okalik's measured, lawyerly approach to solutions to addictions and bootlegging is nonetheless based in empathy and deep-seated emotion. He is, as he noted in the legislative assembly when he resigned, a recovering alcoholic of 25 years.

"I understand the challenge to try and battle this substance, addiction," he says, adding, "I was very fortunate to be able to get treatment and, at the same time, get family support. Then go south, shortly after my treatment, to study and get more support down there. I was able to survive without relapsing. I escaped the environment.

"I look at today ... we don't have those supports for those that need them."

Okalik's focus as a minister was to lay the foundation for more support for people needing it.

"The latest budget reflected some of that work for addictions support. But we're not done. And I was laying the foundation for a treatment facility, with local support throughout the territory for those in need after they come out of treatment and leading up to their treatment."

A discussion on changes he's accomplished as a minister during the last two and half years yields a substantial list, which includes working on civil forfeiture legislation to tackle bootlegging and drug-dealing.

"A lot of consultations took place to find the proper way of putting forward such legislation. I was planning on introducing legislation this spring to tackle bootlegging in our territory with the proper mechanisms in place. I was arguing this as part of the package - looking at treatment, looking at local support, looking at civil forfeiture," he said.

Those opposing his position on the beer-and-wine store cite several concerns with his bold exit from ministerial responsibility - a study which indicates offering beer and wine would reduce bootlegging and binge drinking, a plebiscite in Iqaluit with approximately 78 per cent of the voter turnout saying "yes" to a store, and that as MLA of Iqaluit-Sinaa he was ignoring the wishes of his constituents.

He addresses these one by one.

Regarding the 2012 report in which the Nunavut Liquor Act Review Task Force cited Greenland's experience of how restricting hard liquor in favour of liberalizing the availability of beer and wine resulted in a reduction in serious crime, Okalik says, "I view that as just another way of arguing for a liquor store. It's increasing supply."

He says an alcoholic will drink alcohol at the bar, buy their quota of alcohol at the store, and acquire more alcohol from a bootlegger.

"I don't see the point of that argument. For those that really are addicted, it will be increasing supply and demand."

Another confusing matter is that there are no limits imposed on individuals purchasing liquor import permits. It's not a secret bootleggers import a heavy, steady stream of hard liquor and sell it at inflated prices - which contributes to family violence, suicide and criminal activity.

Asked if the GN couldn't simply stem the flow by imposing limits, Okalik says he believes so.

"But it's (the Department of) Finance that issues the permits so they would be the proper people to ask: What are you doing?"

Further, Okalik scoffs at the April 20, 2015 plebiscite.

"Leading up to that plebiscite we made a cabinet decision that there would be no liquor store until we got the proper support in place. That was our decision," he said.

"Then the non-binding plebiscite takes place, after the consultations (in Iqaluit) - which were very difficult for the elders - consultations were unanimous in condemning a liquor store at this time. So the vote takes place, which is non-binding."

Of the 3,658 eligible voters in Iqaluit, 1,452 people, almost 40 per cent, cast a ballot, with 78 per cent, or 1,126, voting "yes" and 22 per cent, or 326, voting "no."

"Nobody really takes it seriously. For those that just really want it - show up. For those that are maybe against it or have issues - it's non-binding anyway," said Okalik. "I find that rather troubling. It was just another way of trying to support a liquor store in our community."

And the constituents who voted him in?

"No one in this assembly ran on a platform of opening a liquor store in our community. No one. No one promised. None of us got elected on the premise that we would open a liquor store," he said.

"So yes, there's an argument to be made but at the same time I had a duty, as a minister and an MLA for the territory, to serve all of the territory. And I found that rather troubling to rely on a plebiscite that was non-binding."

Shortly after the non-binding plebiscite, the path to a liquor store was paved - with an amendment to the Liquor Act. On June 3, 2015 the new regulations for a beer and wine store in Iqaluit were registered with the Registrar of Regulations.

Okalik is emphatic about the history leading up to his resignation, including the government's disregard for surrounding communities that might see an impact from a beer-and-wine store in the capital.

"In the last assembly, the minister responsible for liquor promised consultations - it's in the Hansard for the last government - saying that there would be consultations taking place before a decision is made on a liquor store. They would consult with other communities that may be directly impacted by a liquor store. I asked the minister, have there been any consultations? None."

His voice intensifies.

"I find that rather troubling that hasn't come about. That's in the Hansard."

To address this concern, Okalik wrote a letter to Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. vice-president James Eetoolook on March 14.

"I am confident that you will agree that substance abuse and addiction has had a devastating impact on our society, as evidenced by the shockingly high rates of violent crime and incarceration in Nunavut," he wrote. "I am also confident that you will agree that the government has a clear obligation under Article 32 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement to hold formal and meaningful consultations with Inuit prior to taking any decisions that will clearly have a significant impact on our society."

Okalik says he looks forward to a reply from NTI and to learn "what steps they will take to deal with this matter."

The first premier of Nunavut and long-time politician has no regrets about his path forward as a regular MLA.

"It's not really a decision I have an issue with because it's something I believe in and I've worked really hard to make sure that's reflected," he said. "There are other decisions I have not agreed with - but this one I could not just sit and pretend it's OK. As a regular member I will continue to press hard for treatment and other issues I feel strongly about."

Okalik would not discuss other issues he disagrees with - what happens in cabinet, stays in cabinet - but he said, "I think you'll see that I am not just a 'yes' person. I study each case, I work, and question each issue as it comes."

On March 10, days after Okalik's resignation, Finance Minister Keith Peterson, the minister responsible for the Nunavut Liquor Commission and the Liquor Licensing Board, stated in the legislative assembly, "We will be making an announcement in due course when we would open a beer-and-wine store."

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