Bob McLeod has been elected to an unprecedented second consecutive term as premier of the Northwest Territories by a secret vote of MLAs.

"This will be an assembly of change and better government," McLeod told the assembly after the results of the vote were announced.

Read more on the process | A close race for N.W.T. premier? We'll never know

"A clear message that I heard from voters during the election campaign is that they want to see positive change in territorial politics. They want to see a government that is more transparent and open to input from the public on priorities and decisions."

He named the high cost of living, settling land claims, meeting housing needs and investing in youth and renewable energy as priorities, while acknowledging the challenge of the territory's gloomy economic outlook.

2nd term

No modern N.W.T. premier has ever served a second term as premier. MLAs chose McLeod over challenger Glen Abernethy, MLA for Great Slave, who was a cabinet minister in the last assembly.

"I think that people really wanted continuity in the face of so many new regular MLAs," said Yellowknife Centre MLA Julie Green.

"I think they wanted somebody who demonstrated some knowledge of the government, of the files that are underway, who has provided some solid leadership."

On Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement congratulating McLeod on his re-election.

"I look forward to working with Premier McLeod in a spirit of openness and collaboration to address the unique challenges and opportunities of the Northwest Territories," the statement read.

"Moving forward, some of our priorities will include addressing the high cost of living, improving health services, ensuring affordable housing, investing in climate change preparedness, and discussing additional means to support economic development, including through investment in infrastructure."

There are no political parties under the Northwest Territories' consensus system of government. Following an election, in which candidates run as independents, the 19 MLAs choose a Speaker, premier and six other cabinet ministers from among themselves. The remaining members function as the opposition.

McLeod, MLA for Yellowknife South, was first voted premier in 2011.

He was born in Fort Providence and moved to Yellowknife in 1979. McLeod worked in the civil service for 28 years before entering politics. He's served as deputy minister in three different departments and was the secretary to cabinet during the 15th Assembly.

First elected as an MLA in 2007, McLeod served as a cabinet minister in the 16th Assembly, before becoming premier in the 17th Assembly.

His brother, Michael McLeod, was recently elected as the Liberal MP for the Northwest Territories.

Jackson Lafferty chosen Speaker

Earlier, Jackson Lafferty was voted in as the Speaker of the N.W.T. legislature. The MLA for Monfwi was the only person nominated for the post.

Lafferty was also the only candidate in the Monfwi riding this election, and was acclaimed as MLA.

N.W.T. MLAs line up to cast their secret ballots for premier in the legislative assembly chamber. (Randall McKenzie/CBC)

He was born and raised in Behchoko, went to high school in Yellowknife and studied business and community development at Red Deer College and the University of Lethbridge in Alberta. Before becoming an MLA in a 2005 byelection, Lafferty worked for Diavik Diamond Mines and the GNWT.

In the last assembly, he served as deputy premier, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and the minister responsible for the Workers Safety and Compensation Committee.

Eleven MLAs put themselves forward for the six cabinet positions. After a lengthy voting process, in which three ballots were required to determine the two ministers from the southern constituencies, the cabinet was announced.

The new cabinet ministers are Great Slave's Glen Abernethy, Range Lake's Caroline Cochrane, Inuvik Boot Lake's Alfred Moses, Inuvik Twin Lakes' Robert C. McLeod, Thebacha's Louis Sebert and Hay River South's Wally Schumann.