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UQSUQTUUQ/GJOA HAVEN
Gjoa Haven residents will decide on Sept. 19 whether to start allowing controlled access to alcohol in the community.

Gjoa Haven residents will decide on Sept. 19 whether to allow controlled access to alcohol in the community. The community has been dry since 1990. - photo courtesy of Stevenson Krug

If 60 per cent of voters vote in favour of the change, Gjoa Haven would no longer be a dry community. The last plebiscite dates back to 1990.

Senior administrative officer Enuk Pauloosie said the community will likely have a radio talk show on the issue to ensure people understand what a vote in favour of the change would mean. He will both seek and give input.

"I really have no idea what the outcome of the voting is going to be. There is quite a number of people that want it controlled and there are still people that want to keep it dry so it's hard to tell," he said. "I am being neutral about it myself."

Chris D'Arcy, GN deputy minister of finance, said the community submitted a 20-signature petition to Finance Minister Keith Peterson requesting the plebiscite. After verifying the signatures were from eligible voters in the hamlet, the minister consulted with his colleagues and MLA from Gjoa Haven before approving the plebiscite, he added. The hamlet was informed in late August, said D'Arcy.

"We're looking forward to the community of Gjoa Haven getting out and voting in the liquor plebiscite to see if they want to go from prohibited to restricted with an alcohol education committee," he said.

An advance poll will be held Sept. 12.

Elections Nunavut is running the plebiscite and results are expected that evening or the day after.

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