The Battlefords RCMP and Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority with the City of North Battleford and Town of Battleford have established the Battlefords Public Safety Compliance Team.
It is a multi-agency team designed to co-ordinate the efforts of the municipal and provincial agencies involved in the licensing, regulation and compliance of licensed establishments and community events licensed for alcohol sales. It is modeled after the City of Edmonton’s Public Safety Compliance Team, which has been successfully operating since 2006.
The compliance team is comprised of a core group of representatives from Battlefords RCMP, Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, North Battleford Fire and Emergency Services, Town of Battleford Fire Department, North Battleford Community Safety Officers and Town of Battleford Bylaw Enforcement
The compliance team has been established to ensure a safe environment for the staff and patrons of all licensed premises, events and/or facilities in the City of North Battleford and Town of Battleford. The team’s focus will be on education and prevention, as well as compliance with legislation, bylaws and regulations.
The principles of this program are equity, fairness and consistency. The compliance team exists to improve the Town’s and City’s effectiveness in working with liquor licensed businesses who cater to the hospitality industry (commonly known as bars, nightclubs, restaurants and drinking establishments), community events licensed for alcohol sales, liquor stores and off-sales.
The goals of the compliance team include:
• To engage the hospitality industry to be part of the community development of an alcohol strategy for the Battlefords area;
• To ensure licensed space and licensed community events are complying with regulatory standards as outlined in such authorities as: gederal statutes such as the criminal code; provincial statutes including safety codes and the Alcohol and Gaming Regulation Act; and municipal bylaws such as noise bylaw and business license bylaw;
• To educate managers and staff of licensed establishments on safety and regulatory issues within their licensed premises and adjacent properties;
• To create a single consolidated review process to ensure consistent prevention and compliance strategies are applied to all municipal licensed establishments and community events licensed for alcohol sales;
• To provide an opportunity to discuss issues and concerns from all perspectives. Owners, managers, and event co-ordinators will now have a team of stakeholders to share any concerns and issues they may have;
• To acknowledge those licensed establishments and events complying with regulatory standards;
The Battlefords’ Public Safety Compliance Team seeks to improve the overall safety of staff and patrons within licensed establishments and community events licensed for alcohol sales. It also seeks to involve the hospitality industry in the process of reducing alcohol related violence and social problems in the Battlefords.
An information session for permit holders of licenced premises and community event organizers in the Battlefords’ area is scheduled for September.
