Our Meeting with Speaker Shane Thompson, NWT Legislative Assembly

During our visit to the Northwest Territories, the interns had the honour of meeting with Speaker Shane Thompson and learning from his guidance on parliamentary proceedings.  

We are grateful for having had the opportunity to join him for a generous lunch and discuss firsthand his experiences in public service and the important responsibilities of serving as Speaker.  

Speaker Thompson shared valuable insights into how the Speaker is elected in the NWT Legislature, as well as his personal experiences drawn from working within government and how the parliamentary processes guide the work of the Legislative Assembly. He described what his role entails, shared key takeaways from the position, and reflected on some of the lessons he has learned throughout his time in office. Overall, his reflections provided a thoughtful perspective on the role of the Speaker in maintaining order, upholding parliamentary rules, and ultimately supporting the effective functioning of the House. 

Following our discussion, Speaker Thompson kindly invited us to observe a legislative proceeding from the gallery. It was a memorable moment when he acknowledged our presence and read out the names of our cohort in the House. We also greatly appreciated the opportunity to add to our pin collection with the new pins he kindly provided us. 

We sincerely thank Speaker Thompson for the warm hospitality and sharing his knowledge and experiences with the cohort. It was truly a meaningful opportunity to witness the legislative process in action.