by Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan 29/97) - Yellowknife is the wise choice for diamond workers from B.C., Ontario and Quebec and the Maritimes, but those in the Prairies would end up spending more if they moved here.

That's one conclusion in a report on ways the city can capitalize on the BHP and Aber diamond finds.

The report, yet to be released officially, talks about the demands for workers the mines will create, and the city's ability to meet, or prepare to meet, those demands.

"It says the Northern hiring targets (for BHP) can probably be met in the territories," said Mayor Dave Lovell. "By the time Aber-Kennicott comes along it might be a lot harder."

Lovell said the city is looking at using the demands created by the mines to keep workers lost to the NWT-Nunavut division and government downsizing in the city.

"We're trying to take a good look at it," said Lovell. "We're trying to ease the shock of what's currently happening in Yellowknife."

Among the other conclusions Lovell said the report reaches are:

* the average wage at BHP will be slightly lower than the average government wage

* Yellowknife is short of low-end housing stock and has a surplus of high-priced housing

* workers coming from the Prairies will save money by keeping their residences where they are, but those from other parts of the country would save money by moving to Yellowknife

The comparison of the financial advantage of moving, or not moving, to Yellowknife factored in $100 a day for travelling time, said Lovell.

The mayor said there are no plans to release the report at this time.