The NWT government has ruled out closing liquor stores during the coronavirus pandemic, bucking calls from Indigenous leaders for territory-wide restrictions.

The move aims to avoid overloading the health system and emergency services with those struggling with addiction, Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek told reporters Thursday. 

Closing stores wouldn't necessarily end the gatherings and social harms springing from alcohol use, she said.

SA国际影视传媒淐losing the liquor stores doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 actually accomplish that goal wholesale,SA国际影视传媒� Wawzonek said. 

SA国际影视传媒淲hat (restrictions) can do is in fact make addictions situations worse. For people who are particularly addicted, it could turn to more dangerous, more problematic substances, even more unhealthy behaviours.SA国际影视传媒�

She said municipal and Indigenous governments may enforce temporary restrictions or temporary prohibitions on the community level, but didnSA国际影视传媒檛 rule out possible territorial action against bootlegging. There are 15 NWT communities with prohibition or alcohol restrictions in place before the pandemic.

Last Friday, Dene national chief Norman Yakeleya called for the territorial government to immediately strike a working group to tackle the issue and impose territory-wide restrictions.

He said action had to be taken at once.

SA国际影视传媒淲e cannot wait until Sunday, Monday. WeSA国际影视传媒檝e got to do it now,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭he motion speaks to Saturday. We have to know that this is how serious it is and that the chiefs have spoken.SA国际影视传媒�

Inuvialuit Regional Corporation chair and chief executive Duane Smith joined that call for restrictions in a news release on Monday, calling it a vital safety measure. 

Asked about the urgency expressed by the Dene Nation, Wawzonek said the issue would require a longer term response.

SA国际影视传媒淟onger term solutions wonSA国际影视传媒檛 happen in a day or a week,SA国际影视传媒� she said, acknowledging alcohol as a long standing issue in the NWT. SA国际影视传媒淭he longer term solutions are going to take more than that.SA国际影视传媒�

She added communities could adapt local police priorities to their specific concerns as needed.

Ten communities donSA国际影视传媒檛 have officers, however. In response, Wawzonek said those without detachments can still discuss and change matters with police.

More restrictions may come, minister says

Wawzonek left the door open for the creation of the working group requested by the Dene Nation, and an SA国际影视传媒渁mount of restrictions,SA国际影视传媒� particularly to tackle bootlegging. That said, she wanted to avoid restrictions on purchasing that would simply lead to consumers to making more visits to the liquor store.

SA国际影视传媒淚t would be to target those abusing alcohol or taking advantage of people who are addicted to alcohol,SA国际影视传媒� she said, adding she didnSA国际影视传媒檛 want to signal to those individuals what those restrictions would be right now. 

SA国际影视传媒淲e canSA国际影视传媒檛 stop all bootlegging,SA国际影视传媒� she said, adding legal, responsible consumption wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 a target. Suspicious purchases were more a concern, she said, but stopped short of specific measures.

SA国际影视传媒淚f I come out and say, weSA国际影视传媒檙e going to restrict A, B, and C. SA国际影视传媒� Then the very thing (bootleggers) are going to do is turn around purchase A, B, and C,SA国际影视传媒� she said.