Yellowknife (June 04/03) - Minimum wage workers in the Northwest Territories are due for a raise, says Finance Minister Joe Handley.

The hourly minimum will be bumped to $8.25 an hour from $6.50 during the legislative session that opens today, Handley told a dozen people who attended a Weledeh constituency meeting Monday night.

Handley called the increase "meaningless. Most workers are paid far more than the minimum already."

The increase moves the Northwest Territories into the top ranks of the national scale, second only to Nunavut where the minimum is $8.50 an hour.

Minimum hourly rates for other Canadian jurisdictions are: Alta. ($5.65), B.C. ($8), Man. ($6.75), Nfld.($6), N.B. ($6), Ont.($6.85), P.E.I ($6.50), Que. ($7.30), Sask. ($6.65), Yukon ($7.20).