Local officials are unwilling to belly up to the bureaucratic bar.
The Regional District of North Okanagan will not consider a provincial government referral for a liquor license application for a lodge north of Sugar Lake that caters to snowmobilers.
“It’s the province’s responsibility and we don’t want it downloaded on to us,” said director Eugene Foisy of liquor rules being a Ministry of Solicitor General mandate.
By not getting involved, RDNO will not initiate a public input process for the proposed license.
The Monashee Powder Snowcats lodge already has a liquor license for a dining room and it is seeking a license to serve alcohol in a lounge.
The district also decided not to get involved in the approval process because the lodge is on Crown land and is in a remote location.
“This facility is about 56 kilometres past Sugar Lake,” said Rob Smailes, planning and building general manager.
As a result, Smailes doesn’t believe serving liquor will negatively impact the public because there are no residential neighbourhoods nearby.
“I’m not aware of anyone from downtown Cherryville going there,” he said, adding that the lodge is only frequented by snowmobilers staying there.
