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

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 56)

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for his answer. Now, I am just going to be a little bit thick here. I just want to make sure I get this right. My seven schools in the Nahendeh riding will all, each, get program support teachers in their schools, to get that clarified? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Question 615-18(2): Proposed Elimination of Aurora College Programs
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 56)

Can the Minister commit to coming back to this House to say if the college actually looked at upper management?

Committee Motion 53-18(2): Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Education, Culture and Employment, Deferral of Education and Culture Activity, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 56)

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for the answer. The biggest problem is that, if communities don't have the money, they can't access this program, and if we can't access this program, people can't go to work, and if people can't go in to work, they have to go on income support. We are talking about a couple of months from now, trying to get this rolled out. If this budget is passed April 1st, it is going to come out. I would like to see the money out there. If we are not going to have it out there, or if you can't organize it, will the department look at maybe giving that money...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 56)

Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for providing that answer. Will he make the commitment to work with the Minister of Finance or his colleague to make these changes so that it is more clear? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Question 609-18(2): Proposed Elimination of Aurora College Programs
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 56)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I thank the Minister for his answer. Dependents are one thing. Family support is another, and that is the biggest challenge for us people living in the North. Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that, in the fall of 2015, the Aurora College Board of Governors signed an Indigenous Knowledge Declaration. Mr. Speaker, some of the students are not sure that the college was sincere when they signed this document. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain how cutting this program helps Indigenous people share their knowledge among their peers if they are attending a...

Committee Motion 53-18(2): Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Education, Culture and Employment, Deferral of Education and Culture Activity, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 56)

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for his answer. So I guess my concern is, as it is a subsidy or a partnership, we didn't access it fully this time and we have added $3 million to it. Will the department look at changing the policy so it is actually job creation and not a subsidy? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 56)

Okay. Thank you. I see a reduction, though, in mains here of $2.3 million and $1 millionandsomechange from schools in inclusive schooling here, so why are we seeing a reduction? Why is this? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Question 609-18(2): Proposed Elimination of Aurora College Programs
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 56)

I thank the Minister for his answer. Mr. Speaker, when looking at these cuts, can the Minister advise this House: did the college consult with the students on ways to improve the program and save it, or did they just go out and make these cuts without consulting the students?

Committee Motion 53-18(2): Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Education, Culture and Employment, Deferral of Education and Culture Activity, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 56)

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for his answer. So in regards to this program, is it a subsidy or is it a firstcomefirstserved sort of thing? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 56)

My time is going to be up, so you may as well put me back on the list. Again, we as the government are giving the school $150 million. The problem is we are saying, here is the money, so if we get a problem, you guys have to fix it because you are not addressing it. Is the government downloading onto the schools to make the hard decisions? Thank you, Mr. Chair.