WHEREAS alcohol abuse is a prevalent problem in NWT communities and is evident on Yellowknife streets and in the downtown core;

AND WHEREAS in 2011 Yellowknife ranked third out of 238 Canadian cities with a population of over 10,000 people for the severity of its crime;

AND WHEREAS alcohol abuse is one of the biggest challenges to policing in communities across the Northwest Territories;

AND WHEREAS the enforcement of liquor laws can help to curb instances of open liquor, public drunkenness, underage drinking, the use of alcohol while operating a motor vehicle, and infractions under the Liquor Act by licenced establishments;

AND WHEREAS the enhanced enforcement of liquor laws helps to ensure increased public safety;

AND WHEREAS municipal enforcement officers currently have the authority to inspect licensed premises and to make liquor-related traffic stops, but do not have the authority to enforce liquor laws regarding public drunkenness, open liquor and underage drinking;

AND WHEREAS strengthening the ability of municipal enforcement officers to enforce liquor infractions would, in NWT communities that have a municipal enforcement presence, address a perceived shortfall in policing;

AND WHEREAS giving municipal enforcement officers the authority to fully enforce NWT liquor laws would enable a municipality to take on this enhanced responsibility only if the municipality chooses to do so;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that this Legislative Assembly recommends that the Minister of Finance undertake discussion and amendments to the Liquor Act or other legislation, as required, to provide municipal enforcement officers with the authority to enforce liquor infractions;

AND FURTHER, that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a comprehensive response to this motion within 120 days.