In 1st vote, Inuvik councillors split in favour of more Sundays for Mad Trapper Bar

The first round of voting by Inuvik town councillors suggests the MadTrapper Bar could be on its way to operating 26 Sundays a year.

Five out of eightcouncilorsvoted Wednesdayin favour of bar owner Rick Adams' proposalto open 16 additional Sundays between April and September.

However, an amendment was made to the proposed bylaw at Wednesday night's meeting, for the bar to be allowed to open only from 1-10 p.m. on those Sundays.

The proposed bylaw,which has faced some strong opposition from some members of the public,still has to pass two more readings.

• RELATED:Owner of Inuvik's Mad Trapper bar defends his pitch to open on more Sundays

One mother who attended the vote with her two children was in tears as she told council how this decision is going to affect her family's life.

Councillor Vince Sharpe voted against the bylaw and was moved by her words.

'It was basically heartbreaking'

"I just told council on my way out of the room that I hope you remember that woman's face next time it comes for a vote because it was basically heartbreaking.

"She was telling us that her husband is on rotation and that he comes to town for two weeks of the months and he spends those two weeks of the month at night at the bar of the Mad Trapper, and now we've opened it up for 26 more Sundays that he could do that."

Sharpe said he remains hopeful that the bylaw will not pass the next reading.

"Basically I'm on a mission now I'm going to be talking to different people to get letters of support to come from different organizations, different aboriginal organizations in town. And hopefully we will get letter of support from them to be on the table for council to see."

Letter from Tuk

Town council has already received a letter from the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk that stated its opposition to any Sunday bar openings, citing negative effects on the "social aspect of life and the health of our communities" and concerns about impaired driving once the all-season road opens between the communities.

"I was a bit surprised at the outcome [of the vote]," said TuktoyaktukMayorDarrelNasogaluak.

"And I encourage community members to talk to their councillor members or go before council at the next two readings of the bylaw amendment. It's a very family friendly community and we'd like to keep it that way."

If the bylaw were to pass third reading, it cannot be amended or revoked for four years unless a majority of the operators of the Class A liquor licences want a change.