Member Nahendeh

Speaker

Shane Thompson was re-elected to the 20th Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly after serving in the 18th and 19th Assemblies representing the constituency of Nahendeh. Mr. Thompson is the Honorable Speaker of the 20th Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Thompson was first elected to the 18th Assembly in November 2015 and served as Chair of the Standing Committee on Social Development. Mr. Thompson was also a member of the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning, the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures, and the Striking Committee.

Mr. Thompson was born on July 11, 1963, in Hay River. He has lived in Kugluktuk (Coppermine), Inuvik, Hay River, and in Edmonton, while at the University of Alberta. Fort Simpson has been his home since 1992.

Mr. Thompson previously served two terms (three years each) as an elected official with the Fort Simpson District Education Authority, spending the last four years as the chairperson. Over the past 35 years, he has served on various community and territorial boards.

Mr. Thompson was employed as the Senior Sport and Recreation Coordinator with Municipal and Community Affairs (GNWT) in the Deh Cho region before being elected as a Member.

Mr. Thompson completed the Community Recreation Leaders Program at Arctic College in 1989 and is currently working on a Masters Certificate on Evaluation at the University of Victoria and Carleton University. He also completed three years towards an Education degree at the University of Alberta.

Mr. Thompson is an active volunteer with Northern Youth Aboard, CBET and Fundamental Movement, and HIGH FIVE®. As well, he is a past member of the Sport North Federation Board, NWT Softball and of NWTRPA, and the past president of Seven Spruce Golf Course.

Mr. Thompson is the father of seven children - five daughters and two sons – and has nine grandchildren.

He has been a Justice of the Peace since 1991.

Nahendeh Electoral District

Committees

Shane Thompson
Nahendeh
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Constituency Office

9706-100th Street
Fort Simpson NT X0E 0N0
Canada

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 73)

Can the Minister advise us: has the department developed policies and procedures for staff and contractors in dealing with climate change issues?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 73)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had a Member's statement about Tim Brown. Previously, before he passed away, I was at the airport and we talked about a situation that happened where a piece of equipment ended up falling through the permafrost in Fort Simpson, of all places. We were talking about it. It wasn't an operator. He did this job 20 years. It wasn't the equipment. What changed? The environment. I have some questions for the Minister of Infrastructure today, Mr. Speaker, and first of all, I'd like to thank Tim for bringing this forward. Can the Minister advise the House: what has the...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 72)

I agree with the Minister. First of all, I have to thank the department and the staff for doing a great job, for getting the ferry on the 15 average. The 15-year average was the day we actually got in there, even with all of these difficulties, so I thank him. Realizing the problems about the silt and gravel, has the Minister looked at the feasibility of dredging the area causing these problems for the ferry?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 72)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Percy Samuel Hardisty left behind an incredible legacy of family, humour, love, and friendship.

Percy Hardisty was born in Wrigley, NWT on July 9, 1951, to Arthur and Christine Hardisty. He was the youngest of three boys, and a big brother to his younger sister. He is survived by his sister Doreen and his brother Charlie.

Percy attended school in Fort Simpson and Yellowknife. Upon completing school, Percy served in the Canadian Armed Forces for five years of admirable service. After serving our country, he went on to work in the oil industry in Alberta. In 1977, Percy...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 72)

Listening to the Minister, he has talked about and I think the department is looking at the challenges we are facing, so I thank them for that. Has the department looked at this situation to come up with various options, and can he talk about some of them here today?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 72)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the past few years, I have spoken to the Minister of Infrastructure with concerns about our ferry service. In the past, we have seen lower water levels, which have caused disruption to the services. I have reached out to the Minister of Infrastructure numerous times to talk about different options, such as moving the ferry line and looking at various options across the river and potential bridge options. I realize some of these options are not feasible at this time. However, this year, we are seeing low water levels already, a very different break-up, and we could...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 72)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I realize we are in financial difficulties, and we are seeing some of the challenges. Will the Minister commit to having his staff reach out to the leadership and actually have a public meeting to discuss some of these options and hear the concerns from the residents so we can move forward? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 71)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to follow up on my Member's statement to the Minister of Health and Social Services. First off, I know the department has been doing a lot of work with communities, especially on cultural safety. What kind of questions and concerns has the department heard about the use of Tylenol or similar drugs in their own health centres, including issues like the one raised by my colleague from Mackenzie Delta, where people are getting sent home with a few pills? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 71)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for his answer. The cultural safety that his department is doing, I think it is great. I honestly believe we as a government should all be doing that, but I understand we're trying to work to make sure it works well before moving it on. Now, I know the Minister has talked about this a lot, but it's important for people to know, so I think it's worth hearing again. If people feel that they're not getting the care they need at their local health centres, where can they bring their concerns? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 71)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thought I was moving to another region. I am glad we got that cleared up.

I agree with the Minister, but sometimes they don't feel comfortable in bringing it forth, and we have been trying to work with the Minister on those types of things, and I thank him for this information. Mr. Speaker, what policies or other rules are in place to make sure health centre staff do some basic safety checks for all distributing of Tylenol or other similar drugs? For example, I am asking about alcohol use, liver health, and other factors that may affect dosage.