At least one and possibly all the territory's deputy ministers are being given a large raise.

An ad from last week advertising the position of deputy minister of the Department of Justice states the salary range for the job is between $121,622 and $157,967 per year.

That is an increase of 36 per cent on the bottom end and 15 per cent on the high end over the range that was listed for a deputy minister earlier this year.

In an ad in February, the range for the Health and Social Services deputy minister was listed as $89,241 to $137,363 annually.

The deputy minister's range for 2003 was between $85,357 and $131,385, according to an ad posted last April.

It's not clear if that increase is just for the Justice deputy minister or if all the deputy ministers will reap that reward. Public Service Commissioner Patricia Daws was not available to explain the increase.

A 15- to 36-per-cent raise has been unheard of in recent years.

The salary went up 4.6 per cent on both ends from 2002 and 2003 to the initial 2004 range ($89,241 to $137,363).

In 2002, it had climbed three per cent on both ends from the 2001 range.

And in 2001, the range jumped 2.3 per cent from 2000.

According to ads and past documents, the salary range for the past five years has been, prior to this jump:

• 2004 $89,241 to $137,363;

• 2002 and 2003 $85,357 to $131,385;

• 2001 $82,870 to $127,558;

• 2000 $81,046 to $124,751.

While the government operates on a fiscal year, salaries are based on the calendar year.

The deputy ministers are the top bureaucrats in each department. As management, deputy ministers' wages are outside of the salary ranges negotiated by the Yukon Employees Union.

The civil servants under that union received a two-per-cent increase in 2003 and a raise of 2.5 per cent this year.

The position of Justice deputy minister has been opened up by the departure of Bill Craik.

As well, the Health and Social Services deputy minister post is available thanks to the impending retirement of Rob McWilliam, a veteran employee of the government.