By Derek Cornet

Air Ronge Council won’t support some liquor restrictions

Jan 26, 2018 | 11:00 AM

The Air Ronge Village Council supports the spirit of the Community Alcohol Management Plan, but won’t throw their backing behind some of the recommendations recently passed in La Ronge.

During a regular meeting Thursday night, Mayor Gordon Stomp said he was concerned supporting all of the proposed restrictions might lead to litigation against the village.

“There’s lots of things in there I think are just ridiculous,” he said. “If we just say we support this, I’m afraid we’re going to get tied into liability with the town.”

While Air Ronge lacks any bars or alcohol retail stores, Stomp said council must be cautious because some day that may change, and the village would need their own bylaws. Stomp also said he felt the recommendations are too much too fast, and some of them won’t work.

Stomp also questioned the statistics the recommendations were based on, citing an Australian study where alcohol restrictions were discontinued because they weren’t working. He said starting an alcohol plan on a smaller scale would be better, adding council must find support systems for addicts and others who need help.

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“Then we can also start tapping the government for some support for other things related to the social issues they say are all related to alcohol,” Stomp said. 

Others on council also expressed concerns about the recommendations. Coun. Terry DesRoches called banning sales on child benefit days “derogatory,” Coun. Greg Merriman said the alcohol management committee is looking to solve the wrong problem. Merriman said the reason so many people have issues is because of gambling and VLT machines.

“They suck a lot more money out of this community [than alcohol does],” Merriman said. “The VLTs are way more damaging than alcohol.”

After much discussion, Air Ronge Council passed a motion stating, “Air Ronge continues to support some of the recommendations from the alcohol strategy and, moving ahead, will adopt bylaws specific to Air Ronge.”

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @saskjourno