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

Statements in Debates

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

Thank you. So that increase is due to bringing the coroners into the public service. Previously coroners were contracted. And so that increase is due to the cost associated with that. Thank you.

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

Thank you. Yes, funds were found within. And this position would actually not be found in this section because we want a separation between the corrections officers and the investigations and standards office. We don't want them to be, you know, reporting to the same people. We want there to be separation. So we can discuss that further as well once we get to that section. Thanks.

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

Thank you. And, no, I don't have the information about the number of calls or the number of tips the RCMP are receiving. I'm not sure they would even want to share that with us. But one thing they always do mention, and what I try to impress upon people as well, is that we do need the public to come forward with information. I think that a lot of the times the information that people bring forward is that, you know, there's a drug dealer in that house. Well, everyone knows there's a drug dealer in that house. There needs to be some more information. So it needs to be people who actually have...

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

Thank you, I appreciate those comments. The department has, like the Member mentioned, we have undertaken some reviews. We've been chipping away, making our way through our programs, implementing new initiatives. So while we can't get to everything at once, I do take the Member's advice seriously. Thank you.

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

I'll hand it to Mr. Bancroft. Thanks.

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

Thank you. So, yes, that is not something I can comment on. That is not something in the purview of the rental office. If someone owes money to Housing NWT and they go through the courts to get their wages garnished, that does not involve the rental office so I can't answer these questions. It would be better posed to the Minister of housing. Thank you.

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

Thank you. So the guards are trained in both the youth facility and the adult facility. And so if there are no youth, then the guards would be in the adult facilities. So we wouldn't be incurring those costs when there are no youth. Thank you.

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

Thank you. No.

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

Thank you. Not specifically.

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

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