Yellowknife (Oct 25/06) - According to Michael Miltenberger, dumped from cabinet Thursday, territorial MLAs are itching to stretch someone's neck but it wasn't meant to be his.

The former health and environment minister was sacked in an unanimous decision by regular MLAs after Kam Lake's Dave Ramsay accused him of threatening to have his wife and brother fired from government jobs for his aggressive line of questioning in the legislative assembly.

Miltenberger denies making any threats.

"As I was told by many members who called me on the weekend, they had the gallows built and somebody was going to be on it," said Miltenberger, hinting that Housing Minister David Krutko and perhaps the premier were on deck to go, as was reported in News/North Oct. 16.

"It wasn't meant to be me but that's how it turned out."

For the first time in more than five years, the Thebacha MLA was seated among regular members, opposite the government executive.

Miltenberger questioned the regular members' motives and criticized them for their role in his removal from cabinet last Thursday.

Miltenberger took exception to what he called "legislative vigilante justice" meted out after Ramsay made a motion asking Miltenberger be removed from cabinet.

All 11 regular members stood in support of the motion while cabinet showed solidarity with Miltenberger.

According to MLAs, Miltenberger made threats against Ramsay's wife and his brother during a lively question period Oct. 18.

Ramsay, who earlier that day had questioned Miltenberger on whether he was taking to account staff complaints at Stanton Territorial Hospital, said Miltenberger mouthed the words, "Your wife, your brother" and made a slashing motion.

He took it as a threat, targeting his wife's job as a Stanton nurse, and his brother, a former worker at the North Slave Correctional Centre. Both are government jobs.

Miltenberger provided a differing version on Monday. Miltenberger said he simply wanted to let Ramsay know where he thought the line of questioning was coming from and turned his hand, pointed in Ramsay's direction, palm up.

Denials aside, Miltenberger said he was more concerned about the precedent his ouster could set.

"The only thing that allows consensus government to exist is that vital forum of caucus," said Miltenberger. "In my case that practise, convention and tradition was bypassed."

Miltenberger said his case should have been made a matter for caucus discussion among all MLAs first, including cabinet.

Miltenberger contends that the Accountability and Oversight Committee - comprised of the only 11 regular members - went behind closed doors Oct. 19 and in its private discussions sealed his fate.

Miltenberger also warned his regular member colleagues that he would not support any moves to oust other cabinet members from their posts.

"We basically have this last session and this sets the government back and takes any momentum away," he said.

Ramsay remains unapologetic, however.

"If he wants to make me feel like the bad guy that's up to him," said Ramsay. "I perceived it as a threat and him being a bully."

Ramsay stood by his claim and downplayed Miltenberger's sacking as a setback.

"Life goes on, (Miltenberger's firing) happened because of what he said and did," said Ramsay. "Eleven regular members stood up and condemned his action. He said what he said and has to take responsibility for that."