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'From day one there has been an issue'
Liquor act meetings continue as panel hears concerns from residents

Kassina Ryder
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 16, 2013

SAHTU
When Norman Wells lifted its liquor restrictions last year, it didn't take long before the decision's impact reached Fort Good Hope, says the community's chief.

"We've been seeing it from day one," Chief Greg Laboucan said. "From day one there has been an issue."

Laboucan said since the rationing system was abandoned in Norman Wells, Fort Good Hope has seen an increase in alcohol consumption, including underage drinking. Norman Wells has the Sahtu region's only liquor store.

"It opened up the doors for easier access to alcohol," he said. "Right now we're seeing our young people feeling the impact. It's easier for them to get booze, and we're talking 14- and 15-year-olds."

Fort Good Hope, Tulita and Deline hosted public hearings last week to discuss a possible amendment to the territory's liquor act, which would allow all Sahtu region communities to vote in plebiscites regarding liquor restrictions in Norman Wells.

A meeting in Norman Wells on Sept. 8 was cancelled, but is now rescheduled for Sept. 26, said Michael Nadli, chair of the standing committee on government operations. Members of the committee are visiting the communities and will report back to the legislative assembly. A vote on the act could be held in the fall session.

Yakeleya introduced the amendment, also known as Bill 24, as a private member's bill in June.

Laboucan said many residents of Fort Good Hope want the right to participate in future decisions related to issues they believe affect their community.

"We're hoping to get this bill passed," he said. "Lots of the community members definitely support the bill."

He said residents at the meeting raised concerns about the sheer amount of alcohol being brought into the community from Norman Wells.

"When people are bringing mickeys in by the case, it's hard to police that," he said. "It's hard to stop it."

Laboucan said while reinstating restrictions won't solve all problems, many residents believe it will help.

"A rationing system can help control some of the impact here in the community," he said.

Andrew Bailes said he and other residents believe Norman Wells shouldn't be held responsible for liquor-related problems in other communities.

"They have their own liquor system in place, they can ban liquor in their communities if they wanted to, they just have to hold a vote," he said. "They can set up their own liquor rules in their communities as they see fit."

Bailes started the petition calling for a plebiscite on liquor restrictions in Norman Wells in 2011. Fifty-three per cent of residents voted to lift the restrictions, which came into effect in early 2012.

Bailes said the town made a lawful decision and it should be upheld.

"This is a community that followed the legal process," he said. "At what point is the law the law?"

He said Norman Wells is a tax-based town and other communities in the region should not have the right to vote on decisions made in Norman Wells. Bailes added that if the liquor act is amended, it shouldn't single out the Sahtu region, but should apply to the territory. He said centres with liquor stores, such as Yellowknife and Inuvik, also have rationed communities nearby. He said those communities should also be subject to the act if amended.

Laboucan said an increase in alcohol use is creating problems among families and residents.

"The community is dealing with a lot more social issues," he said. "We're trying our best to deal with it."

One option the community is hoping for is a new treatment facility outside the community. Laboucan said he and council members are in the process of applying for funding to renovate a building on a property owned by Charlie Barnaby, an elder who formerly ran on-the-land healing programs at the site.

The area is about a 40-minute boat ride on the Mackenzie River from Fort Good Hope.

Laboucan said ideally, the facility would serve as a regional, culturally-based treatment facility for people with drug and alcohol dependencies.

He said when systems such as alcohol rationing are removed in the territory, the government needs to put more resources toward mitigating alcohol-related problems.

He said this is especially important now that the Nats'ejee K'eh Treatment Centre is shutting down in Hay River at the end of the month.

"If they're going to leave the rationing system open, the communities should be assisted with social and policing issues," he said.

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