INUVIK
A majority of people who spoke at a public meeting last week don't want to see bars in Inuvik open on Sundays.

About 60 people turned out for a public meeting Feb. 3 at the community hall to discuss the possibility of amending the town's licensed premises bylaw to allow bars to open on Sundays. - Sarah Ladik/NNSL photo

Of the 60 or so people who turned out to the community hall Feb. 3 to discuss the proposed bylaw change that would allow Class A liquor permit holders to serve alcohol on Sundays and Good Friday, 25 stepped up to the microphone to speak. Of those, 23 were vehemently opposed.

"I would be in the statistic of native children with a drunk parent coming home every weekend," Shane Gordon told councillors and Mayor Jim McDonald. "My children will never see me drunk. I'm certainly not the only child to ever deal with a drunk parent. I'm opposed to it in general. We don't need more of it."

The process was triggered by a request from Mad Trapper Pub owner Rick Adams. The bylaw amendment has passed first and second reading and will go back before town council Feb. 24 for a final decision.

Adams was one of two residents at the meeting who spoke in favour of the proposed change and said it was a matter of fairness. The other person speaking in favour is a Mad Trapper employee.

"I want to remind you that there has been Sunday opening for licensed lounges for 25 years," he said. "I just want the same business opportunities as these other people have had for 25 years."

Adams also said that his business is one of the most heavily regulated in town and that he has more riding on following those regulations than anyone.

"Stop the prejudice against the Trapper," he said. "Is it my clientele?"

Other speakers said it wasn't against the Trapper specifically, and some even took it so far as to say that all bars should be restricted further on the days they can sell.

"I lived with an alcoholic. It doesn't just affect the alcoholic," said Linda Cockney. "I was affected. I was abused. My children had to deal with it too . It's not just Sundays, if it's a problem we should close it on Saturdays, too."

Sheila O'Kane, one of the main proponents of the emergency warming centre, said she has been surrounded by alcoholism her whole life.

"The wisdom is prohibition doesn't work. That said, my first reaction was 'Oh my God. Enough already,'" she said. "Mr. Adams wants to increase his bottom line, I don't fault him for that."

Some argued that Sundays used to be - and should be again - days for families to spend together, being outside and taking time for each other, while some expressed concerns based in religious traditions. Others took a more direct approach.

"Booze is not helping anyone, unless you're selling it," said Tom Wright.

Mayor Jim McDonald said that he had a time in life where he too "enjoyed a few drinks" but ultimately stopped to better serve his family.

"What we're hearing tonight, it really comes down to family," he said.