By Barb McKay

Changes to the province’s liquor licensing regulations is one reason that the Municipality of Kincardine will look at taking over the licensing of its own facilities.

Councillor Jacqueline Faubert announced during a recent Kincardine council meeting that the police services board is working on revisions to the municipality’s alcohol risk management policy. Amendments were made to Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) special occasion permits last July, which now prevent individuals holding events, such as stag and does, from making profits off the sale of alcohol.

The AGCO now has three categories for allocating special occasion permits; private, public and industrial promotional. In order to qualify for a public event permit, applicants must either be a registered charity or a non-profit organization or association. Private event permit holders are prohibited for advertising publicly for the event, through media or the Internet, and may not profit from the sale of alcohol.

The changes have prompted the Ontario Provincial Police to pull out of off-duty security detail for stag and does, leaving municipalities open to liability if events are held in their facilities. Muncipal recreation director Karen Kieffer will be meeting with the AGCO to determine what licensing Kincardine’s facilities would entail.

“We’re looking at licensing municipal facilities for a number of reasons,” Faubert told the rest of council, “liability being number one.”

Kincardine CAO Murray Clarke said it is becoming a trend for municipalities to license their own facilities.

“It would give us exclusive control,” he said. “It would provide a greater level of security.”

There are still logistics that need to be worked out. For example, the municipality would have to staff events itself. A report will be provided to council following meetings with the AGCO.