Consensus-style government was thrust into the spotlight last week when members of the Nunavut legislative assembly voted to remove Paul Quassa from his role as premier.
Paul Quassa, far left, was in Yellowknife in May for a summit of western premiers. Quassa lost a confidence vote in the Nunavut legislative assembly last week and was ousted from his role as premier.
May 23, 2018
A majority of MLAs had lost confidence in Quassa, so they used their authority to push him out with a motion of non-confidence.
Members of the house chose deputy premier Joe Savikataaq to be the new government leader.
To some observers in the Northwest Territories, the successful non-confidence motion in Nunavut was an example of effective consensus government.
SA国际影视传媒淔ascinating debate about Paul QuassaSA国际影视传媒檚 leadership & consensus government,SA国际影视传媒� tweeted Yellowknife Centre MLA Julie Green on Thursday.
SA国际影视传媒淪o much for #NWT to learn.SA国际影视传媒�
Nunavut's non-confidence vote was SA国际影视传媒渁n exercise in accountability,SA国际影视传媒� Green said in an interview on Friday. SA国际影视传媒淭he MLAs held the premier accountable for his performance.SA国际影视传媒�
Last October's midterm review of Premier Bob McLeod and the NWT cabinet was meant to provide a similar level of accountability, but in Green's view, it fell short.
SA国际影视传媒淚nstead of having each MLA vote according to the wishes of his constituents, they were all bound into this cabinet solidarity in a situation in which there should have been a free vote, which is what happened (Thursday) in Nunavut,SA国际影视传媒� said Green.
Following the mid-term performance review, members voted by secret ballot on whether they still had confidence in the premier and each minister.
Louis Sebert, the minister of Justice and Lands, was the sole member of cabinet to lose the vote.
But unlike Quassa, Sebert kept his job.
That is because in a public confidence vote two weeks later, some MLAs changed their tune.
A majority of the house, including all of cabinet and four regular MLAs, voted against a motion to remove Sebert from the executive council.
When asked whether cabinet voted as a block in October to protect Sebert, the premier stated the following in an email:
SA国际影视传媒�The deliberations of cabinet meetings are kept entirely confidential so that discussions can be as frank as possible.SA国际影视传媒�
He went on to say, SA国际影视传媒渋t is important to remember that cabinet did not vote alone on this motion; all MLAs voted, including four regular MLAs who voted against it.SA国际影视传媒�
Neither Nunavut nor the Northwest Territories has political parties, meaning each member of the legislative assembly is elected as an independent.
In the NWT, elected members select the premier, speaker and six cabinet ministers from among their ranks.
The remaining 11 members make up a majority of the legislative assembly and act as an opposition of sorts.
The regular MLAs are responsible for questioning ministers in the house and holding them to account for their actions (or inaction).
In party politics, SA国际影视传媒渢he premier may be a dud but you have to wait four years to do something about it,SA国际影视传媒� said Green.
She said Nunavut's political shake-up demonstrates that consensus government is able to respond quickly to poor leadership.
To be sure, said Green, MLAs in NWT and Nunavut recognize the importance of government stability, which is why no confidence motions are so rare.
There has never been a successful non-confidence motion in the NWT.
In Nunavut, Quassa was the first premier in the territory's 19-year history to be removed between elections.
Kieron Testart, the member for Kam Lake, also took to twitter on Thursday: SA国际影视传媒淎 big day for the Nunavut Legislative Assembly as MLAs vote overwhelmingly to remove Paul Quassa as Premier.
SA国际影视传媒淚t takes real courage to stand up to power and from listening to the MLAs it was not an easy decision, but nevertheless one that had to be made.SA国际影视传媒�
To David Wasylciw, the events in Nunavut signaled that consensus government there is SA国际影视传媒渁 little healthierSA国际影视传媒� than in the NWT.
An advocate for transparent government and the man behind OpenNWT, Wasylciw believes the NWT's mid-term review and subsequent confidence votes, were SA国际影视传媒渘ot terribly worthwhile.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淓verybody spent all their time trying to get ready for the review rather than actually accomplishing something,SA国际影视传媒� he said on Friday.
There is value in elected officials taking stock of their progress, said Wasylciw, but in the midterm review, political motives appeared to drive the process.
SA国际影视传媒淚t wasn't just about performance, it wasn't just about programs, it was also about who gets to be in cabinet,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Wasylciw sees upsides to both party politics and consensus government.
SA国际影视传媒淭he whole point of consensus and coming together is that you get solutions that appeal to more people,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
SA国际影视传媒淭here's a lot of ways where it works,SA国际影视传媒� Wasylciw added, SA国际影视传媒�(But) I think we can make it work better.SA国际影视传媒�
McLeod had 'strong relationships' with previous Nunavut premiers
Premier Bob McLeod did not initially comment on the leadership change in Nunavut.
Upon a request from Yellowknifer, he issued this statement:
SA国际影视传媒�The three territorial governments have a strong relationship built on respect and a desire to improve the lives of Northerners. I had strong relationships with Premiers (Peter) Taptuna and (Paul) Quassa, and look forward to working closely with Premier (Joe) Sakivataaq.SA国际影视传媒�
McLeod added that he is confident he can work with the premiers of Nunavut and the Yukon to push northern priorities.
SA国际影视传媒�I have known and worked with Premier Sakivataaq previously when we were both with the Department of Renewable Resources prior to the creation of Nunavut,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
SA国际影视传媒�I look forward to seeing him again when we are in New Brunswick next month at the Council of Federation.SA国际影视传媒�
