R.J. Simpson

Member Hay River North

Premier
Minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs

R.J. Simpson was elected to the 20th Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, representing the constituency of Hay River North. On December 7th, 2023, Mr. Simpson was elected Premier of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Simpson was formerly acclaimed to the 19th Legislative Assembly and first elected into the 18th Assembly in 2015.

Mr. Simpson was Deputy Speaker of the 18th Assembly, Deputy Chair of the Standing Committee on Government Operations, and the Chair of the Special Committee on Transition Matters. Mr. Simpson was also a member of the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning and the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment.

Mr. Simpson is a lifelong resident of Hay River After graduating from Diamond Jenness Secondary School in 1998 Mr. Simpson went on to obtain a Bachelor of Arts from MacEwan University and a law degree from the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Law.

Mr. Simpson has previously worked with the Government of Canada, Northern Transportation Company Ltd, Métis Nation Local 51, and Maskwa Engineering.

While at law school, Mr. Simpson was the President of the Aboriginal Law Students’ Association. He has also served on the board of the Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre in Hay River and volunteered with the Canada-Ghana Education Project.

Hay River North Electoral District

Committees

R.J. Simpson
Hay River North
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Extension
11120
Constituency Office

62, promenade Woodland, bureau 104
Hay River Nord NT X0E 1G1
Canada

Phone
Minister
Email
Premier of the Northwest Territories, Minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs, Minister of Justice, Government House Leader

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 71)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Probably a better conversation to have directly with the Minister of housing, but I know that there's about, I think, 900 individuals and families on waiting lists for housing across the territory. And so housing is really focusing on addressing those issues, working on ensuring that houses that need to be replaced that are past the end of their useful life are replaced, and so that's where a lot of the focus is right now. Nonetheless, this is still a live issue, and we'll continue to make progress where we can. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 71)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So based on feedback from community governments, MACA is adjusting the community public infrastructure policy to better address staffing housing challenges, particularly those affecting recruitment. MACA policy restrictions on using the CPI funding for staff housing had been suspended, and communities that have submitted staff housing in their financial reports have not been denied. So that's a yes, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 71)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, fortunately, before there was a lot of this discussion about Arctic sovereignty or Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic, we were already working to advance projects that will enhance Canada's sovereignty, things like the Mackenzie Valley Highway, things like the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor, and that work remains ongoing. As well, we have at the departmental level my deputy minister is in very regular contact with folks over at DND. As well, there is regular contact with Joint Task Force North. You know, personally, I've met with Minister McGuinty, the...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 71)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize President Marc Whitford of the North Slave Metis Alliance. He's been a great partner with the GNWT, and we are continuously strengthening our relationship, and I look forward to continuing that progress over the rest of this term. So welcome. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 71)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That'll be the discussions we're having at the next Intergovernmental Council meeting, and I'm happy to update the Members after those discussions. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 71)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And of course, we signed the devolution agreement, you know, it's a little over 10 years ago now, and we do a lot of work related to that agreement. Of course, all of the land and resources legislation that we advance is under that agreement and it's done in partnership with the other signatories to devolution. And so any discussion about devolution necessarily includes those Indigenous governments who have signed on. So we continue to work through that process. We continue to work with our partners. We're working closely with Canada, the Yukon government, and...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 70)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today we were joined by members of the WAR Circle, the We Always Remember Circle. And we have a couple members still left in the gallery I would like to recognize. Gerri Sharpe and Doreen Cleary who was actually one of the co-chairs of the WAR Circle. It's an honour to have them here with us today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 70)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents: Public Service Annual Report 2024/2025; and, Budget Dialogues 2025 - What We Heard. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 70)

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to share the meaningful progress we are making on the Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action number 82, which calls upon provincial and territorial governments, in collaboration with survivors, to commission and install a publicly accessible, highly visible, residential schools monument in each capital city to honour survivors and all the children who were lost to their families and communities.

In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future, its summary final report. This landmark document and its...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 69)

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, October 30th, 2025, I will present Bill 35, Miscellaneous Statutes Law Amendment Act 2026, to be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.