Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are 170 licensed liquor establishments in the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker. By far, the vast majority of these are well-run establishments necessary to our communities, to our hospitality industry that provide jobs. About five percent of them, at the most, cause our problems. In the last two years alone, we've had two deaths in Yellowknife attributed to situations and incidents in bars. Other serious incidents are on record in Hay River and Inuvik. Our Liquor Licensing Board, under the chairmanship of Mr. John Simpson, has, in recent months, undertaken very proactive and responsible measures and enforced compliance among these few establishments with the standards that are already in our laws.
However, these very welcome changes in approach have generated considerable negative reaction from some sectors. Most disappointing is that in the words of Mr. Simpson, our own government has not signalled its support. Mr. Simpson, regrettably, has tendered his resignation because he doesn't feel that he has the backing of our governing authority which is our Department of Finance. In fact, in a conversation with Mr. Simpson this morning, and in direct answer to my question, "Are you being interfered with or hobbled in your
actions by this government," he answered without hesitation, "Totally."
Minister Roland, the Minister of Finance, in a news report this morning, said, "The board is quasi-judicial and is a ruler. It makes judgments on establishments for breaking the rules that are there. So it is very difficult for them to go into the social aspect of it and try to expand its mandate." But, there is a disturbing contrast, Mr. Speaker, between the Minister's approach and that of Mr. Justice Ted Richard, who wrote in the decision in August 2002, about a board ruling. Mr. Justice Richard said, "Considerations which focus on public safety and public peace are consistent with the purpose of the Liquor Act and the intention of the Legislature."
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.