Support growing for Behchoko liquor restrictions

The aboriginal government in Behchoko, N.W.T., did not get around to discussing a councillor's proposal Wednesday to restrict or ban alcohol from the community, but some members have shown support for the idea.

Wednesday evening's council meeting had such a full agenda that it did not have time to talk about Coun. Joe Beaverho's proposal, which calls for a plebiscite to decide whether alcohol should be banned or restricted from Behchoko.

"It's a good idea — either ban it or put restrictions in," another councillor, Mabel Bohnet, told CBC News at the meeting.

"We need to have a public meeting or a special meeting and … have the public's opinion," she added. "We're here for the community, so we need to hear what they think about it."

The proposal to ban or restrict alcohol comes amid a rash of youth crime in Behchoko, located 95 kilometres north of Yellowknife.

Concerned residents in the community of 2,000 have blamed parents in part for the problem, saying they go out drinking rather than supervising their children.

Resident Violet Mackenzie said she supports imposing restrictions on alcohol, but it's not the only problem community leaders should be addressing.

"We're also facing problems with drugs in the community that's not looked at," Mackenzie said, adding that a drug strategy could be included with a liquor plebiscite.

"Deal with this drug problem before it becomes too hard to handle," she said.

Councillors at Wednesday night's meeting said they need more details about how a plebiscite would work. They said they would take the idea to a public meeting once they obtain that information.

"I think there is going to be quite a bit of support from the elders and middle-aged [people], but for the young people, I'm not sure if we will get that support," Chief Leon Lafferty said.

"It's just that … at one time, young people, like, they used to party and all that. Now they're middle-aged and have grandchildren [and] they change their views."