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Liquor Act changes ready for debate
Legislative assembly committee requires 50 per cent of Sahtu to ask for referendum

Laura Busch
Northern News Services
Published Monday, October 21, 2013

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
A bill that would allow all Sahtu communities to have a say in restrictions on Norman Wells' liquor store was discussed publicly by committee for the first time last week, and while concerns were raised, it seems Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya will not face major opposition on the bill.

Bill 24, An Act to Amend the Liquor Act, which was co-sponsored by Yakeleya as a private member's public bill, was brought before the legislative assembly's Standing Committee on Government Operations on Oct. 16.

Yakeleya started the meeting by saying this bill aims to address concerns about spiking levels of alcohol abuse, crime and bootlegging in Sahtu communities since residents in Norman Wells voted to lift all restrictions on its community liquor store in early 2012.

"The bill on its own does not bring back restrictions," he said. "What it does do is allow community members to make these decisions."

A vote was held in Norman Wells before restrictions were lifted, and the 113 votes in favour were enough. However, there are 2,680 people currently living in the Sahtu and they were all affected by the changes, Yakeleya pointed out.

"One hundred per cent of residents have to live with these decisions," he said.

The bill asks to change the current Liquor Act to allow Sahtu communities to request a public vote "to determine whether the voters in the Sahtu communities support the establishment, replacement, modification or cancellation of limitations on the quantity of liquor that may be sold to a person at a liquor store in a Sahtu community."

The committee has held four public hearings in the Sahtu on this act: in Tulita, Deline, Fort Good Hope and Norman Wells.

The purpose of last week's meeting was so that the committee could present its findings and proposed changes based on what it heard during the public hearings.

Concerns heard during the meeting included how this bill would affect restrictions at liquor stores in other communities.

Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche said his constituents are concerned about potential impacts this could have on the liquor store in Fort Simpson.

Theoretically, the bill could impact other liquor outlets that are considered regional liquor stores, said Yakeleya. However, the wording in the bill makes the changes apply only to the Sahtu region.

Range Lake MLA Daryl Dolynny said participants in the public meetings drove home the message that alcohol is causing major problems in their communities. However, he questioned whether the bill impedes on the rights of the people of Norman Wells.

Under the NWT Human Rights Act, no discrimination can be based on place of origin and goods and services cannot be denied to any community without justification.

Glen Rutland, legal council for the government, argued this bill does not infringe or dilute the voting rights of Norman Wells residents.

"People still have a vote that is counted," he said.

Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley agreed with Dolynny's concerns, and asked if Yakaleya was sure the increase in alcohol-related problems in the Sahtu were directly related to lifting regulations at the Norman Wells Liquor store.

Two things happened at about the same time, he said - the restrictions were dropped, and there was "an incredible upsurge in disposable income" because of the increase of oil development and jobs in the region.

Yakaleya drew from public input during community hearings to address this, saying the committee heard that the people want regional decision-making on liquor restrictions.

Despite the initial criticism of the bill, all proposed amendments sailed through committee. One major change was made - that in order to ask for a referendum, a minimum of three communities with a total population of at least half of Sahtu residents had to want it.

The bill is now being updated and will be sent to Committee of the Whole during this session to be debated. It is possible the bill could become law within the current three-week sitting of the

legislature.

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