Section 213 of the Elections Act provides that no person may, during the hours that the polls are open on polling day, sell, give, offer or provide liquor as defined by the Liquor Act at a licensed premise or other public places. The Northwest Territories and Nunavut are the only jurisdictions in Canada that require the closure of liquor outlets during voting hours on polling day. The office of the Chief Electoral Officer is of the opinion that closure of licensed premises during voting hours is paternalistic, outdated and that the rationale offered to establish such closures is no longer valid and recommends that section 213 be repealed.
The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures, while understanding the rationalization presented by the CEO, could not support the repeal of section 213 of the Elections Act. Members of the committee pointed out that even though there were no instances of complaints of persons being drunk at a polling station in the last election, the potential for trouble does exist if access to alcohol is readily available.
Higher voter turnout indicates elections in the Northwest Territories are still a significant event. Residents are very interested in the outcomes of elections. Members of the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures do not believe that the banning of the sale of alcohol for ten hours once every four years places any significant hardship on business owners or tourists.
Elections are important and a time for thought on how to exercise your franchise to best benefit you and your family. Members know that alcohol can influence people's judgment and cause them to make decisions they would not make if they were sober.
The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures does not support the Chief Electoral Officer's recommendation to allow the sale of alcohol while the polls are open.