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

Member's Statement on Safety Concerns in Long-Term Care Facilities
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 29)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last month at Woodland Manor, the longterm care facility in Hay River, there was a physical incident involving two residents that resulted in a fairly significant injury, according to the health authority. I'm not going to discuss the details of the incident because of privacy issues, but it's an ongoing concern, and it also highlights an important issue.

Violence among residents is a growing concern in longterm care facilities across Canada. We've been relatively lucky in the North. There have been very few incidents as serious as this. As our population...

Question 308-18(2): Safety Concerns in Long-Term Care Facilities
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 29)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To follow up on what the Minister said, he said he would find ways to make it happen, I guess, basically, or to work with the authority to get cameras in facilities. Does that mean helping maybe with the payment or something like that, or is this just come out of the authority's budget as it is? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 308-18(2): Safety Concerns in Long-Term Care Facilities
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 29)

I understand that in the new facilities there are going to be some physical barriers, some cameras, measures like that. Are there options currently available to remove someone who might be violent from the facility they're in? Is there a secure location that they can be placed in? I know that residents aren't prisoners, but we do have to think about the safety of the other residents. So are there options to remove violent individuals and somewhere to put them?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 29)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize my father, Rocky Simpson. It's always nice to have family in the gallery, so I'd like to thank him for coming. Thank you.

Question 308-18(2): Safety Concerns in Long-Term Care Facilities
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 29)

I thank the Minister for his thorough answers. He's answered a couple of my questions, so this might be my last one. I know that cameras are going into new facilities. Has the department looked into installing cameras in existing facilities, particularly Woodland Manor, and does the department have a price on that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 281-18(2): Commission scolaire francophone Supports
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 26)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment further to my colleagues questions about the review of the ministerial directive. I’m sure the Minister is tired of hearing from me that the situation in Hay River is different from the situation in Yellowknife. I was just wondering, in this ministerial directive is any new implementation of it going to take into account that there are differences between the two communities or is it going to be a one size fits all solution? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 26)

Thank you, Ms. Green. Anything further? Mr. O’Reilly.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 26)

Ms. Green.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 26)

Thank you, committee. Do you agree that we have concluded consideration of Tabled Document 86-18(2), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2016-2017?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 26)

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Green.