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

Board of Management
Nahendeh
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Email
Phone
867-767-9141
Extension
11128
Constituency Office

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

Phone
867-695-3780

Statements in Debates

Committee Motion 87-18(3): Bill 20: Ombud Act - Deleting subclause 17(3) and substituting the following, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 47)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess my concern is: what is reasonable? You know, 10 percent, 5 percent, that is reasonable. Again, we are talking about people. They should have the right. I don't believe picking a number out of the air, January 1, 2016, is acceptable. We are talking about the residents of the Northwest Territories. Once this bill has passed, there shouldn't be a deadline to it. I will not be supporting this recommendation. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Motion 24-18(3): Revocation of Appointment of the Honourable Member for Great Slave to the Executive Council, Defeated
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 47)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have to give credit to the Minister. That's leadership. He stood up, took responsibility, and apologized to the children and the families that have been affected. I thank the Minister for that. My problem, though, is we still did not put resources to it. We are going to wait until next year to start this, so that's another six months that Cabinet has to wait because they should be bringing a supp to the floor and saying, "Hey, we need to put some money to this. We need to hire more people, more social workers there."

I know it's great that we are doing it next term or...

Motion 24-18(3): Revocation of Appointment of the Honourable Member for Great Slave to the Executive Council, Defeated
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 47)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS pursuant to Section 61.(1) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, the Legislative Assembly recommends to the Commissioner the appointment of Members of the Executive Council;

AND WHEREAS pursuant to Section 61 .(2) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, the persons appointed hold office during the pleasure of the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS the Assembly, pursuant to these powers, has chosen the honourable Member for Great Slave to sit as a Member of the Executive Council;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member...

Question 482-18(3): Municipal Funding Gap
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 47)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much for the Minister for providing that information. I understand the fiscal realities of the Northwest Territories, and I understand that, but we're talking about our municipal government. I would hope that the government would start looking at trying to close that gap even quicker. Will the Minister commit to tabling the department's strategy to fulfill the mandate commitment of 4.55 at the next sitting of this Assembly in February? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 482-18(3): Municipal Funding Gap
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 47)

I appreciate the answer from the Minister, and I appreciate the department's work with the NWT's Association of Municipalities. Can the Minister advise what the department has done to close the gap over the last three years?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 47)

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize two constituents of mine: first, Gladys Norwegian, Grand Chief for the Dehcho Nation; and Emma Amundson, who is on the board of directors for the Native Women's Association. Welcome and thank you very much for attending.

Bill 30: An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 47)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive rule 89(3) and have Bill 30, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act, referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Unanimous consent granted

Motion 24-18(3): Revocation of Appointment of the Honourable Member for Great Slave to the Executive Council, Defeated
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 47)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a serious matter before us today, and I do not approach it lightly. Since we became colleagues in the 18th Assembly, the Member for Great Slave has been responsive and supportive to me as an MLA. I have been able to work with him on concerns for my constituents at all hours of the day, and I greatly appreciate that as well as the good work that he has done for his own constituents. By its very nature, the Standing Committee on Social Development, which I chair, works very closely with the Member in his roles as the Minister of Health and Social Services. Last...

Motion 23-18(3): Revocation of the Appointment of the Honourable Member for Hay River South, Defeated
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 47)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I stand today in support of this motion. My support doesn't come from a personal grievance, but I have to stand up for the people of the Northwest Territories. I know that a debate like this will risk becoming a painful, combative experience, but I am confident that this Assembly can raise above that to make the best possible decisions in the Northwest Territories.

What do I want to see come from this debate? I am looking for accountability. I want to see respect toward this side of the House and questions answered. I want residents' concerns to be heard and...

Question 482-18(3): Municipal Funding Gap
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 47)

I greatly appreciate the Minister's answer to that, and I'm very excited about the department working on their asset management, getting a longer life out of our facilities, and making sure they work better. I applaud the department for doing that. Has the department done any calculations or projections to determine the cumulative shortfall of the funding gap since 2016, and what is the amount of funding gap right now?