Yellowknife (Aug 23/06) - The Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories is looking for solutions to the high cost of living in the North.

Politicians are asking how they can address the issue during meetings at the assembly that began late last week.

Yellowknifers had plenty of suggestions for their MLAs on how to make living in the territories a little more palatable.

"They could lobby to get the GST out of there," Clayton Boake suggested while walking downtown. "Revenue resource sharing to fund it."

"Subsidize the housing. I don't know what they can do about the private sector," Moises Hernandez said.

"Have either support for people on lower incomes, possibly lower taxes," Wade Calvert said.

"It's comparable to anywhere else, I think," said Julie Budd. "The cost to get out of here is expensive though."

"They can't force anything on businesses. So maybe tax breaks?" Rob Byers said. "Keep people here and functioning."

"Bigger Northern living allowances, bigger tax breaks," Tyson Arnold recommended.

"They could make the land more accessible," Malouin said.

"If we regulate the transport the prices are comparable," Roland Charest said.

When asked what they thought was expensive in the Northwest Territories the answers varied.

Lori Hutchings felt that the cost of daycare was too high. "I do know the GNWT gives funding for daycare per child. They could up that."

"Rent, real estate, cars," Malouin said of the things he found expensive.

Hernandez said that the cost of living and housing and sometimes the fuel were high.

"Services, contractors, heating. You pay an arm and a leg to get anything fixed," Byers said.

"The prices of houses is sky rocketing I think," Arnold said. He's in the market for a house.

Many questioned whether higher wages made up for the difference.

"I think some jobs yes, and some jobs no. It depends on what sector you're in," Calvert said.

"No. I find wages aren't higher here. They're the same, if not lower," Malouin said.

"To me it's still low compared to the cost of living," Hernandez said.

"They used to, but I don't think it does anymore," Boake said.

"I guess so, I think we need to raise the wages of non-profit organizations," Nicole Nendsa said.

Budd felt that the wages weren't low however. "The wages tend to keep people here."

"To me it's still low, compared with the cost of living," Hernandez said.

"Somewhat, if you get into the mining sector. But the wages in town kind of suck," Arnold said.