MITTIMATALIK/POND INLET - Residents of Pond Inlet voted to keep the current liquor status in their community after a plebiscite was held May 17.

Restrictions limiting the sale and import of liquor have been in place in the hamlet for at least 10 years, said the hamlet's senior administrative officer Mike Richards.

Approximately 71 per cent of voters chose to maintain the health and social services committee, also referred to as the alcohol education committee. The committee determines who can purchase alcohol and how much can be purchased.

"The community at large has made a decision and that is what democracy is about: the majority rules," he said.

Richards said a petition circulated in the community of approximately 1,500 people and was brought to the hamlet office with more than 40 signatures. This was double the number of names needed to request a plebiscite. The Department of Finance received the petition in late January.

He said members of the community, social agencies and those working at the health centre had expressed concerns about how removing the controls on alcohol could affect the community. The day before the vote, Richards said community members were discussing the issue on the local radio station. Residents were not the only ones who were concerned.

"We had concerns that if Pond Inlet became an unrestricted community, then we may have had a substantial increase in violence and illegal activity," said RCMP Const. Robert Kellock, who works at the Pond Inlet detachment.

Kellock said RCMP members helped organize a meeting with representatives from several departments in the hamlet so they could voice their concerns. Letters from residents were collected and sent to Minister of Finance and Justice Keith Peterson who is responsible for the Liquor Act.

Voter turnout was just over 60 per cent. Richards said while a good number of voters turned up to the polls he said he thought it would be higher as it was a sensitive issue.

If community members collect the required number of signatures, another plebiscite can be held in three years.

Pond Inlet's last liquor plebiscite was held on Oct. 20, 1980, while the community was part of the NWT, said Chris D'Arcy, assistant deputy minister with policy and planning.