Liquor plebiscite and public meeting in Gjoa Haven

Public Service Announcement

Liquor plebiscite and public meeting in Gjoa Haven

Residents of Gjoa Haven will be asked to vote on whether to change their liquor control system in a plebiscite this fall.

The Gjoa Haven liquor plebiscite will be held on October 23, 2023, with an advanced vote on Monday, October 16, 2023. This plebiscite will be held at the same time and voting location as the municipal election.  

Residents of Gjoa Haven have petitioned the Minister of Finance to hold a plebiscite to change their current liquor system from prohibited to a restricted quantities system.

If residents of Gjoa Haven vote in favour of this change, residents will be able to purchase and import limited quantities of alcohol into the community every 14 days.

The proposed limits are:

• 24 cans of 355ml or less of beer or other liquor with no more than 8% alcohol by volume (example ciders or coolers);

and,

• 4 litres of wine

Under the Liquor Act, at least 60 per cent of voters need to vote “yes” to change the liquor system in a community.

Residents of Gjoa Haven are invited to attend a public meeting about the plebiscite at the community hall on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, from 6 to 9 p.m. Representatives from the Department of Finance and Elections Nunavut will be on site to answer questions about the plebiscite and the community’s liquor system. Refreshments will be provided.

For more information about the upcoming public meeting, please email liquor@gov.nu.ca or call 867-222-9705.

###

Media Contact:

Hillary Casey
Director of Corporate Policy
Department of Finance
867-975-5831
FinanceComs@gov.nu.ca