Justice Minister Louis Sebert is on the chopping block after an MLA gave notice in the legislative assembly that he will introduce a motion on Wednesday to remove Sebert from his role in cabinet.
“I give notice ... I will move the following motion,” said Tom Beaulieu, MLA for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh on Tuesday. “Now, therefore, I move, seconded by the honourable member for Kam Lake, that this assembly formally revokes the pleasure of the assembly from the appointment of honourable Louis Sebert as member of the executive council and further that the assembly recommends that a member be chosen to be a member of the executive council.”
Sebert, who is also responsible for the Department of Lands, the NWT Power Corporation, as well as public engagement and transparency, received the lone vote of non-confidence from a majority of MLAs during their midterm review Oct. 5.
The review – the first in 20 years – gave cabinet a chance to defend their work thus far in the 18th assembly before all members voted on whether or not they had confidence in the leadership and performance of individual cabinet ministers, as well as cabinet as a whole.
All ministers, including Sebert, stood during the midterm review and declared they would not step down from their roles if they received a non-confidence vote.
Some MLAs have been frustrated following the review, as their expectation was that a minister who received a non-confidence vote would resign.
However, it's unclear whether a majority of MLAs – which is needed in order for a motion to succeed – will support Sebert's removal this week.
Early on in the afternoon on Tuesday, Hay River North MLA R.J. Simpson delivered a member statement encouraging regular MLAs to work with cabinet to improve on their performance.
Simpson expressed doubt that replacing Sebert with a current regular member would improve the government.
“I'm not letting the minister off the hook, however,” said Simpson. “If there is no improvement in his performance when this house sits again in February then I'll be leading the charge to remove him. Until then, let's do our job and make government work.”