N.W.T. MLAs race through 2nd day of emergency session as vote on minister's future looms

The second day of an emergency sitting of the N.W.T. Legislative Assembly convened to decide the future of Katrina Nokleby, formerminister of infrastructure and of industry, tourism and investment, lasted barely fiveminutes Tuesday.

Last week, Premier Caroline Cochrane stripped Noklebyof both portfoliosin a surprise shuffle that had several MLAs and industry leaders publicly scratching their heads.

The first sitting of the emergency session on Monday included Cochrane tabling amotion to remove Nokleby from cabinet. In the consensus system, all 19 MLAs must vote on whether to remove a minister, even after that person has beenstripped of their portfolios.

Cochrane sought unanimous consent from the assembly Mondayto hold that vote to remove Nokleby from cabinet without the normal two-day notice. That unanimous consent was not metbecause of asingle "nay" vote from Nokleby herself.

So withthe vote on Nokleby on hold until Wednesday, there was little for MLAs to discussTuesday.

Paulie Chinna, minister of the N.W.T. Housing Corporation, tabled a report, and Yellowknife North MLA Rylund Johnson followed it with a motion to adjourn the house until Oct.15.That motion will be voted on this Thursday.

MLAs will reconvene Wednesdayat 1:30 p.m. to debate and vote on the motion to remove Nokleby from cabinet.

If the motion does not receive 10 votes, Nokleby will remain in cabinet as a minister without a portfolio.