Yellowknife North MLA Cory Vanthuyne says it's about time the NWT Liquor Licensing Board bellied up to the bar to explain itself.

He intends to raise the issue of how the board has handled a request to let the NWT Brewing Company distribute its own beer when legislative assembly resumes Sept. 18.

SA国际影视传媒�I have no choice now,SA国际影视传媒� said Vanthuyne, who added heSA国际影视传媒檚 been working behind the scenes to address several different bureaucratic headaches the NWT Brewing Company has run up against in its two years of existence.

Yellowknifer previously reported the board denied a request from the Explorer Hotel to receive keg deliveries directly from NWT Brewing. Instead, the hotel must purchase and pick up the beer through the liquor commission's warehouse on Old Airport Road, where administrative and warehouse fees are tacked on. NWT Brewing co-owner Fletcher Stevens estimates these fees, coupled with a 67-cent-per-litre beer tax, drive the price per keg to about $100 more than what major breweries are able to sell their kegs for in Yellowknife.

Vanthuyne acknowledged a mandate set by the 18th Legislative Assembly to promote and support small business.

SA国际影视传媒�It is our job to do that,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淎lmost every corner (NWT Brewing has) turned since day one starting this company, they have ran into a roadblock. Every single road block that they've ran into has been a territorial government one.SA国际影视传媒�

The liquor board has remained mum on its decision, declining to elaborate to the public or even privately to Stevens.

SA国际影视传媒�In order to maintain its impartiality as a quasi-judicial administrative tribunal, the board does not grant interviews to the media on any subject,SA国际影视传媒� stated Valerie Daniels, administrative assistant with liquor licensing and enforcement in an email. Both Daniels and Jaimie Graham, general manager and registrar with the board, responded to inquires with links to legislation.

That lack of transparency is one of the things Vanthuyne plans to address at the legislative assembly.

SA国际影视传媒�No one's able to get a straight answer out of them because they won't speak publicly as to why they take their particular positions,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚t's like throwing a rule book at somebody.SA国际影视传媒�

Finance minister to step in

Finance Minister Robert C. McLeod, whose department oversees the liquor board, said a review of the boardSA国际影视传媒檚 guidelines and legislation is already underway.

SA国际影视传媒�We're overwhelmed with guidelines and decision-making processes that haven't been looked at for some time,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e're working with the liquor board and we're also having our legal department look at a couple options. We're hoping to have something in place by the end of the month that would address the brew pub's concerns.SA国际影视传媒�

He added his department would be reaching out to people involved for input on how to modernize the boardSA国际影视传媒檚 enforcement and decision-making processes, to make them SA国际影视传媒渁 bit more transparent.SA国际影视传媒�

The board, appointed by McLeod, is currently made up of Michael Hansen, Heather Bourassa, Wayne Smith and Linda Martin with Adelle Guigon as the vice-chair. Each member earns up to $325 per day for their service on the board. In order to appeal one of their decisions, complainants must take the matter to the Supreme Court.

McLeod declined to speculate on how the board came to its decision on the distribution matter, adding he's not responsible for the board's conduct.  

SA国际影视传媒�They're supposed to be operating at an armSA国际影视传媒檚 length from the government,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淏ut if we hear enough concerns then obviously we have to review the guidelines and regulations that these boards operate under.SA国际影视传媒�