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The NWT’s MLAs will meet on Tuesday morning to select Lesa Semmler’s replacement in Premier RJ Simpson’s cabinet.
Semmler was the NWT’s health minister until she resigned in mid-September, saying it was “time for a new chapter.”
She has also resigned as Inuvik Twin Lakes MLA, with a by-election scheduled for November 24 to fill that seat. Nominations open on Monday next week.
In the meantime, a new cabinet member must be chosen.
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During a meeting starting at 10:30am on Tuesday as the legislature returns for its fall sitting, an MLA from one of four “northern” districts will be selected to replace Semmler.
The NWT’s cabinet is normally chosen according to what is dubbed the “2-2-2 convention.” This means cabinet is supposed to contain the premier plus two MLAs from Yellowknife, two from “southern” districts in the Dehcho and South Slave, and two from “northern” districts.
Semmler represented one of the six northern districts – Inuvik Twin Lakes – while her interim replacement as health minister, Lucy Kuptana, represents another as the Nunakput MLA.
That means the four options are Sahtu MLA Danny McNeely, Monfwi MLA Jane Weyallon Armstrong, Mackenzie Delta MLA George Nerysoo and Inuvik Boot Lake MLA Denny Rodgers.
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To be considered, each of the four would first have to allow their name to stand in Tuesday’s election. If only one person comes forward, they will be acclaimed in Semmler’s place.
If there is more than one candidate, that leads to speeches and a vote – or possibly a series of votes – among MLAs. All MLAs get a vote.
Whoever is chosen won’t necessarily become the health minister. While Simpson does not choose his cabinet under the NWT’s form of consensus government, he does choose individual cabinet members’ portfolios.
The meeting is open to the public. After this article was first published, the legislature said the meeting will be broadcast live on platforms like YouTube.
The appointment of Semmler’s replacement will be finalized by the adoption of a motion in the legislature following Tuesday’s meeting of what is known as the “territorial leadership committee.”
Only a year remains until the next territorial election.
The decision to vote in a new cabinet member on Tuesday – before a replacement Inuvik Twin Lakes MLA has been elected – appears not to have been unanimous. On Facebook, Range Lake MLA Kieron Testart said he wanted to wait.
“I did not agree to holding elections for a new cabinet minister before being able to speak to my consitutents about what they want to see in a new minister,” Testart wrote.
“I strongly believe the assembly should wait” until the end of the coming three-week sitting, he added.
