Iqaluit beer and wine store won't open this year, minister says
CBC News | Posted: October 26, 2015 2:37 PM | Last Updated: October 26, 2015
Gov't says it wants to put programs in place; MLA says it's unfair to make people wait
It doesn't look like Iqaluit will be getting a beer and wine store any time soon.
Cabinet still needs to approve the pilot project, and now Nunavut's finance minister says that won't happen this year.
In April, Iqaluit held a plebiscite on whether the city should open a beer and wine store, and the results were overwhelmingly in favour.
"We recognize and respect the decision of the voters," said Finance Minister Keith Peterson in the legislature on Friday.
"We have decided that before we proceed that we would work with some of our fellow departments and that they would be given time to put programs and policies in place."
George Hickes, the MLA for Iqaluit-Tasiluk, questioned what programs Peterson was referring to.
"I didn't appreciate the lack of clarity on what direction or what parameters are needed to continue with," he said.
"What conditions is cabinet having an issue with? Let us know, let the people know."
Hickes said it's unrealistic and unfair to delay the opening of the store until a new alcohol treatment centre is built.
He said the only way to really know how the store will impact the community is to open it.
"It's a pilot project and we were all aware that there was going to be ramifications of a beer and wine store opening, but until it opens how will we know what the issues are going to be?"