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

Extension

12005

Constituency Office

9706-100th Street
Fort Simpson NT X0E 0N0
Canada

Phone

Statements in Debates

Debates of February 21, 2019 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 58)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's very, very important. I mean, we see that across Canada it's been implemented and followed through on, so why has the launch of the recalculation services been delayed? What is the stumbling block? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of February 21, 2019 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 58)

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I appreciate the Minister's answer. I understand that, in 2014, we had a thriving law practice in Hay River, and then we had a lawyer in Fort Smith at that time, who has now gone on to a different career. Again, though, it is about the ability to provide legal services to the residents of the South Slave, which encompasses a lot of the communities. Can the Minister look at a cost analysis of this and get back to committee on this? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Question 592-18(3): Seniors' Home Heating Subsidy

Debates of February 21, 2019 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 58)

Again, I thank the Minister. She talked about wood heat. In my riding, small communities use wood heat. They use that and they use fuel subsidy. These elders are in, you know, older ages. Again, when we did these changes, why weren't the communities, like we talk about the seniors, but why weren't the political bodies asked then question? Like DFN and those political bodies.

Debates of February 21, 2019 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 58)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess my concern is I am still hearing of people selling cannabis. What I am asking, though, was if the RCMP is able to confirm with you if they have been able to convict or charge people with this, for selling it, trafficking it. That is what I am asking. I will hope that they are able to give that to you and you are able to report to the House and the committee on that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of February 21, 2019 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 58)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the Minister looking into that. I am looking forward to seeing the numbers of JPs we have out there. Again, I think it is a valuable service for our system. You know, it helps the RCMP, it helps the community, and victims and people all alike. Again, it is just more of a comment, and I thank the Minister for looking into this matter. Thank you.

Question 592-18(3): Seniors' Home Heating Subsidy

Debates of February 21, 2019 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 58)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to follow up with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. My question is about the seniors' heating subsidy. When the Minister talked about those changes to the program, did the department ask for more money to the department, or did they actually use the existing money to make these changes? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of February 21, 2019 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 58)

Thank you. I am just asking: do we have a system in place to track it? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of February 21, 2019 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 58)

If I can ask a question there, Mr. Chair. Last year, I talked about the Justice of the Peace program. Can the Minister elaborate if we have seen an increase in hiring in that area? Appointing in that area, not hiring; appointments of that area. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Question 584-18(3): Seniors' Home Heating Subsidy

Debates of February 21, 2019 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 58)

The Minister talked about the number, a high number or less. A lot of elders are not even close to that threshold, and even when we see this subsidy provided, it still has a hindrance to these communities, and so our elders are having to make choices. My next question to the Minister is: can she please advise if the monetary allotment has a living index to it?

Debates of February 21, 2019 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 58)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. When we talked about legalizing cannabis, it was actually to stop the drug trade with cannabis and that there. What I am hearing right now is that we are not going to worry about that now. Is that correct? Is the RCMP able to actually prosecute individuals that are selling cannabis? Right now, it is supposed to be just for our retailers. Thank you.