R.J. Simpson

Member Hay River North

Premier
Minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs
Minister of Housing

 

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

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

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Email
Phone
867-767-9141
Extension
11120
Constituency Office

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

Phone
867-874-6301
Minister's Office
Email
Email

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 143)

Thank you. I'll hand it to Mr. Bancroft.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 143)

Thank you. So we have the chief coroner. We have a deputy coroner. And then we have 18 regional coroners. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 143)

Thank you. So we have an additional position that is the investigations and standards office. So the director of investigations and standards I suppose, and that is a position that was created under the act. It's my understanding that although there was a collaborative effort, and Justice worked with the Regular Members to make improvements and to create new processes in the bill, there was no additional money added at that time. So we've been doing what we can internally, but we do have the one new position, and I believe the budget for that was $243,000. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 143)

Thank you. So I have met with the commanding officer on this as well as other detachment commanders across the territory. And I know that they are focusing on it. They are seeing these increases. And this is what they do, they enforce the law. And when it comes to drugs, they see the negative impacts; they know that where we are now is in a better position than where we could be in the future and they're doing their best to try and stop us from getting to that. So there has been an increased focus. As well I've been working with the department to try and figure out what we can do on our side...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 143)

Thank you, Madam Chair. So like I said, we are always looking for more federal funds and we're continuing to do that. If we had a bigger budget, we could create those positions but the fact is that we have the budget we have and we have to work within it. And we have been able to do that and still expand the program. So until we can secure some significant federal funds, we'll continue to work in that manner. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 143)

Thank you. And so that would determinations that the courts are making for the most part. But I'm comfortable right now, that being said with this rapid expansion of these types of appearances. Who knows what we'll see in the near future. You get two lawyers in a room and you get three different opinions on what's legal so it's hard to say. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 143)

So if the Member's talking about public housing, then I would reserve that question for the housing corporation because the rental office I don't think they deal with those types of issues. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 143)

Thank you. So as of today, there are 82 adults and three youth who are incarcerated. There are at NSCC, there are 63 males, SMCC we have five, and at FSCC we have 12. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 143)

Thank you. I'll hand it to Mr. Bancroft.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 143)

Thank you. So we have been adding positions. Last year there was a new position added to Fort Providence. There was a new position added in Fort McPherson. So we are using the money that we have internally to explore more creative ways to expand these services and we have been able to do that. But there's not someone in every single community in the territory if that's what the Member is asking. Thank you.