Rankin Inlet (June 25/03) - Legion president John Hawkins is not in high spirits because their application for a club license could be decided by plebiscite.

That was the decision of the Nunavut Liquor Board last week.

"I think it's disappointing and I think it's a little bit absurd," said Hawkins.

The club license would allow the legion to set its own hours.

Currently those hours haven't been written into the application, but Hawkins said the plan is to open once a week, on Saturdays.

Under their current license, the legion is allowed to open weekly provided they are issued a special occasions permit.

"We are asking for the ability to open our doors without getting a special occasions permit," said Hawkins.

The rationale is the legion needs to pay for the new building they recently moved into.

Hawkins said they have to make payments on the building, regardless of whether it's open or not. Paying $4,000 for each special occasion permit is an expense they want to eliminate. Cost savings and a chance to earn additional revenue would also allow the legion to put more money back into the community, Hawkins added.

As well, it would open the legion building up to community groups wanting to use it for functions.

Hawkins said they have had to turn down groups wanting to use the buildings because it would have meant cancelling their own events.

David Akeeagok, assistant deputy minister of finance, said the plebiscite is being recommended because of discussions at public meetings.

"The responses we got from the public meetings in Rankin and the correspondence all were leaning towards wanting a plebiscite," said Akeeagok.

Hawkins believes that is because people don't have all the facts.

"There's a lot of misinformation about our application in the community," he said.

"I think people are under the impression we are trying to open a large scale liquor establishment."

Right now, he added, there are no intentions to open the club more than once or twice a week.

"It's the members that decide that and the members would have to staff it and nobody wants to be there five nights a week," said Hawkins.

However, under a club license, the legion would have the option to be open nightly when they renew their application annually.