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, 2nd Session (day 76)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to welcome everybody back. I hope you had an enjoyable summer. I would have to say mine, like most of you, went very quickly.

Today I would like to recap my summer adventures. Like most of you, I was dealing with constituents' issues. Some were more complex than others. Each session becomes a learning opportunity and a good reference for future challenges people face.

A couple of weeks later Minister Schumann and Minister Sebert did a regional tour to all six communities. I believe the trip was very helpful for the Ministers to see first-hand some of the...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 75)

I thank the Minister for his answer. This is very important program and I appreciate the department for the work they're doing in this area, especially with all the bullying that we hear about through the news and from what I'm hearing from parents. Can the Minister explain how this information is shared with parents in the DA member annually so they know that this is a system that the Education Department is implementing in all schools across the Northwest Territories?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 75)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to follow up with some more questions to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. During the presentation on Wednesday, the Minister and his staff spoke about healthier relationship programming. Can the Minister briefly explain to us what that program involves? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 75)

I thank the Minister for his answer. Mr. Speaker, this is very exciting news, as we educate our youth on the history of the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, my understanding is Northern Studies 10 is a course requirement for students to graduate. Will these other two Northern Studies courses be deemed prerequisites for our students to graduate? If so, why?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 75)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the Indigenous group of people from Colombia. I would like to thank them for showing up here. As well, two friends of mine, Mary, I will not try to say your last name, because I think the speaker did a good job. And of course, Mr. Steven Cooper, who is unfortunately a long-time friend of mine. He knows all my stories, and I have to say thank you for keeping the stories quiet, but remember, if you share stories, I share stories. I would like to thank him, and I would like to thank his firm and his staff for doing all the good work...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 75)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for his answer. I guess I'm struggling with some of the parents not hearing about it, and it is something like that. I guess, is the Minister able to provide me and other Regular Members with an update package so we can better understand this program and actually help promote this process so that parents are aware of how our education system is working and how we're making it healthier and better for our students? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 75)

I thank the Minister for that explanation. It's great to hear what they're doing there. Can the Minister advise us how this program was promoted during implementation?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 75)

I thank the Minister for his answer on two of my other questions. I thank him very much for that. Can the Minister please advise us as to when we think we will see this being implemented for the school year?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 75)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this past Wednesday the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and his department had the opportunity to present to the Standing Committee on Social Development on the NWT Education Renewal initiative. Mr. Speaker, it was a really good, very informative, and good presentation. Today, my questions are directed to the Minister around some parts of this presentation. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister please explain to this House what type of course material is being developed as it pertains to Northern Studies 20 and 30? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 75)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's a segue to my Member's statement. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to welcome to the House members and guests of the International Bar Association's Indigenous Peoples Committee. With a membership of over 40,000, the International Bar Association is the global voice of the legal profession.

Committee Chair Steven Cooper and Vice Chair Lina Lorenzoni organized an "Indigenous to Indigenous business knowledge exchange program" which has leaders from the Northwest Territories engaging with counterparts in Colombia. Mr. Cooper, as many Members may know, is a partner in...