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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A movement is afoot to oust the premier and his cabinet.

On Wednesday, Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen stood up in the legislative assembly and announced she would table a motion to sack all seven cabinet members Friday.

If the vote passes, the change would be effective immediately, and just a day after Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger releases his territorial budget.

Groenewegen said she raised the motion on behalf of regular members.

"The frustration has been growing with this particular cabinet and this premier over a long period of time," she said. "It's one thing after another."

She said communication between cabinet and regular MLAs has not been forthright since the first days of the 16th legislative assembly in 2007, starting with "inaccurate" answers to questions about Deh Cho Bridge cost projections, through to the government's lay-off notifications last year and the recent Discovery Air bailout and supplementary health benefits program announcement.

"I found out about the supplementary health benefits changes at a chamber of commerce meeting in Hay River when I was confronted by a senior, in front of the entire business community," she said.

"These guys in this cabinet are insensitive, bad communicators and they have their heads in the skies somewhere and they are not in touch with the people of the North," she said.

She said there wasn't anything that would make her take the motion off the floor.

She said not all cabinet members will necessarily lose their positions.

"The ones who have been doing a good job will be back in cabinet and the ones who haven't ... will not be back," she said.

Groenewegen said repeatedly the premier was doing a poor job, but she would not comment on who was being targeted in the motion.

"We probably should have thought about this before but because we are heading into difficult times, we have to take the drastic measures," she said.

The motion was seconded by Tu Nedhe MLA Tom Beaulieu.

The motion needs the support of at least ten MLAs to pass.

If passed, MLAs would convene to select a new premier, who would then choose a new cabinet.

There are 11 non-cabinet MLAs and at least one has already made it known publicly that he will not be supporting the motion.

Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins issued a press released immediately after the house convened Wednesday stating his opposition to the motion.

He said axing cabinet comes at a bad time and said he wanted government to work together to "seek collaborative solutions" in the face of "unprecedented economic challenges."

He said the motion was too broad.

"It's hiding behind a blind sweep, instead of saying this particular person needs to go and why," he said.

Premier Floyd Roland said the motion is a personal attack.

"Their shadow cabinet must now be thinking they are ready to take over real roles."

"Is this action about the people of the Northwest Territories or about political motivation?" said Roland.

Groenewegen said claiming the motion was based on political motivation was completely uncalled for.

Roland said he has heard concerns raised about communication from cabinet to regular members but said cabinet has to take care of day-to-day business.

"Not every letter can run through a committee or committee process to be reviewed," he said.

Roland said if the motion were to pass, the work the government has accomplished in Ottawa would be damaged. The motion also raises concerns about the way consensus-style government is running, he said.

"What does this mean for consensus government if these types of initiatives come up every session, where there has been the threat of somebody's head being put on the chopping block."

Health Minister Sandy Lee said she foresees a complete gridlock.

"There are better ways to debate in the open," she said.

"The members are not talking about what we have done wrong."

Groenewegen said if the motion passes, allowing Milteberger's budget to stand would be up to whoever becomes finance minister.

"We will be in a budget session, regardless of who is sitting in the finance minister's chair," said Groenewegen.