Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

NNSL (Aug 30/99) - The GNWT has released salary figures for cabinet ministers including a breakdown to account for aspects such as home travel, an entertainment allowance and a furniture allowance.

In the 1998/99 fiscal year, the cabinet minister with the highest total salary was Goo Arlooktoo with $217,416 after all allowances were taken into consideration.

Arlooktoo received a base salary of $58,090 in addition to his member's salary of $33,720.

The biggest expense for Arlooktoo was the home travel allowance which totalled $69,023.

Arlooktoo had a headquarters accommodation reimbursement of $29,818, a furniture allowance of $2,468 and an entertainment allowance of $1,500.

The minister with the second highest total salary during 1998/99 was another Nunavut member -- Kelvin Ng at $196,658.

A big chunk of that -- 32,711 -- was for home travel.

Ng's ministerial salary totalled $57,276, his member's salary was $33,720 and he had allowances such as the furniture allowance for $4,919.

Don Morin was the top-earning minister who is a current NWT member, with a total of $159,508.

Morin's salary, at $41,519, was less than other ministers because he resigned part way through the year.

Still, he received a member's salary of $33,720, an annual leave payout of $23,309 and a severance package worth $10,495.

Morin's headquarters accommodation reimbursement was $34,993, his home travel expenses were $9,763 and his furniture allowance was the highest of all ministers at $6,207.

The furniture allowance is for ministers who live outside Yellowknife and who live in temporary accommodation in Yellowknife.

Ministers may lease household furniture from the Department of Public Works and Services while they are serving as members of cabinet.

Ministers from communities outside of Yellowknife may also claim for relocation assistance to cover the cost of transporting their furniture and other household effects to and from Yellowknife.

A total of $25,858 was spent on all members for the furniture allowance while only $3,786 was spent on the relocation allowance.

Current NWT Premier Jim Antoine received $149,780 in all salaries and allowances.

This amount included his minister's salary of $59,446, his member's salary of $33,720 and $11,552 for home travel, among other allowances.