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 , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 32)

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Minister.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 32)

I'd like to thank the witness. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort her from the Chamber.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 32)

Continuing on to page 21. Environment and Natural Resources, water resources with detail on page 22. Committee agrees?

Question 349-18(2): NTCL Employee Pension Plan and Severence Payments
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 32)

I think I know how my second question will be answered. In 1999, the GNWT supported an application to the courts in the Royal Oak bankruptcy proceedings taking place in Ontario, relating to the termination of federally-regulated Giant Mine employees. Our government argued on behalf of the employees that the NWT Labour Standards Act had to be complied with to the benefit of the employees despite the fact that it is federal jurisdiction. Despite the fact this took place in a different jurisdiction, they did this to support our residents. So is the GNWT willing to put in the same effort to...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 32)

The next department we have agreed to consider is the Department of Finance. Minister McLeod, would you like to bring witnesses into the Chamber?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 32)

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Minister.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 32)

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Minister McLeod.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 32)

Thank you, Minister. Welcome to the witnesses. Committee, this department starts on page 14, we will defer the departmental total until after we discuss the details beginning on page 17. Environment, infrastructure and investments, $125,000. There's detail on page 18 relating to this. Environment and Natural Resources, environment, infrastructure and investments, $125,000. Does committee agree?

Member's Statement On NTCL Employee Pension Plan
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 32)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we've all heard about NTCL's financial problems. It's been granted creditor protection because it owes over $130 million that it can't pay. Steps are being taken to raise that money. As one such step, NTCL made an application with the Court of Queen's Bench in Alberta to cease the special payments it has been making to top up an underfunded employee pension plan. The plan is only funded to around 80 per cent, with a shortfall of about $22 million. That application is going to be heard by the court on October 26th, next Wednesday.

If NTCL is successful, it...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 32)

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Welcome, Mr. Hagen. I see nothing further on page 62. Committee, turn back to page 59, we can consider the departmental total. Lands, total capital estimate, $110,000.