Yellowknife (Mar 19/04) - MLAs from outside Yellowknife are about to be awarded a housing allowance nearly double what it was in 2001.

According to clerk of the legislative assembly Tim Mercer, rising rental costs have prompted the assembly's Board of Management to increase the allowance for the third straight year. The decision was made in February.

As of April 1, MLAs from communities outside of Yellowknife can collect as much as $30,150 a year. In 2001, the maximum allowance was $17,000. That rose to $24,000 in 2002 and $27,840 in 2003.

All MLAs receive a basic salary of $80,145, which increases by three per cent every year. Cabinet ministers make an additional $42,892.

"Every year, what we do is a survey of furnished two-bedrooms in town and take the average number to the board and that's what they adopt," said Mercer.

He noted, however, that MLAs rarely collect the full amount and that the allowance also takes into consideration the cost of utilities, furnishings and parking.

Nonetheless, at least a couple of MLAs were surprised by the increase from 2001.

"I didn't realize it was almost double," said Kam Lake MLA Dave Ramsay, who sits on the Board of Management.

"For our out-of-town members the reality is, it's expensive to live in Yellowknife. There is a need to increase, but I didn't realize it is that kind of increase from 2001."

Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya said he realizes the government must find ways to save money wherever it can, but he justified the increase as a part of having to pack up and move to Yellowknife.

"I think it's within reason," he said. "We're trying to be very conscious of the prices we were allowed. We are leaders in terms of cutting costs and we are very conscientious of the dollars we spend, but the cost of coming down to Yellowknife is very high."