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NDP Calling For Legislation Change To Stop Strip Club |
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Written by NDP News Release
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Friday, 06 January 2006 |
NDP MLA for Dartmouth-North, Jerry Pye, has asked the Minister Responsible for the Alcohol and Gaming Authority, Kerry Morash, to change the legislation and regulations for liquor licenses given to adult entertainment clubs in order to stop a strip club from opening in a Dartmouth residential neighbourhood. Pye added that if the Minister
does not act, then he will bring in legislation himself in the Spring session of the Legislature.
"This government talks about the need for safer communities, but if they truly believed in that they would have stopped this proposal dead in its tracks," said Pye. "The adult entertainment club will be particularly damaging to the adjacent residential community, because it will attract illegal activities that usually accompany this type of entertainment to the streets of the community."
Last month, the Utility and Review Board granted the transfer of the liquor license formerly held by the owner/operator the Little Nashville night club to current owners of the property who plan to open a strip club on the property.
"I believe that the UARB should have exercised its authority to have a public hearing on the transfer of the liquor license," said Pye. "Why a public hearing was not held is beyond me. The only assumption I am able to come to is that the transfer of the license was a foregone conclusion."
Pye added that although this was a license transfer, not a new license occupation, the Liquor License Regulations (Part IV, Section 6C vi and vii) show that the UARB has the power to give the public its say, and that is what should have happened in this case.
He also noted that his concern that the former owner of the facility was able to use the provincially-owned liquor license as an enticement to any potential buyer.
"Any new buyer should have had to re-apply for a new liquor license based on what kind of operation they planned on operating," said Pye.
Pye also requested to the Minister that rather than community members being responsible for lodging complaints about the planned strip club to Alcohol and Gaming Authority, that it should be sufficient for the complaints to be lodged with the police who can pass the complaint on the AGA. |
