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 58)

If I can ask a question there, Mr. Chair. Last year, I talked about the Justice of the Peace program. Can the Minister elaborate if we have seen an increase in hiring in that area? Appointing in that area, not hiring; appointments of that area. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 58)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess my concern is I am still hearing of people selling cannabis. What I am asking, though, was if the RCMP is able to confirm with you if they have been able to convict or charge people with this, for selling it, trafficking it. That is what I am asking. I will hope that they are able to give that to you and you are able to report to the House and the committee on that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 58)

The Minister talked about the number, a high number or less. A lot of elders are not even close to that threshold, and even when we see this subsidy provided, it still has a hindrance to these communities, and so our elders are having to make choices. My next question to the Minister is: can she please advise if the monetary allotment has a living index to it?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 58)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. When we talked about legalizing cannabis, it was actually to stop the drug trade with cannabis and that there. What I am hearing right now is that we are not going to worry about that now. Is that correct? Is the RCMP able to actually prosecute individuals that are selling cannabis? Right now, it is supposed to be just for our retailers. Thank you.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 58)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That is great to hear, but what is our success rate? How many Indigenous people are case management workers? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 58)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I talked about fuel subsidy for seniors, and I talked about, in Fort Simpson, that $2,700, which works out to about 2,143 litres. Typically, when a fuel tank is filled to between 80 and 90 percent, that works out to be about 960 to 1,080 litres, or two tanks. Can the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment please advise why those changes were made to this program? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 58)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In other words, it is just more funding so that we can cover the costs a little bit more; we are not looking at developing a training program or a program for local Indigenous people that may assist the RCMP to do a better job? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 58)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Maybe I am not understanding clearly. I understand you do a training program, but previously, you just said that there was no need to be hiring new staff. My question was previously: have you done a cost analysis to see if we should have more staff in there that would reduce the cost of overtime? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 58)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just to clarify, are we actually asking the federal government to look at reinstating this type of program, or is it just something that we are talking about? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 58)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are talking apples and oranges. If you want to talk about mortgages, then let's talk mortgages on another day, but we are talking about increasing the fees. The fees are 33 percent and 50 percent on just those two that the Minister talks about. Can the Minister, then, provide us the increases for each of those programs and the percentage? Thank you, Mr. Chair.