NNSL staff
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 05/04) - The NWT's battle with the bottle took another twist last week as the chair of the liquor control board resigned, blaming a "lack of support" by the territorial government.

John Simpson, of Yellowknife, announced he would resign effective April 9 after six years on the board. His present term was to expire April 13.

"Nobody said 'Hey you're doing a great job,'" said Simpson.

"(Government) would like to see things back to the way they used to be ... where everyone got a slap on the wrist."

His comments came after some several bars around the territories were fined and closed for various infractions.

Two of the most notable board actions were a three-month licence suspension for Frosty's Arctic Pub in Inuvik and a three-week suspension for the Right Spot in Yellowknife. Owner of one Yellowknife establishment, Gordon Wray even accused the board of harassment.

Finance Minister Floyd Roland said he was surprised by Simpson's complaint about lack of support.

"He was resigning based on personal reasons," said Roland. "He took the opportunity to thank me for creating an environment working with the board that seemed to be a positive one."

Roland, whose Inuvik Boot Lake riding includes Frosty's, said Simpson and the board had never before raised any "red flags" but criticized the board for overstepping its bounds.

"There's a role to play in how we interpret the rules and how they're implemented," said Roland. "Going beyond that and becoming a social advocate makes it very difficult to be seen as impartial."

Board making examples

Some regular MLAs welcomed the tougher stand being taken by the board, but not all saw Simpson's resignation as a cause for concern.

Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya said Simpson's resignation was "like a splash in our face. He said it was "about time" the board started handing our stiffer penalties to bars for violations of the Liquor Act.

"We have a moral responsibility to our communities to deal with the issue of alcohol abuse," he said. "Maybe we could have supported (the board) more."

Hay River North MLA Paul Delorey said the board was just starting to crack down on liquor violations.

"That hasn't sat too well with some businesses," said Delorey.

Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche said the board was under "strain and stress."

It was making an example of a couple of bars," he said, noting he believed the board had the support of government.

Bars and patrons around the territory had mixed reviews of liquor board actions.

Frosty's regulars said they believed the board went too far.

"It's totally unfair that Frosty's was singled out," John Heenan told the Inuvik Drum last week.

The closure put 10 employees out of work.

"I've got a job, but there's five out there who don't know what they are going to do," said server Rita Kovacs.

Frosty's closure has put fear in owners of other licensed bars in Inuvik.

"I'm not happy they shut Frosty's down," said Vince Brown, the president of The Mackenzie Delta Hotel group, which owns four local bars.

"I'm alarmed at their recent actions (of the liquor board)," said Brown.

"It seems that they can almost fabricate a reason to shut someone down," saying the closing of Frosty's has increased the inspector's scrutiny of other bars in Inuvik.

The liquor inspector or the RCMP are a nightly presence in his establishments, said Brown.

In Fort Simpson, one bar manager is happy with the once a week visits from the RCMP, who are currently performing the job of liquor inspector.

"I like for somebody to come in and check us out," said Nahanni Inn manager Patricia Rogers.

"In Yellowknife it might be different, and I don't know about other communities, but we don't have much of a problem," said Rogers.