Years of advocacy has finally paid off.

That’s the feeling of Kenora Mayor Andrew Poirier to news the LCBO will start monitoring their entrances at select locations in northwestern Ontario.

He says it’s worked in other provinces and is glad Kenora part of the pilot project.

“We in the process of now implementing a model that is used in Manitoba,” Poirier told council on Tuesday during the Committee of the Whole meeting.

“Our hope, and this is based on data from the OPP, is that if you want to bring our police cost down, this is  where to start.”

Poirier adds that city officials have been lobbying for the change for several years now.

“There is an example of that advocacy and how well it can work.  It’s slow, but it does work if you keep on it.”

Kenora has one of LCBO outlets where controlled access to the entrance will take place in a pilot project this spring.

Four others are in Thunder Bay and the other is in Sioux Lookout.

(File photo)