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 61)

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for that answer. So can the Minister please advise us why the Deh Cho position was cut over the other regions? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 61)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would just like to ask the Minister just to clarify the four positions. The four positions, one is being retired, correct, and the three positions are not filled, so those three positions, is that money gone, or is that money just staying within the department? I am just trying to get a clear picture on this. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 61)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for his answer. I look forward to that information. I guess, when he is providing that information, will the Minister commit to providing us how many new PST teachers will be needed for each school? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 61)

I thank the Minister for his answer. I guess my question, though, and I understand that: where is this money? Is it still in the budget? Was it something from here? Okay, thank you.

The Minister has also referenced ECE commitment to seeing a program support teachers in each community NWT school. I understand from our discussions in Committee of the Whole that they will be funded through the health, wellness, and students line item. What dollar amount has been identified to get these positions filled and bring a PST to each NWT school?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 61)

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for that answer, that's good to hear. I guess my big concern is that the department does a great job being reactionary, and I give them full credit to it, I'm hoping that the department will start looking at this as being a preventative way of making these communities safe.

In my riding, we live in very treed areas and sometimes the communities are totally engulfed in the trees. I would hope that the Minister can work with the department and get them to start looking at a proactive approach, a plan in place to address this concern in the...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 61)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I have been travelling across the NWT, the topic of caribou comes up with a lot of people. The more people I talked to, the more I became interested in what was happening in the Deh Cho in this area. After doing research, I found out the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is doing studies with boreal caribou in the Deh Cho.

Mr. Speaker, it was initiated in 2004 with the deployment of 10 satellite collars on adult female caribou at the request of, and after consultation with, Sambaa K'e Dene Band.

I am happy to say that there are extensive consultations in...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 61)

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank Dr. Kelly for her answer. So does the department or Municipal and Community Affairs help communities provide funding for them to fire smart the communities? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 61)

I have nothing further. I have kind of spoken my piece and the Minister unfortunately has a difference of opinion than I do. Very empowering or not, they get to make the final decision. Like I said, I respect his opinion and I understand where he’s coming from, but he also has to understand where I’m coming from. I cannot accept this. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 61)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank Dr. Kelly for her answer. Again, if I look at the numbers, if you go to page 81, there seems to be more positions in the water resource management area than there is into this environmental area. Some regions have three positions, and they already have one in there. Was this part of the functional review that the department did when they decided to remove this position? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 61)

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for that. Could the Minister advise where we find this other position? Is it in another department or division within this department? Thank you, Mr. Chair.