KEVIN PARNELL
Black Press
It took some time, but Lake Country council decided to support a local pub’s application to the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch to stay open later.
The Turtle Bay Pub has applied for a permanent change to its liquor license that would increase its closing time from the current 1 a.m. to 2 a.m.
When contemplating such extensions, the LCBC asks municipalities for input before making its decision.
And Lake Country councillors had a few opinions at their meeting on Tuesday night.
Coun. Penny Gambell said the move could create issues with other pubs possibly wanting to stay open later, as well as putting more intoxicated people on the street.
“I support business but I worry about people stumbling home along a busy highway.”
Coun. James McEwan said some people that he knows won’t come to Lake Country because everything closes early, while Coun. Lisa Cameron said a move to later drinking hours is a move towards being more progressive.
“This is just a small step into the 21st century as far as drinking establishments go,” she said.
In the end, council was unanimous in its support of the proposal which will now go to the LCBC for a final decision.
