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

Member's Statement on Proposed Elimination of the Social Work Diploma Program
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 48)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, the social issues in the NWT are not going away with an increase in industrial development. It needs to be a balanced approach by this government. When you look at our social issues in the NWT, they are vast and many, which could possibly have lessened with a workforce of people trained and educated on northern social work program.

Mr. Speaker, here we go again -- the fiscal restraint taken over without looking at the longterm picture of the Northwest Territories. The ill-advised cuts to Aurora College are misguided at best and...

Bill 13: Marriage Act
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 48)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to report to this Assembly that the Standing Committee on Social Development has concluded its review of Bill 13, Marriage Act, and wishes to report that Bill 13 is now ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 511-18(2): Proposed Elimination of Social Work Diploma Program
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 48)

I would like to thank the Minister for his answer. That is encouraging. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement, I spoke about how the college communicated with its students via email. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister please advise this House if the college has a communication policy that they use when informing students about changes and if this policy was adhered to on Thursday?

Member's Statement on Kole Crook Fiddle Association Annual Jamboree
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 47)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank my colleagues. I would like to thank the volunteers, instructors, and organizers for their hard work to keep the Kole Crook story and the love of the fiddle alive for future generations to come. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs for working with the association so they can access funds. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 498-18(2): Junior Kindergarten Implementation
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 47)

I thank the Minister for his answer. I have read that. I've read all your documentations. I've seen it, but I've got a whole bunch of communities out there that are asking these questions. When we're looking at implementing this junior kindergarten, has the department looked at additional costs such as busing, staffing to make sure that we have proper busing for these children, and the safety and then inclusive schooling with this junior kindergarten?

Question 498-18(2): Junior Kindergarten Implementation
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 47)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday I was asking the Minister of ECE a number of questions trying to clarify what's happening with junior kindergarten. In my role as the Chair of Social Development and in my travels in the communities, we've been hearing a number of concerns raised. So has the department looked at other options in communities with existing options instead of implementing junior kindergarten? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Member's Statement on Kole Crook Fiddle Association Annual Jamboree
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 47)

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. This past January 6-8, 2017, the Kole Crook Fiddle Association held its 14th Annual Jamboree in Fort Simpson. They've held the Jamboree in Fort Smith, Fort Providence, Hay River, and Fort Simpson over the last 14 years.

Mr. Speaker, Kole Crook was a Metis fiddler from Hay River who passed away at the age of 27 on December 31, 2001. He was flying from Fort Good Hope to perform at the New Year's Eve dance in Tulita when the plane he was on crashed. For the people who had the opportunity to know Kole Crook, they would describe him as an individual who would go into the...

Question 498-18(2): Junior Kindergarten Implementation
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 47)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that great answer, and yes junior kindergarten has been implemented in the Nahendeh riding. I'm glad the Minister recognized that and it does work; however, we're hearing a lot of concerns across the Territories. It's great we're looking at it, but there's going to be hidden costs to it. So instead of asking, that'll be another set of questions later on, but in regards to junior kindergarten will this be voluntary or are the communities going to have to be implementing this? There seems to be some miscommunication and misunderstanding. So will...

Question 498-18(2): Junior Kindergarten Implementation
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 47)

I thank the Minister for the answer. However, we’ve heard from a number of communities that they're saying that they would like the money actually to follow the child instead of going directly to junior kindergarten. Has the department looked at this option?

Question 496-18(2): Junior Kindergarten Implementation Funding
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 46)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that clarification. I guess my concern is that, if we are funding this completely, where is this money going to be coming from to implement junior kindergarten? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.