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 63)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to recognize Norma Jumbo, who is a chaperone for two Pages, Aiden and Adam, and I would like to thank her for all of her commitment and work to bring these young men here to learn our operation here. Thank you very much for your time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 62)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Again, when we talk about gas tax, there are challenges, and, you know, we have had conversations about this, where communities' the funding has been withheld there. Can the Minister update us with the designated authorities, what is the status, whether it is today or a follow-up? I know we have had a conversation, but can we get that follow-up to tell us where we are? It is just not designated authorities, but any communities out there that are being impacted by this. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 62)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have been approached by many parents and leadership that we need our own speech and language pathologists and occupational therapists in the Deh Cho. It is my understanding that there are over 70 speech and language pathologist cases and over 50 occupational therapy cases that need to be seen from the Nahendeh alone. The frustrating thing is that this has to be done in 13 service days. If there is one day of bad weather, the assessments get cancelled for months. This tells me that the services are lacking for the Nahendeh and Deh Cho and our youth. It explains why...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 62)

Almost, almost, almost there, Mr. Chair. I will just stand up and make sure I get recognized. Thank you. Mr. Chair, talking about the NGO Stabilization Fund, I would like, first of all, to thank the Minister and Cabinet for the significant increase in the funding, of which has been seen, you know, it was doubled, so I think that is an amazing feat. I thank them for that. I understand that the department is going to undertake an evaluation of the NGO Stabilization Fund to ensure that the funding is being distributed accordingly to the policy, including seeking input from past funding recipients...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 62)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Being an MLA for designated authorities, four of them anyway, what is the status with respect to designated authorities with this program or with this strategy? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 62)

That is the answer. In regards to the South Slave region and that, I did have a meeting with the Minister and a commitment to get information on certain positions. When will that information be brought forward to myself? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 62)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The department business plans noted that a complete asset management strategy for the NWT community governments has been approved by Canada for use under the gas tax agreement to guide the distribution of targeted capital business building funds. Has MACA completed its work with the first intake of the 11 community governments? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 62)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can the Minister give us a timeline when he feels that will be done? Thank you.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 62)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Hopefully this will be my last question for this topic. In regard to community planning, am I correct in understanding that community planning has a responsibility for assisting communities with civic addressing? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 62)

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for that. Yes, I totally agree that we have all this new infrastructure and, you know, with new infrastructure come issues such as accidents that happen. Especially with tourists; they don't understand that you come up with a bike, and we're on gravel highways in some parts, so I'm looking forward to the department and hearing how we can actually enhance this. Because I know, in my riding, the community of Fort Simpson is actually the one that looks after it and, you know, it's a huge cost to them and they work on it. They're very good at it, so I...