Yellowknife (Dec 18/06) - In the nearly two years since NWT bars were granted permission to open for business six Sundays a year, hardly any are taking advantage, according to the NWT Liquor board.

The six-Sundays-a-year policy was established after the board was inundated with "consistent requests" from bars, asking that they be allowed to open for special events on Sundays such as Grey Cup and Stanley Cup matches.

Dale Bardeau, general manager of the Black Knight Pub, says that after one bad experience of being open on a Sunday in March, the pub hasn't taken advantage of the Sunday option since. - Christine Grimard/NNSL photo

The NWT Liquor Board granted their request in early 2005, as long as establishments applied two weeks in advance.

Since then, however, only one-third of NWT drinking establishments have taking advantage of Sunday liquor sales, according to Don Kindt, liquor board chair.

He said it now appears most watering holes simply prefer to take the day off.

"Licensees want time off," said Kindt.

The Royal Canadian Legion is one club that has yet to take advantage.

Legion manager Lorne Power said although they have enough staff, and would most likely attract a regular crowd, the club doesn't want to push a vice for the sake of making a few more dollars on Sundays.

"The Legion is a members' organization, we do what's right for the community," said Power.

"Six days a week is enough."

Dale Bardeau, general manager of the Black Knight Pub, reported that the bar has only opened once on a Sunday and it was a bad experience. He has since decided not to do it again.

"If we're the only ones open, we get a few undesirables," said Bardeau.

He said that while allowing bars to open every Sunday would eliminate that problem, staff still might not be interested in being open seven days a week.

Jason Walpole, general manager of Boston Pizza, said his lounge has only opened on Sundays for special events like the Superbowl and large-party bookings.

With the limited popularity of the legislation, Kindt said NWT communities will soon be allowed to decide for themselves whether they want to allow bars to open on Sundays.

"We're looking at taking the decision-making to the local level," said Kindt.

Communities could then decide to limit all Sunday liquor sales, maintain the current system, or allow drinking establishments to open every Sunday.

Margaret Melhorn, deputy minister of Finance - the directorate responsible for conducting public consultations on the Liquor Act - said the revamped law would allow communities to control Sunday sales.