SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The NWT has the third lowest minimum wage in the country and one of the highest costs of living in Canada, and one Yellowknife MLA wants the government to increase the wage soon.

Wendy Bisaro, MLA for Frame Lake, said she wants the GNWT Department of Education, Culture and Employment to increase the minimum to at least $9, but would be happier with an increase to $10 an hour.

"I think it's too low," she said. "There are some jobs and some people working those jobs who need to be protected. It's way too expensive to live here and exist making eight bucks an hour. We hear about people all the time who can't afford our housing. Well, how can you on that kind of money?"

The NWT hasn't increased the minimum wage since December 2003, when it was raised to $8.25 from $6.50.

Nunavut increased its minimum wage to $10 last September, now the highest in Canada, up from $8.50.

Mary Lou Cherwaty, president of the NWT Federation of Labour, said she wasn't sure how many people in Yellowknife make the minimum, but for her one is too many.

"It has to happen," she said. "$8.25 is not a wage you can live on here.

"The GNWT had better step up to the plate and increase minimum wage - immediately and substantially."

A 2005 rental report by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation showed the average monthly rent of a one-bedroom apartment in Yellowknife was $1,069.

In a March 2008 response to a GNWT request for community opinions on minimum wage, Cherwaty said "working full-time should not place an individual in poverty," and requested an increase to $12 an hour by December 2010.

"$8.25 was not an adequate wage in 2003, and it is even less adequate today," she said in her written response to the GNWT.

During the last day of session at the legislative assembly on June 4, Bisaro questioned Jackson Lafferty, minister of Education, Culture and Employment, on the possibility of a minimum wage increase and what stage the government was at in consultations with communities and small businesses, the findings of which are to be released in a report in early fall.

Lafferty said there was concern among businesses about a potential increase.

"We're hearing correspondence from those businesses saying that if we do increase the minimum wage that we may not be able to hire students," he said. "So those are taken into consideration and we still have a lot of work ahead of us."

Bisaro said she doesn't believe there are many people working for minimum wage, but those who are need an increase, regardless of age.

"It doesn't matter if you're a student or an adult; if you're doing the work, you should be getting paid a decent wage for it," she said.

When Yellowknifer requested an interview with Lafferty, press secretary Drew Williams said the minister didn't want to comment on the report until he had the chance to discuss the findings with cabinet and regular MLAs.

"He hopes to have it ready in time for the beginning of the next session (in October)," Williams said.

Lafferty said during questions from Bisaro his department is looking at a possible increase to $9.25, followed by a jump to $10 per hour the next year.