The ballots have been cast and the results show the majority of MLAs do not have confidence in Louis Sebert as a cabinet minister.

Those were the results of a secret vote held at the end of ThursdaySA国际影视传媒檚 midterm review of cabinet members and the premierSA国际影视传媒檚 performance SA国际影视传媒� the first to take place since the 12th assembly.

While the votes are non-binding, the expectation of many regular MLAs was that a minister who received a non-confidence vote would step down from their position.

However, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 not how things were unfolding yesterday evening.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think all cabinet members have performed and worked very hard,SA国际影视传媒� Premier Bob McLeod told media following the announcement of the results. SA国际影视传媒淚 canSA国际影视传媒檛 force anyone to resign. They can only be replaced by a motion of revocation.SA国际影视传媒�

Early in the day SA国际影视传媒� which involved nearly nine hours of speeches, questioning and short breaks in between SA国际影视传媒� cabinet ministers unanimously declared they would not resign from their executive roles if handed a vote of non-confidence.

Their statements came in response to a question from Hay River North MLA R.J. Simpson, who boldly asked whether cabinet would step aside or defy the secret vote and force members to remove them.

SA国际影视传媒淚f I get a vote of non-confidence, I would want to see who actually believes that I need to step down,SA国际影视传媒� said Caroline Cochrane, minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. SA国际影视传媒淭o step down is not what I came for.SA国际影视传媒�

Many ministers shared the sentiment, stating they would want a public vote if members were to ask they be ousted from cabinet.

SA国际影视传媒淭he only way to remove somebody from executive council is for an open, public vote in this assembly,SA国际影视传媒� said Health Minister Glen Abernethy, who stated there are established protocols for removing individuals from the assembly.

Given that, he wouldn't resign either. HeSA国际影视传媒檇 work with members to make improvements SA国际影视传媒渁nd hopefully be able to do a better job moving forward,SA国际影视传媒� said Abernethy.

Robert C. McLeod, who is responsible for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, as well as the Department of Finance, stated he would not step down either.

Resigning based on a secret vote SA国际影视传媒渨ould go against what we've been talking about for the last two years,SA国际影视传媒� he said, referring to work to improve government transparency.

Sebert, the transparency minister himself, agreed.

He said he had concerns about the SA国际影视传媒渟ecretive nature of the vote we are facing todaySA国际影视传媒� from early on.

SA国际影视传媒淭herefore, no, I would not resign,SA国际影视传媒� Sebert said.

But regular MLAs were not pleased by cabinetSA国际影视传媒檚 gesture.

Kam Lake MLA Kieron Testart said he was SA国际影视传媒渟hockedSA国际影视传媒� by cabinetSA国际影视传媒檚 declaration while Yellowknife North MLA Cory Vanthuyne said he was SA国际影视传媒渢roubledSA国际影视传媒� by cabinetSA国际影视传媒檚 solidarity, as it was his understanding everyone had independence.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen the question was put to the premier later, about how shall he direct cabinet to vote when it comes to this,SA国际影视传媒� said Vanthuyne, SA国际影视传媒渉e kind of shed a light on the fact that cabinet takes the position of solidarity and, if not, it could cause anarchy.SA国际影视传媒�

He said it was too early for him to say whether members would take steps to remove Sebert when MLAs begin the third session of the 18th assembly in just over a week.

However, Yellowknife Centre MLA Julie Green expects members to do so.

SA国际影视传媒淗aving gone through this process, we need to see it through to the end,SA国际影视传媒� said Green. SA国际影视传媒淥therwise, itSA国际影视传媒檚 kind of been meaningless.SA国际影视传媒�