GN colluding with airlines in booze-gouge?

I’d like to start this letter off with a brash accusation. Someone in the government of Nunavut must be pocketing large sums of money in the form of a kickback for a completely unnecessary procedure.

Before people start screaming for a libel suit I will discredit myself. I have no proof to back this allegation, not one single shred of paper which could verify what I think, but think it I still must.

Think about this. With the new liquor store in Rankin Inlet, citizens of Iqaluit (where alcohol is completely legal) can order alcohol any time they want, and receive it in a day or two from our friendly neighbors in the Kivalliq.

All it takes is a few phone calls, a fax or two and the payment of a minimum of $40 to either of our fantastic northern shippers, First Air and Canadian North. This procedure can be performed in any of the communities of Nunavut where booze is allowed, including Rankin Inlet, though they have to do the reverse, ordering from Iqaluit. In general it is simple and painless – until you look at the scam.

Where is my complaint? Well, it is in the shipping. If booze is legal (and it is) and it is already here in Iqaluit in our liquor warehouse (and it is) what is the reason why people from Iqaluit (or Rankin Inlet) have to pay a shipping charge to receive alcohol? Why could they not just procure the same bottle from the liquor store here?

In my griping and complaining about this problem, I have heard some speculation that the reason is the timing. If you order, it takes a few days (the people in Rankin claim it can come in one day, but, put to the test, it rarely does.) Perhaps some well-meaning bureaucrat felt that this time would make the purchases more thought-out or less impulsive.

If this is the case though, then why not just have a holding period of say 24, 48, or 72 hours here in Iqaluit. Purchase your alcohol on Monday and don’t receive it until Thursday or some such control method.

But why, why I ask, does the government force us to pay the expensive shipping costs, when the same, totally legal merchandise is right here in our town? The only answer that I can reasonably figure out is that there is a deal between the airlines and the government to gouge the citizens of this city of their hard-earned money.

I know that this may seem like an unreasonable assumption, but what other reason could there be? Call your MLA and ask.

(Name withheld by request)
Iqaluit