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

Question 172-18(3): Arctic Winter Games Athlete Selection

Debates of February 27, 2018 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 17)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement, I had some questions for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. As you have heard, four athletes from Nahendeh didn't get the opportunity to compete for a spot on Team NWT. This is very disappointing, to say the least. Unfortunately, nothing can be done now for these games. However, I hope we can fix it for future games.

Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that each Territorial Sport Organization was required to have an appeal process in place for athlete selection that was approved by the GNWT. Can the Minister confirm if...

Debates of February 27, 2018 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 17)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In regard to these positions, has the department looked at the potential of moving that position into the Lands area and have them tag team? It is my understanding that a lot of the inspectors of Lands actually cross over and do water for the department as well. They do, actually, the mines and that. Has the department looked at putting that position into Lands so that they can actually work together? Thank you.

Committee Report 4-18(3): Report on Adult Residential Addictions Treatment Facilities Tour 2017

Debates of February 27, 2018 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 17)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your Standing Committee on Social Development is pleased to provide its Report on Adult Residential Addictions Treatment Facilities Tour 2017 and recommended to the House.

The Northwest Territories Department of Health and Social Services (HSS) contracts with four adult residential addictions treatment facilities: the Edgewood Treatment Centre in Nanaimo, British Columbia; Fresh Start Recovery and the Aventa Centre of Excellence for Woman With Addictions in Calgary, Alberta; and Poundmaker’s Lodge in St. Albert, Alberta.

From December 3 to December 8, 2017, the Standing...

Debates of February 27, 2018 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 17)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just in regard to the cross-water boundary things here, can the Minister update us on what is happening with Site C? I have been hearing a lot of concerns with this on how it is going to actually affect our communities down river, and I have been given a whole bunch of information here. What has the department been able to deal with regarding that issue? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of February 27, 2018 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 17)

Thank you, and I appreciate the Minister and deputy minister's answer. I guess what I am looking for, then, maybe is: can the Minister provide me with a list of the breakdowns of how many times they have had crews in there or needed crews in the communities, and potentially look at speaking with the communities to come up with some -- even if it is emergency training and getting them prepared, plus the employment, but we have an issue of fires in our region, and it seems to be scary at some times of the year, especially with the smaller communities, because I know Jean Marie, the fire was...

Question 162-18(3): Wood Pellet Production in the Northwest Territories

Debates of February 26, 2018 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 16)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister's answer and the department working on this project. My final question is: In regards to wood pellets that are being burned now to heat many GNWT buildings, how are the greenhouse gas savings calculated? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of February 26, 2018 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 16)

I thank the Minister for the clarification on that. It says, "NWT Business Development and Investment Corporation," it's the $943,000. Is that the BDIC cut? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Question 162-18(3): Wood Pellet Production in the Northwest Territories

Debates of February 26, 2018 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 16)

I thank the Minister for the answer. I think, probably, the standing committee would probably wish to see that. My second question is: I understand that more than 3.5 million hectares of forest have been burned in recent years, leaving behind large tracts of dry and boreal forest. Of course, much of it is in the South Mackenzie region. Using this timber might be an environmentally better source for Aurora Wood Pellet's operations. Has the company considered this, and, if so, what were the results of this consideration?

Debates of February 26, 2018 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 16)

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for that answer. Has the department been working with the federal government for a potential program in this area again, or is that not going to happen again? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Member's Statement on Wood Pellet Production in the NWT

Debates of February 26, 2018 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 16)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we will likely soon have a new industry in our territory manufacturing wood pellets. Aurora Wood Pellets' operation in Enterprise is expected to create many jobs at its mills and jobs for wood cutters from two First Nations communities. This is a very good thing.

I see from the records of the NWT Land and Water Board that green trees will be cut at various sites for pellet-making. Cleared lands are expected to regrow naturally without tree planting. The cuttings that have been approved are deemed to be sustainable for our forest. This is also good.

What is...