A number of advocacy groups call a hike to the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 minimum wage a step in the right direction, but they agree itSA国际影视传媒檚 still well below what residents need to make ends meet.

Education, Culture and Employment Minister Alfred Moses announced Wednesday he will be bumping up the minimum wage from $12.50 an hour to $13.46 an hour, starting April 1.

The last increase to the minimum wage was in 2015.

SA国际影视传媒淥bviously any increase is a good thing, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 nowhere near adequate,SA国际影视传媒� said Suzette Montreuil, a member of Alternatives North. SA国际影视传媒淚t falls paltry compared to what the cost of living is still in Yellowknife.SA国际影视传媒�

Alternatives North delivered a presentation in November on the SA国际影视传媒渓iving wageSA国际影视传媒� for a Yellowknife family of four SA国际影视传媒� two working adults, one child in preschool and another school-aged child.

The group determined an adult working full-time would need to earn $22.24 an hour to pay for basic living costs such as rent, food and childcare.

The head of the Public Service Alliance Canada (PSAC) North is also on board with a bigger increase to the minimum wage in the NWT.

Regional executive vice-president Jack Bourassa said the raise announced Wednesday falls short of the $15 minimum wage PSAC North is pushing for in a campaign it launched this week.

SA国际影视传媒淭here are all kinds of positive effects as it relates to minimum wage going up,SA国际影视传媒� said Bourassa. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a whole lot better in general for the economy ... and better for those people who are making more money.SA国际影视传媒�

When people are earning more, they can put their dollars toward things they want rather than just the things they need, said Bourassa, adding this brings money back into the economy.

He said the GNWT wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 need to increase its minimum wage to $15 an hour overnight, but could do so over the next few years.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 not about creating hardship. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 about leveling the field and making those who are most vulnerable in society SA国际影视传媒� allowing them to be in a place where they can better take care of themselves,SA国际影视传媒� said Bourassa.

However, the increase will have some effect on local businesses.

While the fine details have yet to be figured out, Birchwood Coffee Ko co-owner Jawah Bercier predicts the small increase to the minimum wage this spring could impact her shopSA国际影视传媒檚 daily costs, especially as a fairly new business.

SA国际影视传媒淚t will definitely affect our costs on a daily basis and the costs of our foods,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淥ne thing goes up and another thing has to level it out.SA国际影视传媒�

However, Bercier added the coffee shop already pays some employees more than minimum wage, meaning the increase wonSA国际影视传媒檛 affect every staff member.

Approximately 700 people in the Northwest Territories currently earn minimum wage, said Andy Bevan, assistant deputy minister at the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

Despite a push in some Canadian jurisdictions to move to a $15-per-hour minimum wage, the GNWT says the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 increase to $13.46 keeps the territory below a threshold that could cause detrimental economic impacts.

That decision was based on research from a minimum wage committee comprised of representatives from business, labour and community organizations, according to the department.

They presented the minister with three confidential options during the latest review, including SA国际影视传媒渞etaining the status quo, implementing a moderate increase or implementing a significant increase,SA国际影视传媒� stated department spokesperson Cherish Winsor in an email.

The committee was created in 2013 and is required to review the minimum wage every two years.

The next review is expected to be in 2020, said Bevan.