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

Committee Motion 70-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 278-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2024-2025, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 40)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I do think that this is a very conversation to have in more detail with committees. I know that we're not going to sort it all out here on the floor. But I personally am not satisfied that the processes surrounding the public utilities board examination would really have the kind of analysis of the system and the way costs are incurred and that would be able to provide us with some insights or recommendations on, you know, how to run the power corporation more efficiently with better cost savings. I mean, I -- I don't think that can come through those kind of hearings...

Committee Motion 70-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 278-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2024-2025, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 40)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Well, now I'm curious given the wording of the deputy minister. He said it's generally operating expenses are not covered by short-term borrowing. But have there been occasions where short-term borrowing is or has been used in the recent past for operating expenditures at the power corporation? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 70-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 278-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2024-2025, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 40)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's certainly promising, and I would just like to perhaps follow up afterwards with the Minister of education to better understand higher enrolment numbers and what this means for the territory, but I'll leave that here for now. Thank you.

Question 455-20(1): Role of the Public Administrator of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 40)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, finally, can patients expect to see the closure of any specialist services offered by Stanton Territorial Hospital or regional hospitals, meaning will patients now need to travel out of territory for treatment when they could currently access that within the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 455-20(1): Role of the Public Administrator of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 40)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are actually for the Minister of Health and Social Services following up on previous questions that I've been asking earlier this week.

With regard to the new public administrator, there's lots of sort of concern and anxiety and worry going around about possible, you know, budget cuts associated with this role. So can the Minister clarify is the public administrator's focus simply on finding cost savings, or is the public administrator also going to be focusing on how to actually improve delivery of primary care in the Northwest Territories? Thank you...

Committee Motion 70-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 278-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2024-2025, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 40)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The problem that we're facing here is we have an arm's length, you know, corporation that is supposed to be sort of balancing its own budget, but then we're asked to essentially subsidize operations to avoid ratepayers having to pay too much. But there are not many levers we have to, for example, ask them to prove that they can't do things differently or find savings in different ways as opposed to charging ratepayers. And I understand that that's the role that the public utilities board is supposed to serve.

I'm just thinking of a parallel here. You know, we have the...

Question 444-20(1): On-the-Land Healing Camp Initiative
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 39)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So has the government worked with partners to look at the feasibility of establishing an on-the-land camp for the under-housed population that would not require sobriety? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 437-20(1): Trauma, Healing and Harm Reduction
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 39)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Finally, has the GNWT examined the feasibility of ensuring there's a day shelter space where people could more safely use drugs or prescribed drug alternatives such as methadone or gabapentin? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 437-20(1): Trauma, Healing and Harm Reduction
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 39)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It feels like ages ago now, but my questions are for the h ealth and social services Minister in follow up to my Member's statement about harm reduction.

So, first, in 2022, the GNWT released a standards manual for managed alcohol programs in the territory. Can the Minister confirm whether these standards are actually in use anywhere in the territory now? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 444-20(1): On-the-Land Healing Camp Initiative
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 39)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister for that. I look forward to outcomes of those further discussions. So some shelter providers in Yellowknife are looking to establish better working relationships with Indigenous governments, both to explore what further supports could be offered to shelter users who are members of those communities but also to explore is the potential for establishing on-the-land camps for shelter users. So what steps has EIA taken to help facilitate those kinds of partnerships between Indigenous governments and shelter providers in Yellowknife given that...