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
Shane Thompson
Nahendeh
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Shane_thompson@ntassembly.ca
Phone
867-767-9141 (link is a phone number)
Extension
11128
Constituency Office

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

Phone
867-695-3780(link is a phone number)

Statements in Debates

Question 801-18(2): Maintenance of Highway Roadside Turn-offs
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 74)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for that answer. I appreciate both departments taking the proactive approach trying to clean up our areas. Is the Minister able to look at the potential of actually having one department, whether it is Infrastructure or ITI, cleaning up these roadside assistance turn-offs so it is not two departments? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 801-18(2): Maintenance of Highway Roadside Turn-offs
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 74)

I thank the Minister for that answer. Mr. Speaker, I have had the opportunity about three weeks ago to travel from Fort Simpson to Grande Prairie and stopped at the various roadside stops just to stretch our legs as we moved on to Grande Prairie. My concern was that the garbage was spread around the facility. Can the Minister advise the House how much of the area surrounding the turn-off facility is taken care of by the Department of Infrastructure?

Committee Report 12-18(2): Report on the Progress Review of the Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 74)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Lifelong learning, skills development, training, and employability are major priorities of the 18th Assembly, but progress in these areas has been difficult and slow. Government initiatives on junior kindergarten and school instructional hours have demanded a significant proportion of the department's and committees' limited time. The department's progress was continually challenged by funding shortfalls and poor, inconsistent communication.

The cost and availability of childcare is a growing concern, but the department is not on track to fulfill its commitment to a...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 74)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Terry Jaffray, or Teresa Jaffray, as I found out her real name was today, or yesterday, actually, and her husband Brian Jaffray, who both are constituents in my riding, as well as Mayada Echtay, who is one of my new constituents' assistant. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 74)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess my concern is: when asked the question are we going into business against a company that is in my riding? In my riding, we have a company that deals in the Sahtu and down the river to the Fort Liard in Nahendeh. Is this company, MTS, going to be in business against the company that is in my riding? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Question 801-18(2): Maintenance of Highway Roadside Turn-offs
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 74)

I thank the Minister for that answer. It is great to hear that this is starting to happen. I am happy to see we have got an increase of 2.3 per cent of tourists coming into our territorial parks, and, in my riding, 49.84 per cent have seen an increase at Blackstone. To me, these sites are important. Roadside assistance is important to clean them and that. Is the Minister able to share with us the schedule, or is maintenance just done day-to-day?

Question 801-18(2): Maintenance of Highway Roadside Turn-offs
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 74)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have seen in the news and my colleagues and the Cabinet have heard people talk about turn-offs and the shape that they are in, and in my riding people are asking who is responsible for this. I assumed it was ITI or ENR or both of them, but I was not totally sure. Can the Minister responsible for Infrastructure identity who is responsible for what with these road turnoffs? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Acknowledgment 24-18(2): Bernice Hardisty-Isaiah, 2017 Premier's Award for Collaboration Recipient
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 74)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate my constituent, Miss Bernice Hardisty-Isaiah, for receiving the Premier's Award for collaboration for implementation of the NWT cancer strategy. I've had the pleasure of working with Bernice in previous positions and I'm happy to see her hard work recognized. With a big heart and sympathetic spirit, she has always been dedicated to the entire well-being. On behalf of the region, I would like to express the pride we have in her for receiving this work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Member's Statement on Tribute to Education Hall of Fame Inductee Teresa Jaffray and Recognition of High School Graduates in Fort Liard and Fort Simpson
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 74)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the school year is ending very soon and grad season is about to begin. In my riding, there are two high schools, Acho Dene School in Fort Liard and Thomas Simpson High School in Fort Simpson. The Fort Simpson school accommodates students from Wrigley, Sambaa K'e, Nahanni Butte, and Jean Marie River. The two schools will be hosting their graduation ceremonies on June 15th and June 17th respectively.

Mr. Speaker we will see 19 high school students graduate. They will represent part of the future work force, and I am proud of them for completing the first of...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 74)

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for that answer. I think that alleviates some concerns in my riding about Esso at that point in time. I am good with what was spoken of. Thank you, Mr. Chair.