Licensed premises bylaw hears final pitches before deciding vote

The last voices from the public on whether to allow The Mad Trapper bar to open another 16 Sundays per year were all against the idea at the townSA国际影视传媒檚 committee of the whole meeting Monday, May 8.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think weekends should be a family time and a time set apart where parents can be with their children and their youth to encourage them and to see them become a healthy family,SA国际影视传媒� said Dave Dekwant, one of three residents who spoke at the meeting.
Mad Trapper owner Rick Adams brought the request to council, after a similar but larger request failed to pass last year.

Currently, Adams is allowed to open his bar on 10 Sundays of the year. His request is to add 16 more Sundays from April 1 to September 30. If the bylaw passes, it would apply to all Class A liquor licenses in Inuvik.

Dekwant said he does not blame one person for alcohol issues in the community.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 all of our responsibility collectively for the decisions that we make,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

He also mentioned the effects it would have on Tuktoyaktuk.

Kate Snow said she voted for councillors who would work toward the benefit and betterment of Inuvik.

SA国际影视传媒淎llowing this bylaw to be passed is fulfilling neither of these purposes,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SA国际影视传媒淭here are pros and cons. The weigh scale of economy, increased wages more opportunities (and) a variety for choices of activities are outweighed by my peopleSA国际影视传媒檚 health, success, happiness and sobriety.SA国际影视传媒�

Shane Gordon said having the bar open more will not help issues in the community.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e raising the next generation of probably future councillors who are going to be on the town council,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚f theySA国际影视传媒檙e not stable, whatSA国际影视传媒檚 that going to do to our community?SA国际影视传媒�

Gordon also said councilSA国际影视传媒檚 decisions would affect his vote in the next municipal election in 2018.
Mayor Jim McDonald, in his closing statements, said council has an obligation to respond to requests that come forth, and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 why the issue was brought up a second time.

If itSA国际影视传媒檚 defeated, it can come back again, and if it passes, heSA国际影视传媒檚 sure it wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be the end of the conversation, said McDonald.

SA国际影视传媒淚 personally donSA国际影视传媒檛 base my decisions on the next election, whether ISA国际影视传媒檓 going to win or not,SA国际影视传媒� added the mayor, responding to GordonSA国际影视传媒檚 comment.

SA国际影视传媒淎t this point I donSA国际影视传媒檛 even know if ISA国际影视传媒檓 going to run in the next election.SA国际影视传媒�

He said the decision in this case is not so clear cut because of the emotional aspect.

Coun. Vince Sharpe, who has been vocally against the proposal the entire time, told council the public gave a resounding no at both public meetings.

SA国际影视传媒淚 see no good from opening a bar on Sunday and allowing more drinking to happen on the street,SA国际影视传媒� said Sharpe, commenting on the number of people he saw on the street just that day.

SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 need to see that. I donSA国际影视传媒檛 want to see that.SA国际影视传媒�

Senior Administrative Officer Grant Hood explained that if the motion is defeated, nothing happens. If it passes, there will be a 30-day waiting period for it to come in effect, and then it cannot be changed for four years.