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 , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 126)

Yes, I do.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 126)

Thank you, Madam Chair. So the federal government does not fund schools. Bridges are one thing, schools are another. There's a division of power in Canada under the Constitution, and the federal government does not want to get into funding schools, which is generally provincial/territorial area. And so the Tlicho government informed us that they would like to take the lead on approaching the federal government to find funding. I never told them to go find it themselves.

And in terms of what would happen if there was a failure at the school, we don't wait until schools are, you know, about to...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 126)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm not aware that that would be an official designation. But I think that given the number of jobs in Fort Smith that are education related, the amount of money that the GNWT flows to the community in terms of education, probably more per capita than anywhere else in the territory, I think in that sense, yes, Fort Smith is the education capital. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 126)

Thank you so right now it's 20232024 is the estimated completion but I would not I wouldn't place bets on that. I think it's a very fluid situation and, like I said, it's new to everyone, us as well as, and in this case the Tlicho government. So we are taking the time we need to do it right so I don't have a solid answer. Thank you

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 126)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And of course I don't speak for the college. This House passed changes to amendments to the Aurora College Act which has significantly changed my role in relation to the college.

So the college has adopted the term "administrative centre" to acknowledge that the staff who support corporate administrative functions of the college are in Fort Smith. So that is why they're using that term. It's a term that's commonly used in postsecondary environments. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 125)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that Bill 48 be amended by deleting clause 76 and substituting the following:

76:

The Public Service Act is amended by this section;

The following provisions are amended by striking out Arbitration Act and substituting Arbitration Act RSNWT 1988, c A5

A. Subsection 40.5(2)

B. Subsection 41.02(9);

The following provisions are amended by striking out "Arbitration Act" and substituting "Arbitration Act RSNWT 1988, c A5

A. Subsection 41.02(8)

B. Section 43.

Thank you

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 125)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that Bill 48 be amended by adding the following immediately before the heading "Community Planning and Development Act, Arbitration Act, RSNWT 1988, c A5"

73.1:

The Arbitration Act RSNWT 1988, c A5 is amended by this section;

The title is repealed and the following is substituted: Arbitration Act 1988;.

Sections 2 and 3 are repealed and the following is substituted:

2. This Act applies to an arbitration under the Public Service Act or the Education Act;

3. For the purposes of arbitral proceedings to which this Act applies, a reference in an arbitration agreement to...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 125)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that subclause 3(5) of Bill 48 be amended:

By deleting the "or" at the end of the English version of paragraph A;

By deleting the period at the end of paragraph B and substituting "or"; and,.

By adding the following after paragraph B, "C. An arbitration under the Public Service Act or the Education Act."

Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 125)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents: Aurora College Corporate Plan 20222023; and, Operating Plans for the Northwest Territories Education Bodies for the 20222023 School Year ending June 30th, 2023, Volumes 1 and 2. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.