Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins has called for a cabinet shuffle to be put on the table.

He used his member's statement in the legislative assembly on Oct. 21 to call for a potential switch of ministers.

"When I entered this building for the first time in 2003, the debt limit for the the territory was $300 million since then it's [been] raised 600 per cent," he said. "Then in May, we heard the delirious excitement from the finance minister about the latest projection of the world's biggest territorial surplus on record, $294 million SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½” what happened?

"It was all about paying debt, paying capital, fully, hopes and dreams abound. But to my surprise, and I'll frankly say, I can't believe I'm still surprised of some of these issues but late last week, to get an email, practically a letter under a door, waving the white flag and saying, we're broke again. We're heading to Ottawa because we need more money.  This begs the question, what happens to the money? What happened to consultation with the side of the House?

"Where is the proof that they've talked to us and said, hey, can we work through this? Consultation with members late at night, sending an email is not consultation."

Hawkins concluded his member statement by suggesting it was time for a change in cabinet.

He noted that the nature of inter-generational debt turns things like government operations into political issues.

"We can't afford the finance minister any longer," he said. "Five years of this type of growth SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½” it was a billion dollars in debt when she entered office, who knows where it stop when she leaves? We need to have a conversation about maybe, and I stress maybe, we need to do a cabinet shuffle, because this type of moving forward is only going to bless the youth with a debt they will never be able to service."

Wawzonek has told the assembly the request to increase the debt limit was automatically triggered by the GNWT's fiscal policy because the GNWT is now within $120 million of the ceiling. She added the GNWT has not yet made a specific numerical request.

Watch today's session here: