Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 30/06) - A review of the NWT Liquor Act recommends that bars be allowed to open Sundays and holidays, if permitted by community bylaw.

While some may welcome the idea, Pastor Steve Donley of Inuvik's First Bible Baptist Church doesn't.

Julie Chartrand, a bartender at the Hay River Legion, likes the idea of Sunday bar openings as a customer, but not as an employee. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo PROPOSED CHANGES Sunday and holiday bar openings, if permitted by a community bylaw. Increase the maximum fines for bootlegging to $25,000 and/or 12 months for first offenses, and $50,000 and/or two years in jail time for repeat offenses. Minor infractions would be addressed by tickets, while major infractions would be addressed by Liquor Licensing Board hearings. Increase the maximum fines for major infractions to $10,000 for first offenses and $20,000 for subsequent offenses.

"I see this as detrimental to the people of the Northwest Territories - physically, emotionally, financially and especially spiritually," Donley says.

The pastor says his overall impression of the recommendations is that they propose "softening" the rules controlling alcohol.

Tom Jacobs, the manager of the Royal Canadian Legion branch in Hay River, says Sunday opening would be up to members.

"If the members demand it, then I'd give it a try," he says.

The Hay River Legion has only opened once on Sunday - for the Grey Cup game - under rules allowing six openings per year for special occasions.

Jacobs says the Legion was packed that Sunday, but adds, "If it was a regular day, I don't know how it's going to be. The only way to find out is by trying it."

One of the Legion's employees, casual bartender Julie Chartrand, says she supports Sunday openings as a customer.

"As an employee, I wouldn't want to work Sunday," she says.

The Liquor Act review, released last week by Finance Minister Floyd Roland, contains 38 recommendations.

One would allow customers to bring their own wine to licensed restaurants for and take home unfinished bottles.

James Wong, the manager of the Boardroom Restaurant in Hay River, says he would be concerned about that idea.

"If people take liquor in and out, it would not look very good," he says.

Don Kindt, chairman of the NWT Liquor Licensing Board, says in jurisdictions where diners are allowed to bring their own bottles, they bring expensive wine and order an expensive meal.

Kindt says there were no big surprises in the recommendations.

One recommendation would remove authority from the board to make regulations, he notes.

Liquor inspectors would also be given the power to issue tickets for minor offenses, while major offenses would still be heard by the board, Kindt says.

Overall, he says he was impressed with the recommendations. "I think the consultant did a heck of a job."

The Department of Finance is accepting comments on the report until Feb. 28.

A bill amending the NWT Liquor Act could be introduced in the legislative assembly by early 2007.

Roland said communities want more power under the Liquor Act, and that was one of the reasons why he ordered the review.

"Giving them the authority to makes some decisions in this area I think is something that's probably timely," said Roland.

The government plans to enact legislation to update the liquor act before the legislative assembly's term ends late next year, said Roland.