Shane Thompson

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

Nahendeh
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Extension
11128
Constituency Office

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

Phone

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 157)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said previously I've acknowledged that the search at Timber Bay was very difficult for some of the people at the camp who were not harvesting wildlife or harvesting wildlife in a respectful and lawful way. This was not the intent of the officers. As the investigation of this case is ongoing, I will not be able to speak further on this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 157)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When the report's done, we will make sure we'll get the report done when we get it done.

I have written to the leadership on several occasions regarding Timber Bay and offered to meet to discuss reconciliation efforts once the investigation is completed. ECC remains committed to our partnership with leadership. As previously stated, I will be happy to look at the community's event that would help foster reconciliation when the investigation is completed. This is related to an ongoing legal action. I'm unable to comment further on the search or the investigation to...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 157)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

During both the 18th and 19th Assemblies, some committee Reports have included dissenting opinions. The Rules don’t address dissenting opinions and how they can or should be incorporated into committee Reports. Committee recommends:

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the following be added after Rule 9.4(1):

(1.1) One or more Members of the committee may indicate that they dissent from a particular recommendation or comment.

(1.2) A Member or Members who wish to express the reasons for their dissent may do so in an appendix to the report.

(1.3...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 157)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to rise in the House to talk about the Youth Parliament that was held April 17th to 20th here in Yellowknife. I appreciate the Legislative Assembly staff and the Speaker for putting on this amazing event.

As you are aware, the Youth Parliament provides our youth a unique opportunity to travel to Yellowknife to take on the role of an elected Member and participate in the daily workings of consensus government at the Legislative Assembly. What is impressive about this opportunity is for students in grades 9 and 10 from across the Northwest Territories.

T...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 157)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to correct the Member. I did not say our Indigenous athletes cannot go to the Canada games, Arctic Winter Games. I'm just telling you this is where our athletes go or where they're able to go. So I respectfully disagree with the Member.

In regards to his question, in the NWT we continue to see that smaller communities continue to face challenges and barriers with capacity building at the community level to have more sports development locally and the number of volunteers and sports leaders in every community needs to increase to young athletes to develop.

Munici...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 157)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Canada Games are a unique multisport competition that brings together the very talented athletes in the country, and many of which go on to represent Canada at the national and international level. There is more to be developed where athletes and coaches in all 33 communities, and I agree with the Member on that. But this is more than just funding; it's also about developing coaches, officials, and organization, and it's about communities and schools keeping facilities open so that our athletes have a place to train and develop. With Canada Games, it is...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 157)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I acknowledge that the search at Timber Bay was very difficult for some of the people at the camp who were not harvesting wildlife or were harvesting wildlife in a respectful and lawful way. This was not the intent of the officers. At the time, our officers understood that they were carrying out a lawful search based on a warrant issued by the justice of the peace. As the investigation of this case is ongoing, I am unable to speak more on this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 157)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I have to thank the Member for the questions. But I have to thank him for his diligence in working with me to actually have the opportunity to speak with Chief Marlowe in a facetoface meeting. So, again, I thank him for his work as a constituent MLA for Tu NedheWiilideh.

In regards to his question, after concerns were brought forth in the media in relationship to the officers' conduct, ECC committed to undertake an external review of the officers' conduct during the investigation. Once the investigation is completed, work is currently underway...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 157)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize two pages from the Nahendeh, Addyson Erasmus, daughter of Alison Skinner and James Erasmus; and Sahtle Tsetso, son of Dottie and Joseph Tsetso. As well as I witnessed the chaperone Teena Lafferty and her daughter Mikayla here. So, again, I'd like to thank them. As well as our interpreter Mary Jane Cazon, and I appreciate all the work she's done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 157)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to provide an update on the territorial emergency response that is underway to support K'atlodeeche First Nation and the Town of Hay River as some residents of these communities return home following a second year in a row of evacuations caused by natural disasters.

On behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories, I offer my sympathies to everyone impacted by this year's wildfire. I am personally familiar with this experience having been forced to evacuate my own home in 2021 due to severe flooding that year. I know what many of you are...