The Ahousaht First Nation is urging TofinoB次元官网网址檚 municipal council to limit alcohol sales at local beer and wine stores to slow the catastrophic damage bootleggers are bringing to their community.
The remote island Nation has a population of 2,224 and is a roughly 30 minute boat ride from Tofino.
During a delegation to TofinoB次元官网网址檚 council on March 8, Ahousaht hereditary chief Richard George, Hasheukumiss, suggested 300-500 bottles of hard liquor are being bought by bootleggers in Tofino and brought to Ahousaht on a weekly basis where they can be sold for anywhere between $60-$200 each.
B次元官网网址淣o one really imagined what kind of a pandemic and state of emergency we really are in,B次元官网网址� he said.
He asked that a new bylaw be enacted in Tofino to limit hard liquor sales at local beer and wine stores to two 26-ounce bottles per customer.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not going to solve the situation in Ahousaht, but what itB次元官网网址檚 going to do is slow down the process,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲hat IB次元官网网址檓 really requesting and asking and pleading for at this point is to consider enacting this bylaw on the beer and wine store to slow down the process.B次元官网网址�
He said restricting sales at government run liquor stores requires a different process and suggested AhousahtB次元官网网址檚 lawyers are working on a class action lawsuit against the federal and provincial government to bring attention to bulk alcohol sales.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to a higher level eventually but, in the meantime, weB次元官网网址檙e really reaching out to get some assistance to slow down this process because we all know when it goes to the higher levels, it could be years before this law gets enacted through the government,B次元官网网址� he said.
Thomas Paul, a drug and alcohol counsellor at AhousahtB次元官网网址檚 Chah Chum Hii Yup Tiic Mis, said alcohol has caused intergenerational trauma.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got layers and layers of trauma that weB次元官网网址檙e dealing with with our people,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really saddening, all the social issues, the things that are happening when our people are under the influenceB次元官网网址e canB次元官网网址檛 tell anyone that they can drink or not, but we can be a part of the solution by enacting laws to slow down this process.B次元官网网址�
He suggested that about 90 per cent of the 65 deaths in Ahousaht over the past two years have been alcohol related and urged Tofino to help.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really grateful and thankful that youB次元官网网址檙e here listening to us and giving us this time because I am passionate about being part of the solution to do what we canB次元官网网址t felt really good to know that thereB次元官网网址檚 people, our neighbours, who care. ThatB次元官网网址檚 where we need to get to, a place of caring. ItB次元官网网址檚 a disease. It doesnB次元官网网址檛 even need to be a weekend, everyday itB次元官网网址檚 just become normalized seeing people intoxicated,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淗elping us out with how we can stop the flow of alcohol into this community would be so beneficial. ItB次元官网网址檚 not going to stop it, but itB次元官网网址檚 a piece of the puzzle to keep moving forward and to start healing.B次元官网网址�
Hasheukumiss said the bylaw would be one step of many that need to be taken to address the issue, adding that the First Nation is completing the purchase of a local resort with the intention of turning it into a health and wellness facility.
B次元官网网址淣ot only for our Nation for a year-round facility to turn the corner, but for our 13 other nations in our Nuu Chah Nulth territory and then reaching across Canada because these facilities are much needed,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not the only Nation going through the pandemic, IB次元官网网址檓 calling it, of alcoholism and drugs. ItB次元官网网址檚 really echoed across the whole Nuu Chah Nulth territory and right across Canada.B次元官网网址�
Coun. Tom Stere said the district has also been struggling with alcohol-related issues and that council plans to meet with B.C.B次元官网网址檚 Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch on March 15.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to be specifically talking about alcohol policy from a public health and safety perspective and all of the issues that stem from that,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淵ou have 100 per cent of my support behind the initiative and, as you pointed out, this is not a solution, this is part of many, many, layers that will be necessary to address this issue, bring it to light and help to incrementally make changes.B次元官网网址�
Mayor Dan Law suggested the bylaw request be referred to staff for a legal review and that the district reach out to the province for input and council unanimously agreed.
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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