The Government of the Northwest Territories is asking for feedback on the territory’s minimum wage through a short survey.

In 2022, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) announced changes to the way the minimum wage is determined. It is now adjusted annually using a formula based on the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Yellowknife and the percentage change in the average hourly wage (AHW) in the Northwest Territories (NWT) for the preceding calendar year.

This shift to annual formula-based adjustments is intended to:

• keep up with the increasing costs for NWT residents
• keep up with other jurisdictions’ minimum wage rates
• enable businesses to better plan for increases to the minimum wage rate
• help ensure the lowest earners receive a pay raise each year
• increase transparency in government decision-making

The department will conduct an annual survey on the minimum wage. The results will help ECE better understand the impacts of the annual minimum wage adjustments over the coming years as the formula is used. 

Complete the survey here.

For media requests, please contact:
Briony Grabke
Manager, Public Affairs and Communications
Education, Culture and Employment
Government of the Northwest Territories 
Briony_grabke@gov.nt.ca 
867-767-9352 ext. 71073