Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are some conflicting views on raising the minimum wage and what the minimum wage should be established. These views were well sought out in the minimum wage committee report, and if that was a public document people could see that debate but it's not, Mr. Speaker.
Some economists feel raising the minimum wage brings inflation while others say it actually helps the economy by increasing purchasing power of citizens.
However, Mr. Speaker, there's one thing we can all agree on, that the cost of living in the Northwest Territories is way too high and living on $15.20 an hour is more like struggling to survive, Mr. Speaker.
Now, Mr. Speaker, I am proud that in this House we raised the minimum wage and we now have the second highest minimum wage in Canada, and I think it is only appropriate that we have got the second highest minimum wage in Canada, considering we have the second highest cost of living, that we try to keep that place, Mr. Speaker.
During the pandemic, we topped all of our workers up to $18 an hour. We called them heros, and that support has now ended. But I hope that one day we can get those workers their raise back, Mr. Speaker. I propose we tie our minimum wage to inflation.
Manitoba already has inflationary increases. BC and Nova Scotia recently announced they are moving in this direction. The Yukon and Saskatchewan tie their minimum wage to the consumer price index, Mr. Speaker. I think it is the time that the NWT moves to tie the minimum wage to inflation or the consumer price index to make sure that workers don't fall behind once again. I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.
