With 184 signatures in hand, Cecelia Ayaruak presented a petition to close the beer and wine store to Rankin Inlet council Monday, Aug. 26.

SA国际影视传媒淚 only did this because I really love my beautiful community,SA国际影视传媒� said Ayaruak, standing and reading from her petition.

She talked about frontline workers being exhausted dealing with the perceived rise in social ills attributed to the beer and wine store, which opened late 2021, plus Elder abuse, underage drinking and other issues arising in the fallout.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou as elected people for Rankin Inlet, please consider this, because I am dead serious,SA国际影视传媒� said Ayaruak. SA国际影视传媒淚f it doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 go, I will do something with the community here in Rankin.SA国际影视传媒�

She said the problems from the beer and wine store are affecting everyone in the community.

SA国际影视传媒淲e all have to stand together and try and stop it,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Mayor Harry Towtongie responded that council is not in charge of the store and that the hamlet has advocated on the issue to the Government of Nunavut.

SA国际影视传媒淩ight now for us itSA国际影视传媒檚 a waiting game with the government,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Towtongie said he wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 sure how to deal with the petition but would be figuring that out.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e dumbfounded to figure out what to do,SA国际影视传媒� he said about the challenges with alcohol in the community. SA国际影视传媒淚t was bad, but now itSA国际影视传媒檚 gotten worse.SA国际影视传媒�

He emphasized to Ayaruak that the topic has been top of mind for the council.

Deputy mayor Martha Hickes said the pleas for the store to be shut down seem to be falling on deaf ears.

Coun. Kelly Lindell said she understands there are issues arising in town, SA国际影视传媒渂ut weSA国际影视传媒檙e also here to represent all of Rankin, and Rankin did vote for the beer and wine store.SA国际影视传媒�

She talked about wanting more public input from the community.

SA国际影视传媒淚f the majority want the beer and wine store, then I would want to know that before I decide to shut it down or keep it open,SA国际影视传媒� said Lindell. SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 want to sit here and make the decision for the whole community based on what I think.SA国际影视传媒�

Sales up, petition nonbinding

As of Aug. 31, sales at the Rankin Inlet beer and wine store were up seven per cent compared to the same time period in 2022, according to the Department of Finance, who elaborated that the best metric is comparing the sales of SA国际影视传媒渟tandard drinks,SA国际影视传媒� which better measures alcohol sold. By that measure, sales are up about six per cent.

In an email to Kivalliq News, the department said Finance Minister Lorne Kusugak and senior officials met with the hamlet in June to discuss concerns regarding alcohol use in the community.

SA国际影视传媒淩ankin Inlet hamlet council has since passed a formal motion to request an immediate reduction in the daily purchase limits by 50 per cent, and to review changing the storeSA国际影视传媒檚 operating days/hours,SA国际影视传媒� states the email.

SA国际影视传媒淔inance is currently working to address this motion from Council.SA国际影视传媒�

This past week, the hamlet forwarded AyaruakSA国际影视传媒檚 petition to close the store.

SA国际影视传媒淗owever, they did not make a formal motion or endorsement of the petition,SA国际影视传媒� stated the department. SA国际影视传媒淔inance will consider the petition as an indication of interest from some community members to close the NULC store.SA国际影视传媒�

The department went on to say there is no process in territorial legislation to close an NULC store by petition or plebiscite SA国际影视传媒� and store purchase limits canSA国际影视传媒檛 be changed by the store, NULC or minister either.

SA国际影视传媒淏ecause purchase limits are set in regulation within the Liquor Act, it would require Finance to prepare a legislative proposal to change the regulations and seek cabinet approval to make the change,SA国际影视传媒� stated the department.

SA国际影视传媒淎s mentioned before, Finance is currently working on a proposal to reduce the storeSA国际影视传媒檚 daily purchase limits. However, this process takes some time SA国际影视传媒� if approved, any changes would take effect at earliest by late 2023 or early 2024.SA国际影视传媒�

On a broader scope, the department is looking at instituting territorial limits on liquor imports from southern retailers and conducting a comprehensive review of the Liquor Act with the goal of making SA国际影视传媒渕ajor changesSA国际影视传媒� to how liquor is managed in the territory.