Alcohol restrictions should be up to communities, Marc Miller, federal minister of Indigenous services, told reporters Friday.
The issue has been a recent source of contention, with the NWT government ruling out territory-wide restrictions despite calls to do so from Indigenous leaders such as Dene National chief Norman Yakeleya and Inuvialuit Regional Corporation chair and executive Duane Smith.
In a media briefing Friday, Miller described dry communities as a SA国际影视传媒渕itigated successSA国际影视传媒 but said it wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 his place to tell leaders how to approach the issue.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 in no position to dictate to a community how they should deal with alcohol sales, or addiction in particular,SA国际影视传媒 he said, noting the discussion has extended far outside of NWT.
Miller said he hoped better addiction treatment practices emerged after the crisis, but added residents may find ways around restrictions.
SA国际影视传媒淧eople have very innovative ways of procuring alcohol. It isnSA国际影视传媒檛 limited to liquor stores, so too with drugs,SA国际影视传媒 he said. SA国际影视传媒淧articularly in crisis, I like to take a public health approach to this and try to ensure weSA国际影视传媒檙e not judging.SA国际影视传媒
Dr. Tom Wong, chief medical officer with Indigenous services, said that SA国际影视传媒渘o one size fits allSA国际影视传媒 when it comes to alcohol restrictions.
SA国际影视传媒淭he community knows the community best, (and) the best way to address this issue,SA国际影视传媒 he said.
SA国际影视传媒淩eduction in the use of alcohol and other dependence on other substances is important. You want yourself to be as healthy as possible. How you want to go about doing it, the solution is in the community.SA国际影视传媒
As of Friday, the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk was enforcing a temporary prohibition on alcohol running from April 10 to April 19. Tsiigetchic was also enforcing a prohibition from April 11 to April 20.
NWT government avoids territory-wide restrictions
The ministerSA国际影视传媒檚 comments follow a back-and-forth between some Indigenous governments pushing for wider measures, and the NWT government avoiding any territory-wide liquor store closures.
On April 3, Dene national chief Norman Yakelaya made a four point call to restrict alcohol and cannabis during the crisis. Among those proposals was the striking of an intergovernmental working group, support for Dene people headed out on the land, and funds for those managing alcohol withdrawal.
On Thursday, Yellowknives Dene First Nations Chiefs Edward Sangris and Ernest Betsina backed those calls, noting the proximity of Yellowknife liquor stores to their communities.
SA国际影视传媒淭hat is one of the biggest contributors I think to spreading the Covid-19 and mass gatherings and partying. So we put a motion to the GNWT to at least reduce hours and reduce the amount of alcohol that is taken out of the liquor store,SA国际影视传媒 Sangris told SA国际影视传媒.
On Thursday, NWT finance minister Caroline Wawzonek opted against closing liquor stores, but left the door open for action against bootlegging, along with community-specific measures like temporary prohibitions and striking a working group.
"Closing the liquor stores doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 actually accomplish that goal wholesale,SA国际影视传媒 Wawzonek told reporters.
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