Nunavut.

• Author: Baldwin, Alex
• Position: Legislative Reports

House Proceedings

The spring 2018 sitting of the 2nd Session of the 5th Legislative Assembly convened on May 24 and concluded on June 14.

The proceedings of the Committee of the Whole during the spring 2018 sitting were dominated by the consideration of the government's proposed 2018-2019 main estimates and departmental business plans.

On June 12, 2018, Chairperson of the Regular Members' Caucus and Arviat North-Whale Cove MLA John Main gave notice of a motion of non-confidence in Premier Paul Quassa. The motion was seconded by Gjoa Haven MLA Tony Akoak. The terms of the motion called for Mr. Quassa to be removed from the Executive Council. Under the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, the Premier and other members of the Executive Council "hold office during the pleasure of the Legislative Assembly."

The motion was formally considered on June 14, 2018. All Members of the Legislative Assembly were present in the House for consideration of the motion. A total of nine Members spoke to the motion during debate. Sixteen Members, including six out of eight Ministers, voted in favour of the motion. Three Members, including one Regular Member, voted against the motion. Two Members abstained. The Speaker did not vote.

Immediately following passage of the motion, the House recessed at 12:40pm to allow for the convening of the Nunavut Leadership Forum, which consists of all Members of the Legislative Assembly. The Forum is used to conduct the selection process for the Speaker, Premier and members of the Executive Council of Nunavut. The Forum's proceedings were open to the public to observe from the Visitors' Gallery and were televised live across the territory.

Three Members accepted nominations to serve as Premier: Rankin Inlet South MLA Lome Kusugak, Aivilik MLA Patterk Netser and Arviat South MLA Joe Savikataaq. Messrs. Kusugak and Savikataaq were both serving Ministers at the time of nomination. Each candidate was permitted to deliver a 10-minute speech. Members not standing for Premier were permitted to ask up to two questions to the candidates. In a secret ballot vote, Mr. Savikataaq was elected as Premier on the second round of balloting.

Iqaluit-Tasiluk MLA George Hickes was subsequently acclaimed to fill the vacancy on the Executive Council. Mr. Hickes, who had previously served as both a Regular MLA and a Minister during the 4th Legislative Assembly (2013-2017), was later appointed Minister of Finance by Premier Savikataaq.

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