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On Tuesday, John Main, a rookie MLA for Arviat North-Whale Cove, who chairs the non-cabinet members caucus, stood in the legislature and gave notice that on Thursday he would ask that the premier be removed from office.

To which the speaker of the assembly simply replied: “Thank you. Notices of Motions. Moving on.”

That notice for a non-confidence vote was required before Thursday’s vote.

The brief debate over the vote provided few specifics of why members were so riled up.

“This is about leadership,” said Main, “this is not about any one project, any one dispute, any one issue.

“There’s been a tendency to an autocratic style of leading, which clashes with our consensus style of government.”

Main said Quassa also misled the house.

George Hickes, who represents an Iqaluit riding, supported the non-confidence motion.

“It’s about leadership,” he said. “Every one of us has a say on who sits on which side of this house.”

Adam Lightstone, another Iqaluit MLA, said his constituents were telling him Quassa had to go.

“They’ve spoken of the direction that this government is moving in and fear of how it may impact our territory.”

Quassa addressed members almost entirely in Inuktitut, but added in English: “I respect each and every elected MLA.”

He did not respond to requests for comment prior to deadline.

There’s been a tendency to an autocratic style of leading, which clashes with our consensus style of government

Quassa has been criticized for spending more than $500,000 for representatives to attend an Arctic trade show in Ottawa and for withdrawing support for a request to Ottawa for millions to build a road from the central Arctic coast into the mineral-rich heart of the territory.