Foes outnumber fans at Inuvik Sunday liquor bylaw meeting

The overwhelming majority of residents at a Wednesday night public meeting are asking the Town of Inuvik not to extend the number of Sundays and holidays that bars canopen.

The owner of the Mad Trapper, Rick Adams, is asking the town to amend its liquor bylaws so his business can sell alcohol every Sunday, as well as Good Friday. The bylaw passed first and second reading at council but still has two more rounds of debate to get through.

Councilors held the public meeting to hear what residents had to say. About 60 people attended.

'Is there nothing sacred left?'

"I want to clearly express my opposition to the opening of the bars on Sunday and Good Friday," said Steve Donley

"Is there nothing sacred left? Where does the line get drawn?"

Of the 27 people who spoke against the proposed bylaw, many shared personal stories about how alcohol abuse has affected their lives and then said opening the bar on Sunday's would only worsen the damage alcohol causes to families.

"I would be in the statistic of one of the native children with a drunk parent coming home every weekend," Shane Gordon said on the verge of tears.

"Dealing with that [hurt] I developed a strong hatred for alcohol. It destroys families and I am opposed to [the Mad Trapper] being open on those days."

While many had concerns that Sunday bar openings might worsen Inuvik's addictions issues and break apart families, others said they couldn't handle another night of noisy partiers.

Building manager Greg Murphy said he often hears crowds spilling out of the Mad Trapper at closing time, yelling and getting into fights.

"I think the residents in the area should have at least one night where they can go to bed without being woken up," Murphy said.

'On Sundays people still have access to alcohol'

Despite the overwhelming opposition, Mad Trapper owner addressed the public meeting saying it wasn't fair other restaurants in town can serve alcohol on a Sunday and his business couldn't.

"There has been Sunday openings in this community for 25 years with the licensed lounges. And all I am asking for is the same business opportunity," Adams said.

"We are the most tightly regulated industry, particularly the Mad Trapper."

One of the bar's DJs also spoke, saying that it was safer for people to drink in a bar than in unregulated situations.

"On Sundays people still have access to alcohol in this town it's called bootleggers."

But the Lighthouse Community Church pastor said a Sunday opening would exacerbate that problem.

"Sure there might be problems with bootleggers, but guess what? The RCMP will find time to deal with that stuff a lot better," Pastor David Dekwant said.

Town councilors will debate and vote on the issue on Feb. 24.