Shauna Morgan

Member Yellowknife North

Shauna Morgan was elected to the 20th Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly to represent the constituency of Yellowknife North.

Ms. Morgan was born and raised in Barrie, Ontario. Having called Yellowknife home for the past 15 years, she has embraced the dynamic, creative and eclectic lifestyle in Old Town near Great Slave Lake.

Ms. Morgan’s commitment to public service is evident in her two consecutive terms on Yellowknife City Council from 2015 to 2022. During this time, she held pivotal roles, including Deputy Mayor, Chair of the Community Energy Planning Committee, and Chair of the Community Advisory Board on Homelessness.

Ms. Morgan holds degrees in International Development (B.A. Hons) and International Affairs (M.A.), specializing in community economic and political development in remote and Indigenous communities globally. She worked with a grassroots cross-cultural peacebuilding movement in the Philippines from 2002 to 2003. Her master's research delved into negotiations between mineral exploration companies and First Nations in Canada, focusing on land access during the earliest stages of mineral exploration.

Over the past 15 years in Yellowknife, Ms. Morgan has prioritized work at the community level. Working with private consulting firms and a non-profit thinktank focused on clean energy, she served as a resource person to Indigenous governments and communities across the NWT. Her contributions ranged from planning renewable energy projects to housing initiatives, building cross-cultural environmental research and monitoring programs, and navigating the complexities of major resource extraction projects.

Ms. Morgan has drawn on her well-rounded skill set to diversify her professional pursuits. While serving as a City Councillor, she managed her own piano teaching studio, worked as an on-the-Land educator with Bushkids NWT, and contributed for many years as a full-time member of the Snow Castle construction crew and snow carving team. Additionally, she engaged in facilitation and consulting contracts.

Active in the arts community, Ms. Morgan provides piano accompaniment for Yellowknife’s Aurora Chorealis (adult community choir) and Fireweed Children’s Choir. She served as a Board member for the Yellowknife Women’s Society and a weekly volunteer with Food Rescue and has dedicated time to the Yellowknife Ski Club and Victim Services.

Ms. Morgan’s love for the land is palpable in her adventurous spirit. She enjoys a myriad of outdoor activities in the North across all seasons, from whitewater and flatwater canoe trips to hiking in Auyuittuq National Park and along the Canol Trail. Her passion extends to cycle touring, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, and hunting for moose and ducks with her partner.

Yellowknife North Electoral District

Committees

Accountability and Oversight
Social Development
Economic Development & Environment
Shauna Morgan
Yellowknife North
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Email
Phone
(867) 767-9143
Extension
12170
Constituency Office

Statements in Debates

Question 352-20(1): Healthcare Workforce Plan
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 32)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I think it's a great first start to just acknowledge that there's a problem. And understanding that the health authority is an independent authority, is the Minister aware of whether policies are being reviewed around when and how frontline staff can take leave, or will she request that those policies be reviewed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Member’s Statement 369-20(1): Winter Road Season
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 32)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I will continue talking about our staffing crisis in the health care system and specifically address a source of longstanding frustration amongst shift workers, the fact that many are being denied the full amount of leave that they're entitled to.

Physicians, nurses, and other practitioners are given a certain amount of leave under their collective agreements except that the health authority retains the ability to deny anyone's leave application due to operational requirements or regional procedure. Our health system does require a certain number of...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 31)

Thank you. So we're just putting it off to the future but we don't have a set timeline for when this project will be built or completed? Can the Minister clarify whether we have a set timeline and, if so, what is that timeline? Thank you.

Question 347-20(1): Physician Workforce Plan
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 31)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I agree that it feels overwhelming and that there might never be enough money, but we need an accurate estimate of how much funding we need to properly staff our primary care system. So my question is can the Minister estimate when we will be able to produce an accurate estimate of how much money we need? And this is not accounting for when we can actually get that money, but we need to start with having the right estimate. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Committee Motion 39-20(1): Concurrence Motion – Tabled Document 200-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 31)

Okay, so this just represents the money that was collected in property taxes by municipalities that we are then returning back to municipalities, so it's just money sort of coming in and out. That's what this line item represents? Can the Minister clarify. Thank you.

Question 347-20(1): Physician Workforce Plan
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 31)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The second question is is the department, or perhaps the new health care sustainability unit, working on a new workforce plan, including all health care practitioners, so we can establish the right number of positions that we need to have a sustainable health care system? Thank you.

Committee Motion 39-20(1): Concurrence Motion – Tabled Document 200-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 31)

Okay. No, that's very useful to know. Thank you, Mr. Chair, that we at least feel confident about funding for this unit until 2028. Thank you.

Question 342-20(1): Primary Care Reform
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 31)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The final question is are steps being taken to reduce the administrative burden on practitioners, such as physicians, which the burden has unfortunately increased due to the primary care reforms, so that they can work to their full scope and do what they do best which is caring for patients? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Committee Motion 39-20(1): Concurrence Motion – Tabled Document 200-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 31)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I certainly commend the government for taking quick action in this case and moving forward and allocating our own dollars to address a problem and taking bold action that way, and certainly I do hope we can recoup some of it through federal funding but I think it's a good -- it's a good way to operate to be able to take action that is needed and urgent.

Another question in this section: To clarify, the funding for the health care system sustainability unit, first, just a clarification, are we using money from the territorial health investment fund to offset that unit...

Question 342-20(1): Primary Care Reform
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 31)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is the Minister monitoring the rate of physicians, nurses, MPs, LPNs who have been terminating their contracts with the health authority over the past year, and is she taking steps to find out why they are leaving? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.