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N.S. wants to end ‘dry’ communities

N.S. wants to end ‘dry’ communities

The Nova Scotia government wants to open the taps to the 100-plus communities that are still dry, providing additional liquor revenues for the province.

Although Prohibition was lifted in Nova Scotia back in 1929, there are many places that can’t have liquor stores unless they hold expensive plebiscites to measure local thirst.

A handful of other rural Canadian places remain dry mostly in Alberta, where the communities of Arrowwood, Cardston, Magrath, Del Bonita and Linden don’t allow alcohol. There are also some northern reserves that remain dry. Nova Scotia was the only province with a wide prohibition that requires plebiscites.

Despite the dry designation in Nova Scotia, many residents might not even be aware because restaurants can serve alcohol and residents can drink alcohol that is purchased at a business outside the community.

Government spokesperson Darcy MacRae said that’s why the government has proposed “amendments to the Liquor Control Act that would make the entire province of Nova Scotia wet and remove the requirement for plebiscites.”

However, the government would allow communities to stay dry if they prefer. For example, the people of Baddeck have voted four times since 1969 to remain dry.

“We would recommend that the legislative amendments not be proclaimed for one year to allow municipalities to introduce zoning or bylaws to restrict any areas that are currently dry that they would like to remain dry,” he told Yahoo Canada News.

The government recently sent a document to municipalities for feedback, saying it feels the system of restricting the permissible locations of licences and stores in Nova Scotia is outdated and inconsistent with how the issue is handled in other provinces.

“The plebiscite process is costly and time consuming and could actually serve as an impediment to the growth of business. The proposed changes could cut red tape and reduce costs to government.”

A number of communities have held votes in recent years, such as one in Kings County and another in Lockeport, where the process cost upwards of $10,000, yet only a minority of residents bothered to vote.

In Nova Scotia, even when someone wants to apply for a liquor sales licence, the process can be time consuming because authorities first have to determine whether the location is in a dry or wet area. Since there is no official list, they have to refer to old maps of electoral boundaries and in some cases those boundaries have changed.

MacRae said the proposed changes are to update the existing regulations and bring them in line with other Canadian jurisdictions, as well as respond to a request from the restaurant industry to be allowed to sell limited quantities of alcohol to customers without a food order.

“This will allow these businesses to attract new customers and grow their business without the costs and delays associated with consultation, plebiscites and lounge licensees for those who have no intention of operating a lounge.”

“We are awaiting feedback from municipalities at this time.”

CBC reported recently there are still 105 so-called dry areas where it’s illegal to operate a drinking establishment without community approval.

Mike Maloney, a spokesperson for the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation, said the corporation is waiting to see how the communities respond.

“We don’t have an official position on the matter here at the NSLC, as Alcohol and Gaming is the department driving this,” he told Yahoo Canada News.

“We currently have 106 retail stores and 51 agency stores, “ Maloney added.

Because Nova Scotia doesn’t have a list of dry communities, any time someone puts in an application for a liquor licence, it can take time to determine whether the business is located in a dry or wet area.

Areas were originally categorized by electoral boundaries but those boundaries have changed over time.

Gordon Stewart, executive director of the Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia, has said his organization supports the government’s proposed changes.

“We just see it levelling the playing field across Nova Scotia,” he recently told CBC News.

Linda Gregory, warden of the Municipality of the District of Digby, told the Digby Courier her council hasn’t discussed the proposed changes but she welcomes them.

“I think it’s a good thing. They’re moving into the 20th century,” she said.

The South Shore town of Lockeport held a vote in 2013 to become a “wet” community.

“This doesn’t mean it is now a free for all,” Mayor Darian Huskilson told the local paper at the time. “There aren’t open barrels of alcohol now flowing down the streets.”