Yellowknife, N.W.T. - MLAs decided to band together again June 6 to pressure the cabinet side about an issue which every single person living in the territory suffers from - the cost of living.

Some spoke about the need for new energy ideas, while others spoke about how to help out within the territory by increasing the amount of locally-grown food we eat.

Frame Lake MLA Wendy Bisaro took the reigns on power bills and how residents are going to feel the sting of a nearly 25 per cent hike over the next four years.

She said the GNWT has to do more than just come up with a band-aid solution to rising costs.

"Instead of pouring money into subsidies, we should have applied that money to energy initiatives. Initiatives like determining alternative sources for power generation, greener sources, cheaper sources, but we did not," she said.

Bisaro also brought up the $60 million worth of funding from the previous assembly for alternative energy projects, which was taken away in the new budget.

She said the GNWT has to think long-term.

"That means putting money into the 2012-13 budget high power bills," said Bisaro

Bisaro said if nothing is done, there will be a mass exodus from the territory because of high costs.

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