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

Question 307-18(2): Fort Simpson Health Centre Planning Study
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 29)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for his answer. Is there any work being done right now on the site that involves fencing off areas? Because I've heard there's a fenced-off area there. I apologize; it was just a question that I've just come up with right now. Is the Minister aware of that and, Mr. Speaker, can he answer if it's been there and what's going on with that site?

Question 307-18(2): Fort Simpson Health Centre Planning Study
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 29)

Mr. Speaker, a study for the Fort Simpson Health Centre was introduced in the 20-year needs assessment, targeted over the 2013-2014, 2014-2015, and 2015-2016. On February 5, 2015 according to then Minister of Health and Social Services, the study was delayed so that the department can complete a plan study for the Norman Wells Health Centre replacement. Will the Minister confirm that the study for the Fort Simpson Health Centre will be completed by this fiscal year? Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

Question 31518(2): Fort Simpson Health Centre
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 29)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for his answer. In regards to long-term care, can the Minister explain the existing facility? Are they looking at utilizing that as long-term care as well, because I know he keeps giving the numbers out there. It's over 200 at a certain - I think 225 or 226. Can the Minister please elaborate on that?

Question 31518(2): Fort Simpson Health Centre
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 29)

I thank the Minister for his answer. It clears up a little bit more. He talked about it being a C facility; it could be a B or a C. Could he elaborate a little further about the guidelines, the parameters or designs on this facility, what a B or a C or a combination of B and C facility is?

Question 307-18(2): Fort Simpson Health Centre Planning Study
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 29)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank, again, the Minister for his answer. I will ask later on to the Minister of PW. Again, it seems to get cleared who's responsible for who, so I'm learning as the time goes on. Is there any way that the Minister can commit to the people or the residents of the region that this needed facility will be actually potentially moved up? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 307-18(2): Fort Simpson Health Centre Planning Study
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 29)

I thank the Minister for his answer. He kind of answered question number two already, so I'll move on to question number three here. Mr. Speaker, on October 15, 2015 the then Minister cautioned that the health centre project in Fort Simpson will have to compete against a number of other priorities coming from several territorial departments such as Transportation, schools and Public Works.

Mr. Speaker, the then Minister quoted to CBC, it is based on needs, demands, programs, services, budgets and all these things. Again to address the concerns out there, Mr. Speaker, can the Minister please...

MEMBER'S STATEMENT ON Fort Simpson Health Centre Planning Study
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 29)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding the contract to complete a planning study on the Fort Simpson Health Centre was awarded in March 2015. In October of 2015, the previous Member for Nahendeh requested an update. During that update the then Minister for Public Works and Services estimated the first phase of the plan he said would be finished in February 2016, and then the second phase would be in the fall of 2016. Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that this facility is needed to be replaced due to age, quality control and maintenance costs.

A new health centre helps...

Member’s Statement on Open Sky Arts Festival
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 28)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to take this opportunity to speak about an organization in Fort Simpson that has a huge impact in the arts, culture, and entertainment community across the North. I’ve had the opportunity to witness this organization grow from its first breath some 16 years ago to where it is today. Open Sky Society has a long history in Fort Simpson in Nahendeh. Open Sky will be hosting its 16th Annual Open Sky Festival this July. This event brings multiple benefits to the village of Fort Simpson and the businesses in the region. The festival is a tourist draw and...

Petition 2-18(2): Extended Operating Hours for MV Lafferty Ferry
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 28)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of the extended operating hours for MV Lafferty ferry. Mr. Speaker, the petition contains 153 handwritten signatures of Northwest Territories residents and three electronic signatures of Northwest Territories and Canadian residents. Mr. Speaker, the petitioners request that the Department of Transportation extend the operating hours of the MV Lafferty ferry to 6:00 a.m. to midnight daily without creating a service break in the afternoon. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 301-18(2): Electronics Recycling Program
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 28)

I won’t try to ask you the question this time. I’ll ask the question to the Minister responsible for ENR. I thank the Minister for that answer and I’m very happy to hear that there is a committee. Can the Minister actually advise the committee that there is some of these issues out there that people are looking at, the electronics that has, you know, getting a refund, so we can get all the electronics out of our dumps and into a proper recycling process? This will be my final question.