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

Member’s Statement on Nahanni Butte Wildfire Evacuation
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 84)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on September 7th, while on a regional tour, I was travelling into the communities of Nahanni Butte. Arriving into the community, the weather was good. During our visit, the wind shifted and started to pick up. By the end of the day, we witnessed smoke and some ashes start to engulf the community.

Upon my return to Fort Simpson, I received an update from the Department of MACA about the situation. No emergency at that point. Unfortunately, with Mother Nature anything can change in a heartbeat. During Thursday night, the community leaders decided that it was...

Question 922-18(2): Wildlife Officers
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 84)

I thank the Minister for both answers. It is unfortunate. I have had concerns from our residents saying that we have hunters using their cabins, and that is unfortunate. I respect that they do not have jurisdiction on it. I could probably answer this question as well, but I am going to ask the Minister anyway. What are the department officers able to do when they are out there and they see people under the influence, whether it is on the road or in boats? What is their role? What can they do to address this issue?

Question 922-18(2): Wildlife Officers
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 84)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we all know we’re in the hunting season. Right now, the residents of Nahendeh have seen a large influx of out-of-town hunters around on the roads and in the river. Unfortunately, we’re not seeing the wildlife officers out there or if they’re out there, we’re not seeing them right now. People are concerned about that because we’re not sure if these hunters have valid hunter’s licenses and are following the rules. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources explain how wildlife officers are scheduled during the hunting season. Thank you...

Question 915-18(2): Emergency Response Systems in Nahanni Butte
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 84)

I thank the Minister for that answer. I think the community will be happy to at least get some of their costs back, and I greatly appreciate it. In normal situations, Fort Simpson is the location where people get located to. Unfortunately the community, with the ferry and that, decided to go to Fort Liard. Fort Liard did a great job, but will the department be looking at getting the community of Fort Liard better prepared for future situations so that they can actually evacuate to Fort Liard instead of Fort Simpson, which has to rely on a ferry system?

Question 904-18(2): Fort Liard River Crossing Load Restrictions
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 83)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on September 21st the Department of Infrastructure released a public announcement saying that on Friday, September 22, 2017, load restrictions would be affected for the Liard River crossing due to low water levels. In the release, it stated that loads will be restricted to no more than 64,000 kilograms and service would be interrupted if conditions deteriorate. I would like to thank the department and regional staff for getting this information out to the public, businesses, and leadership across the region. However, this is a huge concern for my riding...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 83)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to thank the department and the government for actually moving on junior kindergarten upgrades to this coming fiscal year. I think it's very smart on the department's behalf, and I greatly thank them for listening to our concerns. Again, it's about safety for our youth, and I know the department and the Minister have been very committed to that, so I appreciate the fact that we're moving these capital projects forward. That will be my comments, Mr. Chair.

Member's Statement on Northern Youth Abroad Program
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 83)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. As I was saying, the Departments of Education, Culture and Employment and Municipal and Community Affairs have been working with this organization for a number of years and have been able to come up with a multi-year funding agreement this year. I would like to thank the organizations, the youth who are here, and thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 83)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My next set of questions are about Highway No. 7 and the reconstruction. Honestly, I have to say that the department has done a really good job of addressing some of the concerns in that. Can the Minister advise exactly what part of the section of road they're talking about reconstruction or working on for the upcoming fiscal year? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 83)

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for the commitment on that and look forward to getting that information and getting it to the communities.

The next question, I guess, and I don't know where you'd find it, but it would be in regards to the ferry and the potential I talked about utilizing, changing locations, and the Minister was pretty clear in his message in the House today during question and answer period, the cost of it. Is the Minister able to provide the capital cost of the ferry to me? I assume this is the section I would be asking the question. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 83)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In my opening comments here I talked to the Minister about the Highway No. 1 section from N'Dulee Crossing to Wrigley and the shape it is and the areas of concern. Can the Minister advise: has the department looked at these issues and is this part of the plan here, or will it be part of the plan in the future? Thank you, Mr. Chair. That's on page 46.