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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - MLAs voted unanimously Wednesday to remove Norman Yakeleya from cabinet two months after he was stripped of responsibilities by Premier Floyd Roland when it was revealed he was under investigation for sexual assault.

Norman Yakeleya: Couldn't be reached for comment - NNSL file photo

Even though the Sahtu MLA was in Yellowknife Tuesday to discuss the sex assault charge with MLAs, he was not present in the legislative assembly chamber during the vote, or at any other point during the first two days of session this week.

Yakeleya had remained as a cabinet member without portfolio since July 25 when Roland stripped him of his responsibilities after it was revealed he was under investigation for sexual assault on a 14-year-old girl in Tulita.

Frame Lake MLA Wendy Bisaro presented the motion, which passed unanimously without discussion 16-0. It was then back to business as usual for the legislative assembly.

Bisaro said Thursday that MLAs voiced different reasons to remove Yakeleya from cabinet during a special meeting called on Wednesday morning before the vote.

She said she voted to remove him to relieve the burden on other cabinet ministers tasked with Yakeleya's ministerial responsibilities so that another MLA can be selected to replace him. Yakeleya's portfolio for Municipal and Community Affairs and youth and seniors have been in Health Minister Sandy Lee's hands since his removal; the Worker's Safety and Compensation Commission went to Industry, Tourism, and Investment Minister Bob McLeod; Roland has the added weight of the NWT Power Corporation.

"I think it's had an effect on the efficiency and effectiveness of cabinet," said Bisaro.

She said she viewed Yakeleya's legal problems as a separate issue.

"That's an issue before the courts," she said. "His standing in the eyes of the court has nothing to do with my belief that we need to have a cabinet member who is effective."

Speaker Paul Delorey said a new cabinet member will be announced in the legislative assembly on Monday afternoon.

"We will be calling a leadership committee for Monday morning to fill (Yakeleya's) position on the executive council," he said. MLAs will vote by secret ballot at the meeting.

To retain regional balance, only members from far North constituencies will be considered for the position. That means either Robert McLeod from Inuvik Twin Lakes, the Mackenzie Delta's David Krutko, or Jackie Jacobson from Nunakput, will be crossing the floor into cabinet. Yakeleya, who has pleaded not guilty to the sexual assault charge, could not be reached for comment.