Bar Owners unhappy with supplier
Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Feb 09/01) - Poor service by the NWT's liquor supplier has prompted city bar owners to demand changes to the liquor distribution system.
Gordon Wray, part-owner of the Black Knight Pub appeared at a joint meeting of Yellowknife MLAs Tuesday night where he directed his concern to Joe Handley, Minister Responsible for the NWT Liquor Commission and NWT Liquor Licensing Commission.
"For God's sake, Mr. Handley, tell your people to talk to us, not swear at us, not to harass us," Wray said.
"There isn't a proper business relationship. We're never consulted, never asked our opinions, and the reaction is 'too bad.'"
The day before, the owners of most of Yellowknife's bars met and decided to form an association aimed at prompting short and long-term changes to liquor regulation in Yellowknife.
Black Knight general manager Willie Elder said his bar waited up to three months for a particular brand of scotch.
"If they were a private industry, they would have been out of business long ago, because we would have gone to a different supplier," Elder said of the liquor commission. Another bar owner said he would speak only on the condition that his name be withheld because he said when he has complained about delays in getting stock it has only worsened the situation.
"They're making product unavailable -- things that are standard for a bar, like rum and rye and Grand Marnier, but they're available at the liquor store."
The bars and liquor store get their stock from a central warehouse located near the airport. The warehouse is operated by Hay River Liquor Retailers, a private business on contract to the NWT Liquor Commission. Liquor commission general manager Ron Courtoreille said he is aware of only one complaint from Yellowknife bars about supply problems.
Three bar owners Yellowknifer spoke to said they have complained about the supply problem. They said a three-week drought on certain kinds of draft beer ended Wednesday.
"The warehouse blames it on the commission, the commission blames it on the trucks and the trucks blame it on the warehouse," said the bar owner who did not want to be identified.
Handley informed Wray he or members from his department would be happy to meet with the new association.
