What happens if N.W.T. MLAs vote down budget? Former staffer says it would be 'uncharted territory'

In a party system, it could be enough to topple a government. But what happens if MLAs vote down a budget in a consensus government? 

N.W.T. MLAs have been discussing the territory's capital budget and on Oct. 23, members announced they wouldn't support the proposed plan without more money for housing and health care.  

In a party system, the leader of the ruling party chooses their cabinet. If a budget is defeated by the opposition, it's considered a confidence matter and can lead to an election. 

In consensus government, however, independent members vote cabinet ministers into their positions and work with them to advance policy and projects. But with no precedent, it's not clear what voting down the budget would mean for the N.W.T.

"If they vote the budget down, I'd say we'd be in uncharted territory," said Shaun Dean, a former staffer for the territorial government and press secretary to two former premiers.

Dean said it's unlikely it would come to that and that it's part of regular budget deliberations to hold out for concessions from the government. He said it would be more likely for the assembly to delay the budget vote than for MLAs to vote it down.  

There's no deadline to approve the capital budget, but if it's delayed past the fall session — which ends Nov. 1 — MLAs will have to wait until the winter session in February. 

Dean said that means it'll take longer to buy and ship materials for infrastructure projects outlined in the budget, and there's a risk of missing the winter road season entirely.

Cabinet shuffle a possible outcome

The MLAs' disapproval of the proposed budget was tabled in the legislature Wednesday as a statement from the standing committee on accountability and oversight, which all members are a part of. Denny Rodgers, the MLA for Inuvik Boot Lake, read it out. 

"It is not lost on committee the gravity of the position that we have taken and would reiterate that we are urgently seeking a course correction from government," he said. 

While unlikely, Michael Miltenberger, an MLA of 20 years and former finance minister, says if the members do vote against the budget, one possible outcome would be a cabinet shuffle.

"If the MLAs are really unhappy and they figure the finance minister is the culprit then you don't vote the budget down, you fire the finance minister," he said.

But Miltenberger says it's more likely the assembly comes to some kind of a compromise. He said it's common for members to stand up in the House and voice their dissatisfaction but closed meetings are where members find common ground.   

"That's one of the good things about consensus government," he said "The whole government doesn't have to fall in total crisis, but that 19 members apply themselves in their roles to get stuff done."

MLAs' concerns more operational, says expert

Dean said he was struck by the fact the committee's statement is primarily about operational and policy concerns. 

"I don't really see how they can be addressed with additional spending in a capital budget," he said. 

The capital budget involves infrastructure for things like roads, energy facilities and buildings. 

In the committee's statement, Dean said MLAs were asking for changes to management culture at health and social services, recruitment and retention supports and mental health supports for youth and schools. 

They do ask for more money for housing, which Dean said there's potential for in the capital budget. 

Dean said he expects members are meeting with the Finance Minister to discuss the specifics of their requests. He said there will likely be more details on what MLAs want as the assembly goes through the health and housing sections of the budget in the final days of the fall session.