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 , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 113)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the quick answer is no. We're hoping the contractors that people look at are reputable. But the contractors that we have in place, the assessors, and the abatement crews, they're reputable with these are companies that we know that are working there. We encourage the residents that are being impacted if they are going to get contractors there, make sure that they make sure that these people are reputable moving forward.

I can tell you that in the experience from my experience last year, a lot of the contractors that we used were all reputable businesses in...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 113)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, previously I spoke in this House saying that we've reached out to the federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada. To date, we have not received a response from him. So to give an update saying that we're getting more information, we're not getting any information.

The Member asked for getting well, we need update committee. We can update committee once we have information to provide. He talks about the website. We have other issues and other challenges, and we're more than willing to share information once we have current and important...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 113)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, according to the Alberta work plan to develop regulations to allow for the release of treated oil sand tailing water technical report to fill the knowledge gaps are expected to be shared with ENR this fall. No information other than the work plan and the RFP to hire contractors to fill knowledge gaps have been shared with ENR. These documents are public and presently out there.

Our next scheduled update from the Alberta mining/water science team is scheduled for early June. We will be working, once we have new information and we will make sure we get that to...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 113)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Damage assessment reports are being provided by the assessment contracting to MACA as they become completed. So in other words, as soon as the assessors are completing their report, it's given to our pathfinders. From that time, the damage assessors are at the home to the time their reports are provided to the homeowners can take several weeks. We ask the people to be patient. We have seven assessors on the ground, and they are working hard to get this work done. But we also want them to take the required time that they need to go through with the assessment. So what we...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 113)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we lined up four abatement companies to get in there, into the community, as soon as it was safely to do so.

In regards to the cost, the GNWT government is coordinating emergency work with, and the GNWT will cover the cost for those who prefer to coordinate the work themselves, there's an opportunity to submit backup documentation and seek reimbursement for work through an eventual claiming for disaster assistance. But if they use the four companies right now, that will be covered by the GNWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 112)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last year my constituents were going through this as well as Little Buffalo and Fort Good Hope. So I just need to make sure people are aware there are multiple steps. Many of them are occurring at the same time. You know, the GNWT needs to see the results of the detailed damage assessments to better understand the nature and extent of the flood damage. Some houses are impacted more than others and same with businesses. Many people have already started their cleanup and repair work, and they've been in touch with their insurance providers.

And again, we...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 112)

And I thank the Member for that. So the Member is correct as soon as it was safe we had our pathfinders in. We are working with impacted residents and that. So we are encouraging people to register, whether it's online or into the Hay River evacuation centre. As I said, we've had people going door to door on the reserve. So we do have pathfinders in there working on that. So once we get that, then we will have our assessors go in and check out the damages. And so again, it's working on the process. And again, the numbers, I'm not a hundred percent sure. Last number I heard was a hundred...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 112)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, before I answer the question, I need to clarify something.

Municipal and Community Affairs is working with the community handinhand. We were working with the communities before. Our regional staff are working with their staff in the and I am been in constant contact with the leadership and having that conversation of what we need to do, how we can work together, and that's the most important aspect about the communities lead, and we are there to support. We as the Government of Northwest Territories are all there to help.

In regards to the question the...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 112)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I answer that question, I'd like to thank the Member for his statement. It was bang on. The leadership in K’atl’odeeche, the Chief, did an amazing job. And also the Member, we had been in constant communication throughout this disaster.

In regards to the question, so each year the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs reaches out to the affected communities, or the ones we feel that are affected. We do have plans in place with them. They have their plans. And we look at it.

We also again, it's about working we have regional staff that reach out to the...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 112)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by saying that I, along with several of my Cabinet colleagues, had the privilege of visiting both the town of Hay River, K’atl’odeeche First Nation, and West Point First Nation, earlier this week to observe the damage caused by this year’s flooding in the South Slave region. I want to thank Mayor Jameson and Chief Martel for inviting and hosting us on our tours around your communities. Thanks also to MLAs Bonnetrouge and both MLA Simpson for accompanying us and demonstrating leadership for your communities. It was eye opening to see...