IQALUIT - Members of Nunavut's legislative assembly have voted to keep Premier Eva Aariak and her cabinet in power after a leadership review scrutinized the two-year-old government.

Premier Eva Aariak" "We just have to continue to tighten up our belts on spending and finding innovative ways to save money."

"I'm glad the whole thing is over," Aariak said Wednesday shortly after the results of the secret vote were announced.

All members of the assembly were given the opportunity to vote for changes in cabinet during the mid-term review.

MLAs heard statements made by the premier and each cabinet minister and then were able to ask questions.

A common focus of many questions was the government's mismanagement of housing funds, resulting in a $110 million shortfall through the Nunavut Housing Corporation.

"We just have to continue to tighten up our belts on spending and finding innovative ways to save money," Aariak said of a general financial strategy for the territory.

Also surviving the confidence vote was former housing minister Hunter Tootoo who has since taken over the education portfolio.

He said was relieved as now he and other members of the government can move forward.

"You always second guess yourself - this is a little pat on the back and it tells us we are going in the right direction," said Tootoo.

Speaking about the housing corporation, he said members had a right to be frustrated and demand answers.

"I found myself faced with a situation, to me it was, this is where we are, how do we deal with it, how do we move forward and make sure something like this doesn't happen again," he said.

Finance Minister Keith Peterson, in his statement, said he spent many sleepless nights over what happened with the NHC.

"In my opinion we are just getting by," he said in response to a question from a member about the territory's financial situation.

Peterson added the territory would need $2 billion for infrastructure such as schools and hospitals.

Aariak took power in 2008 and was chosen as premier under a consensus style of governance. There are no political parties and she, along with the other members of cabinet, was chosen by their peers.

This is the third time a midterm review has been held in Nunavut, but the first time it has gone to a secret ballot.

In her statement to the members, Aariak summarized the accomplishments of the government of the last two years, including the launch of Tamapta - a plan for where the government is going in the next 20 years - and the Suicide Prevention Strategy.

Quttiktuq MLA Ron Elliott compared the review to a student getting his or her report card.

"The end of your course and halfway through you get a review - what you need to work on, what you have to develop and what things aren't working very well," he said.

He said now that the review is completed, he and other members feel more reassured cabinet and the regular members have the same goals.

During the review, many members questioned if the government was divided between cabinet and regular members.

"We work as a unified group, there is no opposition as we are all members," said Lorne Kusugak, minister of Community and Government Services and minister of Energy.

Elliott said he and other regular members are going to continue to pressure the government on how it spends its money.

And as for the timing of the review, Elliott said it seemed to make the government more productive.

"If you get your report card halfway through and your marks are at 50 per cent you've got your parents breathing down your neck telling you to do your homework and telling you to pull things together," he said.

Louis Tapardjuk, who resigned as minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth on Oct. 28, was absent. Tununiq MLA James Arvaluk was also absent due to illness.