Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the past couple of weeks I have been approached by several constituents who have serious concerns about changes to the Northern Living Allowance contained in the proposed Collective Agreement. Mr. Speaker, after examining the issue, I must agree that there seems to be a serious inequity in the government's position.
Mr. Speaker, the employer's proposal provides increases to employees from $421 to $4,096 per year effective April 1, 1998, for employees in communities where the cost of living exceeds Yellowknife. The upshot, to this Mr. Speaker, is that employees in every community in the Northwest Territories, with the exceptions of Yellowknife and Fort Rae received increases in their Northern Living Allowances. The government's logic appears to be that since the inflation rate in Yellowknife has been negligible for the past year, there is to be no increase to the Northern Living Allowance for employees in Yellowknife.
The Northern Living Allowance in the communities of Fort Smith and Hay River, as examples, will increase by $1,132 and $941 respectively. I know for a fact that the cost of living in these two communities is significantly lower than it is in Yellowknife. They pay less for accommodation, food and gas and they can drive to Edmonton in a day. Mr. Speaker, a house that would cost $200,000 in Yellowknife can be bought in Hay River for approximately $120,000. In short, Mr. Speaker, the proposed Northern Living Allowance increases are not fair to the GNWT employees living in Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause