Finally, the debate came to a conclusion: Inuvik town council passed the bylaw allowing The Mad Trapper pub to open extra Sundays each year Wednesday, May 10.
The bylaw allows the pub to open another 16 Sundays per year during summer months, on top of the 10 it is already allowed. It was the second time Rick Adams, owner of the establishment, had brought the issue to council, and the second round of public meetings and debates about the issue.
Couns. Natasha Kulikowski, Kurt Wainman, Darrell Christie and Deputy Mayor Steve Baryluk voted in favour of the motion, with Couns. Vince Sharpe, Alana Mero and Joe Lavoie opposed. Coun. Clarence Wood was absent.
The vote didnSA国际影视传媒檛 seem to end the emotions on Wednesday night, though.
SA国际影视传媒淒isgusting,SA国际影视传媒� commented Sharpe following the vote, to which Christie took umbrage.
SA国际影视传媒淵ou heard me, totally disgustingSA国际影视传媒� responded Sharpe, before Mayor Jim McDonald intervened.
SA国际影视传媒淎s we said the other night, regardless of what happens tonight with the vote, life will go on in Inuvik,SA国际影视传媒� said McDonald. SA国际影视传媒淲e still have a duty to the communitySA国际影视传媒� Whether you agree with it or not, we still need to carry forth as an elected group.SA国际影视传媒�
The council meeting ended shortly after.
As councillors were stepping up to leave the chambers, a brief war of words ensued between Sharpe and Wainman, during which Wainman told Sharpe to SA国际影视传媒済o cry outsideSA国际影视传媒� multiple times.
A bit of an awkward silence fell as people shuffled out of the chamber.
Detox Centre moving forward
In the wake of the liquor debate, the treatment centre proposed by Joey Amos, manager of the John Wayne Kiktorak Centre, seems to be gaining support.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 not surprised that (the bylaw) got their approval,SA国际影视传媒� said Amos when asked for reaction.
He agreed with the argument that the bar opening or not wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 limit peopleSA国际影视传媒檚 addiction issues.
SA国际影视传媒淧eople will find alcohol on Sundays if they want to drink, whether itSA国际影视传媒檚 from the bootleggers or they save it from the day before,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 definitely a problem we have in Inuvik.SA国际影视传媒�
Amos has officially sent off the forms to have the Beaufort Delta Detox Centre established as a non-profit society.
Bobbie Jo Greenland-Morgan, president of the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Tribal Council, supports the detox centre proposal.
SA国际影视传媒淲e feel that, as leaders of aboriginal government of the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n settlement area, itSA国际影视传媒檚 very important we are involved, because the social wellbeing and the health of our people is interconnected to every file we work with,SA国际影视传媒� she said, naming economics, culture and more.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檒l rise to prosperity much easier when we have a healthy people.SA国际影视传媒�
The GTC had request town council vote against the licensed premises bylaw, but accepts the decision.
Greenland-Morgan said thereSA国际影视传媒檚 definite truth to the argument that people with alcohol issues will find their source whether or not the bar is open.
SA国际影视传媒淲e donSA国际影视传媒檛 argue against it,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淔or us, our point was having it open an extra day of course isnSA国际影视传媒檛 going to solve the problem, but it definitely isnSA国际影视传媒檛 helping either.SA国际影视传媒�
People who are suffering the worst canSA国际影视传媒檛 even afford to sit in a bar anyway, she added, but the message being sent by the town matters.
Greenland-Morgan thinks, in many ways, the problem of alcoholism in Inuvik has worsened over the years.
SA国际影视传媒淲orse in a sense too that when I was younger and growing up here, you didnSA国际影视传媒檛 see it so visible, like down mainstreet,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭hese are our friends and these are our family relatives. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 people we know and that we care about.SA国际影视传媒�
Some people may have the coping skills or family support to overcome addiction on their own, she said, but those deep into the addiction need real intervention, which is where she sees a detox centre coming in to play.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 sad because I believe everyone has a good side and everyone has value and a purpose, and sometimes when people tend to get so lost in addiction, they forget their own self-value and donSA国际影视传媒檛 think thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a purpose, so they just stick to the life of addiction,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
SA国际影视传媒淭here are people who are very knowledgeable and skilled on the land and in cultural ways of life. They can change their path and live a healthy life again, but they need a lot of help.SA国际影视传媒�
The GTC is trying to work with the Department of Justice to change some of the laws around bail payouts, bootlegging and drug sales, hoping to crack down on some chronic problems in the communities.
SA国际影视传媒淲e know of sales of propane, glue, paint, anything that they can make money off,SA国际影视传媒� said Greenland-Morgan. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 really concerning to know that there are people in the communities who continue to profit off other peopleSA国际影视传媒檚 addictions and misery.SA国际影视传媒�
