A special meeting of council was held in La Ronge on Saturday morning to deal with the Sale, Distribution and Consumption of Beverage Alcohol Bylaw. The public meeting was called two days previous.
At a regularly scheduled town council meeting earlier in the week, the first reading of the bylaw didn’t go through when councilors Dallas Everest, Rex McPhail and Glen Watchel, along with Mayor Ron Woytowich voted it down.
The bylaw is to amend the hours of operation for alcohol sales. The bylaw would see liquor retail stores to be open until 11:00 pm, a change from 3:00 am.
If the bylaw passes, taverns and lounges must stop serving alcohol by 1:00 am, with a tolerance period of 30 minutes so patrons can finish their beverages. The tolerance time can be up to 60 minutes after 1:00 am, but all patrons must be out by then.
After about 20 minutes of discussion at the special meeting, the first reading was passed when Councilors Jordan McPhail, Rex McPhail, Matt Klassen and Deputy Mayor Hugh Watt voted in favour of the bylaw.
The changes are in effort to remedy an alcohol problem that the tri-community area faces.
Changing the hours are part of phase one in the strategy.
Councilor Watt says that through the strategies that have already been implemented, the number of alcohol related crimes have decreased.
“The bylaw by itself is harmless and is something everyone can support. Why I cannot support it and won’t, is because of one little section. That is closes the off sale at 11:00 (pm) and the bar can be open until 1:00 (am),” says Mayor Woytowich.
His concern is that people will go to the off sale and leave alcohol in their car when they go to the bar. He suggests that people will see the alcohol and then break into vehicles to steal it, or that once people leave the bar, they will drink in the parking lot.
“I think this is not a bad idea, it’s going to slow it down a little,” said Council Rex McPhail, who had the changing vote.
He also brought up that the people who are abusing alcohol know that there are support options, but they aren’t necessarily going to get the help.
Councilor Jordan McPhail added that while La Ronge does have a detox program, it has up to a month wait list at times and Councilor Rex McPhail compared it to a revolving door.
The passing of a bylaw goes through three readings. The first reading is the proposal stage. The second reading will allow debate, followed by a vote. The third reading also allows debate and will conclude with the final vote. This process allows the councilors and mayor to think about the proposal.
If the second and third reading are passed at the December 12th meeting, the new bylaw would take effect on January 1st of the new year.
(PHOTO: La Ronge town councillors gather at a council meeting. Photo by David Smith.)