Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, although there is no liquor store in Iqaluit -- it was closed to over-the-counter sales in 1976 as a result of strong public pressure -- out of a population of 3,500 people, there were apparently 2,371 intoxicated persons incarcerated for their own protection in cells last year. Although many were repeat offenders.

At a recent Liquor Licensing Board hearing on an application by the Kamotiq Inn for a cocktail lounge licence -- which I am pleased the board turned down -- many long-term residents expressed their concerns about the lack of resources devoted to liquor inspections in Iqaluit. I have received more expressions of concerns from my constituents about the adequacy of liquor inspections in Iqaluit following a death by a stab wound alleged to have occurred outside a certain licensed premise in Iqaluit this weekend. Although I would like to stress, this it is not clear at all whether over-serving is an issue in this case.

In Iqaluit, sales from one licensed premise are reported to have amounted to approximately 24,000 cans of beer in one month. A sizable portion of the revenues of which went back to our government in the form of taxes and mark-up. However, the Department of Safety and Public Services has only budgeted $25,000 per year for contract liquor inspection in Iqaluit. As I understand it, with the number of licensed premises in town, this sum only provides for about one inspection per premise per week. About one month ago, the contract was cancelled by the town of Iqaluit. There has, therefore, been no inspection services available for that time. I know efforts have been made to replace that service. So today I will be asking the Minister of Safety and Public Services what steps his department is taking to provide adequate liquor inspection services for the town of Iqaluit. Qujannamiik.