SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
NWT taxpayers shelled out nearly $7,500 for two days of liquor board compliance hearings on April 23 and 24 at the Explorer Hotel where the only penalty assessed was a $100 fine.

Liquor Licensing Board expenses for April 23-24 hearings $3,191.10: Airfare $1,375: Honorariums $929.60 (estimate): Daily expenses $802.95: Accommodations $871.50 (estimate): Banquet room rental $340 (estimate): Advertising $7,510.15: Total Source: Liquor Licensing Board

The Raven Pub pleaded guilty to serving a man three beers at one time instead of the legal two at about 1:30 a.m. on a Saturday night in February.

Christopher Buchanan, the lawyer for the liquor board who works for the territorial Department of Justice, told the hearing that the liquor inspector followed the man back to his table where he gave one beer each to two friends and kept one for himself.

Buchanan told the four-member liquor board panel that the Raven Pub is a good licensee and it had not appeared in front of the compliance board for a violation in years.

Michael Enns, manager of the Raven Pub, testified the extra beer was a misinterpretation of the regulations by his bartender.

"It's been discussed with him and all our staff and we have made it very clear that one person can only be served two drinks at a time," Enns told the hearing. "We do everything we can and work hard at making sure our establishment complies with all the liquor regulations in the NWT."

Enns said he had no problem with the $100 fine.

Sam's Monkey Tree Pub was to appear in front of the board earlier that day but the single charge against it was dropped. Buchanan couldn't say specifically what the bar had been charged with but said it was dropped because there wasn't enough evidence to prove the allegation.

The next day, Coyote's Bar and Grill appeared in front of the compliance board. Buchanan told the hearing that the bar and owner Ed But were up on three charges, including allowing an intoxicated person into the bar, serving an intoxicated person and allowing someone to leave the bar with a drink. Those charges have not be proven. But told the hearing he didn't realize the seriousness of the charges and that he could lose his liquor licence for a period of time if he is found guilty.

But asked for an adjournment so that he could get a lawyer. Buchanan opposed the adjournment, pointing out But had known about the charges and the date of the compliance hearing for more than a month. However, the board granted But an adjournment; he is now set to appear before the board again on the matter on May 28.

The Raven hearing lasted about an hour while the Coyote's matter was dealt with in about 15 minutes.

The liquor licensing board forwarded its expenses to Yellowknifer for the two days of hearings, revealing an estimated total of $7,510.15.

Four board members participated in the hearings - two from Yellowknife and one from both Inuvik and Fort Smith. The latter two were provided round-trip airfare from their respective communities. A staff member from Hay River was also provided a round-trip flight. Total airfare costs were $3,191.10.

Honorariums for the four board members cost $1,375; per diems (daily expenses) for four board members and the staff member cost an estimated $926.60; it cost an estimated $871.50 to rent the banquet room for the hearings at the Explorer Hotel; it cost an estimated $802.95 for hotel rooms for the out-of-towners; and advertising the hearings cost $340. The liquor board forwarded its expenses about three working day after Yellowknifer asked for them.

In an e-mail, Glen Burns, director of corporate affairs for the Department of Finance, which oversees the liquor board, stated the board did conduct business over the two days other than the compliance hearings. The board always schedules hearings to coincide with other business to use the board members' time efficiently and reduce costs, he stated. Burns added that the board attempts to use its resources as effectively as possible.

Liquor infraction citations in the Northwest Territories must be brought in front of the board in order to be prosecuted, Burns stated.

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