Yellowknife (Oct 23/06) - A new health minister will be selected today to fill the position left vacant after Thebacha MLA Michael Miltenberger was fired last week.

In order to maintain cabinet's regional balance, only MLAs representing southern constituencies are eligible for the nomination.

Possible candidates for the cabinet position include, Deh Cho MLA Michael McLeod, who is the minister of Transportation and Municipal and Community Affairs; Hay River South MLA and one time health minister Jane Groenewegen; Hay River North MLA and current speaker Paul Delorey; Nahendeh MLA Kevine Menicoche; Tu Nedhe MLA Bobby Villeneuve; Miltenberger is also eligible to return to the post.

A 'threatening' remark aimed at the family of a Yellowknife MLA led the legislative assembly to pull the plug on Miltenberger yesterday.

Miltenberger's troubles began Wednesday during question period when he looked over at the Kam Lake MLA Dave Ramsay, and uttered the words, "Your brother and your wife," followed by a slashing gesture.

At the time, Range Lake MLA Sandy Lee was questioning the minister on the state of operations at Stanton Territorial Hospital where Ramsay's wife works as a nurse.

Ramsay had earlier questioned Premier Joe Handley on the wisdom of having Miltenberger juggle the portfolios of Environment and Sustainable Resources and Health and Social Services - the largest and most expensive department in the government.

Ramsay said it appeared Miltenberger's remark and gesture was a warning that his wife's job at Stanton Territorial Hospital was in jeopardy if he kept up his line of questioning.

"It was an out and out threat," said Ramsay.

"My wife is a nurse at the hospital. My brother used to work at the (North Slave) correctional centre (a government job)... He's probably trying to tell me that he knows my wife works at Stanton, and he's threatening me with that."

Ramsay added that it was "the worst thing I've seen happen here in the two years I've been here."

Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen, who sits next to Ramsay in the legislative assembly, said she too saw the gesture and heard the remark.

"He made a motion with his hand, and pointed over at Ramsay and said, 'Your brother and your wife,' and then kind of made a cross motion with his hand like telling somebody to shut up," said Groenewegen.

"I don't know exactly what it means, but he was definitely trying to shut him up, that's for sure."

Despite two apologies made prior to a vote by MLAs Thursday, Miltenberger was removed from his cabinet seat by the legislative assembly in a 11 to 7 vote.

"We will not be threatened," said Tlicho MLA Jackson Lafferty, who was among several MLAs to speak to the Ramsay-led motion.

All the regular MLAs voted for the motion while all cabinet ministers voted against it.

While several regular members spoke yesterday about their respect for Miltenberger's service over the years, it did not sway their unanimous support for Ramsay's motion. Prior to the vote, Premier Joe Handley asked members to consider their decision.

"Clearly (Miltenberger's) remarks were inappropriate," Handley said.

"I hope the house can look beyond this and the hard work he does in this house and this assembly."

Shortly after the vote, Miltenberger exited the chambers and the legislative assembly. He declined to comment.

"Not today," said Miltenberger.

--with files from Jason Unrau