Iqaluit to vote on opening beer and wine store
CBC News | Posted: February 2, 2015 7:52 PM | Last Updated: February 2, 2015
Non-binding plebiscite could happen as early as end of April: GN
Nunavut's cabinet has decided to hold a non-binding vote in Iqaluit on whether to open a beer and wine store in the city.
Non-binding means the results of the vote wouldn't automatically mean a beer and wine store would or would not open in Iqaluit, but cabinet would take the results of the plebiscite into consideration when making a decision about direct alcohol sales in the community.
The store would sell beer and wine but not hard liquor or spirits. There is also a proposed daily purchase limit.
Nunavut Deputy Finance Minister Chris D'Arcy says he'd like to see the non-binding plebiscite take place in late April or May. D'Arcy says it could happen as late as mid-June but they want to hold it before the summer.
"We wouldn't want to run a plebiscite where the results would be suspect, or everyone was out camping so there was no particular point in doing it, rendering those results kind of meaningless," he said.
Bryan Pearson said he is happy the government is holding a plebiscite. The long time Iqaluit resident says bootleggers have flourished since the former liquor store closed in the 1970s.
"The community was always divided by wets or drys, and the drys have a very loud voice," he said. "But I think in this case, the wets will probably prevail. I certainly hope so."
A public meeting was held in October in Iqaluit on the issue where most speakers were against opening a beer and wine store, many citing the problems in the city when Iqaluit used to have a liquor store.