Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Fort Smith (Oct 17/05) - The Royal Canadian Legion in Fort Smith has been slapped with a one-day closure and fined $750 by the NWT Liquor Licensing Board.

The punishment is for a Sept. 9 infraction. A liquor inspector found three people drinking in an unlicensed smoking patio attached to the Legion.

The Legion's licence will be suspended from 2 a.m on Nov. 3 to 10 a.m. on Nov. 4.

According to an agreed statement of facts, the Legion's patio was included in the licence for the summer of 2002, but that was not renewed.

"It really was an oversight," said Legion lawyer Lou Sebert.

"The Legion has treated this matter very seriously," Sebert said, adding the organization was embarrassed by the violation and the executive is redoubling efforts to meet all requirements under the Liquor Act.

"I think it will be very unlikely you'll see the Legion before you again," he said.

Sheldon Toner, the lawyer representing the enforcement branch, agreed it appeared to be an oversight.

Both lawyers suggested a small fine in the $500 range.

However, after deliberating, the board came back with the suspension and $750 fine.

Board chair Don Kindt said the onus is on licence-holders to know their responsibilities under the Liquor Act.

Kindt said the board is seeing more infractions involving smoking patios since the beginning of municipal and Workers' Compensation Board bans on smoking in public places and work sites.