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
Shane Thompson
Nahendeh
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Email
Phone
867-767-9130
Extension
12005
Constituency Office

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

Phone
867-695-3780

Statements in Debates

Question 13-18(3): Legalization of Cannabis
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am talking about the medical cannabis, not the homegrown stuff that may or may not be out there. Mr. Speaker, has the department looked at the thought of developing a homegrown organization to grow cannabis in the Northwest Territories? We have some of the best soil in the country and availability. We can get the seeds from somewhere else. Has the Minister looked at this as an option for people in there? I know in my riding we have some great land that we can use. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

Question 13-18(3): Legalization of Cannabis
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 2)

I thank the Minister for his answer. Two communities out of 27, I don't think that is a good representation. Will the Minister look at talking to these small communities? Even though maybe they are not going to go and consult with them, maybe they can write a letter to these smaller communities and ask them to get some feedback in there. We are talking about some of the very small, small communities, and this will have a huge impact on them.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a number of constituents from my riding, Aggie Hardisty from Jean Marie, Catherine Belle-Sanguez from Jean Marie/Trout River Fort Simpson, as well as April Bell, who is now a corporal. Congratulations on your promotion. As well, Dang-Dang Gruben who is one of my youth ambassadors I used to work with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Member's Statement on Cannabis Legalization
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the federal government's decision to legalize recreational marijuana use in 2018 comes with a lot of questions. I'm happy to see the residents of the NWT voicing their concerns through the GNWT's Cannabis Engagement Survey, which has received high volumes of participation. This form of individual consultation is very productive in finding what people want. With this survey delivered to residents directly, it provides a great platform for residents to openly and honestly voice their opinions and concerns surrounding the legalization of cannabis.

I would like...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and that's a little bit reassuring now, because I was sitting there going it means that MTS is going to be here for 10 years. Have we looked at MTS with all this equipment, have we looked at other options or are we just still going to be proceeding with this as they're going to be around for a while? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Question 11-18(3): Dental Therapists
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 1)

I thank the Minister for that answer. It looks like we are trying to do some good stuff and I applaud the department for that. Is the government looking at maybe working with Aurora College, looking at developing something in this area for the strategy?

Question 11-18(3): Dental Therapists
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 1)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today in my first set of questions the Minister of Health and Social Services talked about dental therapists and hygienists. I guess that leads me to this second set of questions I have today. In the height of dealing with dental therapy in that we used to have positions in there, can the Minister tell us how many dental therapy positions were in NWT at the height of it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 4-18(3): Mental Health Treatment Options
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 1)

I again thank the Minister for his answer. I guess my concern is small communities that do not have staffing there, and that is something that we need to look into. Mr. Speaker, having a database upon which ministry program outcomes could be monitored would give us a better idea of what kind of programs are working for our residents. Does the Department of Health and Social Services currently have one in place? If it does not, does the department intend to look into implementing one?

Question 4-18(3): Mental Health Treatment Options
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 1)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today in my Member's statement I talked about mental illness and suicides in my region. My questions are to follow up to the Minister of Health and Social Services. Has there been any outreach to education institutions specializing in Health and Social Services programs for recommendations or potential training for healthcare professionals and residents of the GNWT aside from what we do presently? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Member's Statement on Mental Health Services and Awareness
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 1)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In light of increased incidents of suicide in my riding, I would like to take the opportunity to address the importance of mental health awareness.

Mr. Speaker, in my riding and throughout the NWT, we have some amazing counsellors in our health systems and have beneficial services for those affected by mental health or mental illness, but what is evidently lacking is awareness in the communities. In my riding, between the months of January and September, there have been six suicides and at least 34 attempted suicides that I am aware of. Six suicides in 10 months is...