Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 06/05) - It pays to be in politics, according to the latest figures released by the territorial government.

Members of the legislative assembly make a base salary of $82,549. After adding in indemnities, extra duties and living allowances, the average MLA takes home about $107,000 annually before taxes - roughly 2.5 times that of the average resident of the Northwest Territories.

Regular MLAs end up earning about $90,000 a year while Premier Joe Handley takes home about $154,000.

The six cabinet ministers haul in about $126,000 per year, while acting as speaker of the house adds about $11,000 to Paul Delorey's annual salary. The average salary in the territories was about $42,000 during in 2002, according to the most recent statistics from the territorial government. Outside of Yellowknife, Inuvik, Fort Smith and Hay River, that average plummets to about $27,000.

In addition to their base salaries, MLAs are entitled to a capital living allowance that ranges from $6,300 to $9,800.

They also qualify for a Northern living allowance, which can reach $11,000 annually depending on their home community.

Those figures do not include a $30,000 annual stipend to cover housing costs for MLAs outside of the capital.

The assembly was in session for 44 days last year, according to a tally from the territorial government.

Committee meetings covered 206 days, though MLAs do not sit on all committees.

What they earn

Salaries for MLAs during 2004-2005 fiscal year. Figures include capital living allowance and Northern allowance.

Michael McLeod, Deh Cho - $135,424; Charles Dent, Frame Lake - $135,424; Bill Braden, Great Slave - $96,395; Paul Delorey, Hay River North - $120,909; Jane Groenewegen, Hay River South - $105,908; Floyd Roland, Inuvik Boot Lake - $135,424; Roger Allen, Inuvik Twin Lakes - $50,391; Robert McLeod, Inuvik Twin Lakes - $33,180; Dave Ramsay, Kam Lake - $97,733; David Krutko, Mackenzie Delta - $134,669; Kevin Menicoche, Nahendeh - $103,731; Henry Zoe, North Slave - $98,382; Calvin Pokiak, Nunakput - $107,300; Sandy Lee, Range Lake - $96,395; Norman Yakeleya, Sahtu - $103,012; Michael Miltenberger, Thebacha - $135,424; Bobby Villeneuve, Tu Nedhe - $98,600; Robert Hawkins, Yellowknife Centre - $91,245; Brendan Bell, Yellowknife South - $135,424; Joe Handley, Weledeh - $154,000.