Rossland city council recommended that the Liquor Control & Licensing Branch award a liquor primary license to the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Rossland at Tuesday night’s council meeting.
Coun. Marten Kruysse asked Mike Williams, who attended the meeting on behalf of the Eagles, why the club was applying for a liquor primary license.
Williams explained that the Liquor Control & Licensing Branch is eventually planning to phase out the Liquor Primary Club License, which is what the Eagles currently have.
“The Liquor Control Board is looking to get rid of club liquor licenses, so it’s kind of something that’s coming down the pipe that they’re forcing any club license to do anyhow, but that’s a matter of maybe three, four to five years down the road,” said Williams.
A primary license would also allow the Eagles to admit the general public during special events without getting them to sign a visitors’ register.
The city ran two ads in the Rossland News on May 11 and 18 regarding the change and received two emails in support. City staff didn’t expect the change to have any negative impact on the community.
Parks and trails donors will have to choose: plaque or tax receipt
Council amended the Gifts for Parks and Trails Donations policy so that anyone making a donation with the expectation of receiving a plaque will no longer be able to receive a tax receipt.
Staff suggested the change because the plaque, which in this context usually accompanies a bench, picnic table or tree, could be interpreted by the Canadian Revenue Agency as a giving an advantage to the donor. Originally staff had proposed amending the policy so that no tax receipt would be given at all, but council decided to amend it so that donors contributing over $100 to the installation of a bench, picnic table or tree could receive either a plaque or a tax receipt.
