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

Bill 57: Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act 2022
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 123)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present to the House Bill 57, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act 2022, to be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Committee Motion 297-19(2): Tabled Document 723-19(2): Capital Estimates 2023-2024 – Legislative Assembly – Deferral of Department (page 14), Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 123)

Thank you. I don't I'm not sure who the owner of that building is, thank you. But we can find out and get that information to the Member. Thank you.

Committee Motion 297-19(2): Tabled Document 723-19(2): Capital Estimates 2023-2024 – Legislative Assembly – Deferral of Department (page 14), Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 123)

Thank you, Madam Chair. You know, I'll just hand it to Mr. Bancroft. He has the details on this one.

Committee Motion 297-19(2): Tabled Document 723-19(2): Capital Estimates 2023-2024 – Legislative Assembly – Deferral of Department (page 14), Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 123)

Yes, please.

Committee Motion 297-19(2): Tabled Document 723-19(2): Capital Estimates 2023-2024 – Legislative Assembly – Deferral of Department (page 14), Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 123)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have no problem disclosing who the building owner is. Thank you.

Committee Motion 297-19(2): Tabled Document 723-19(2): Capital Estimates 2023-2024 – Legislative Assembly – Deferral of Department (page 14), Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 123)

Thank you, Madam Chair. So as I understand it, the costs aren't laid out in the capital estimates. Thank you.

Question 1192-19(2): Income Support Programs and Policies
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 122)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So we have a number of income support programs. I believe the Member is referencing our income assistance program, which is a specific income support program. The purpose of that program is to provide residents with enough funds to be able to procure the necessities of life. It's not the type of program where people can save money or earn you know, earn a living doing that. It is to help people who are at the point where they can no longer, you know, keep a roof over their head, have food in their fridge, things like that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 1191-19(2): Education in Small Communities
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 122)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member has identified a number of things that are issues. He speaks about data collection, the availability of data. He talks about the ability to audit education bodies. These are all things that we are proposing to change by amending the Education Act. So the Member has great suggestions, and I'm definitely open to them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Committee Motion 291-19(2): Tabled Document 654-19(2): 2021-2022 Northwest Territories Electoral Boundaries Commission Final Report - Maintenance of Existing Electoral Boundaries, Defeated
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 122)

I request a recorded vote.

Committee Motion 282-19(2): Tabled Document 528-19(2): Report on the 2021 Review of Members’ Compensation and Benefits – Northwest Territories – Budgets for Constituency Assistants, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 122)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yeah, I don't think anyone in here well, I know no one in here pays their CA less than $25 an hour. We know that from the previous motion. And I think people in here understand that if you want a good CA, you have to pay them. You know, that's the market across the Northwest Territories, across Canada right now. If you want good people, you have to pay them. That's why I voted against the last recommendation. I'm voting against this one because we're getting to the point now where the Assembly is really controlling how I run my constituency office. And I think that...