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

Recorded Vote
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 108)

In favour.

Bill 47: An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act, No. 2, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 108)

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 47, An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act, No. 2, be read for the second time.

This bill amends the Employment Standards Act to create a new statutory holiday which will fall on September 30th each year to be known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This bill also includes consequential amendments to the Interpretation Act and the public service holidays order made under the Public Service Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabled Document 602-19(2): Follow-up letter for Oral Question 995-19(2): Maintenance Enforcement
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 108)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following three documents:

Plain Language Summary for Bill 47: An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act, No. 2; Followup Letter for Oral Question 97419(2): Policing; and, Followup Letter for Oral Question 99519(2): Maintenance Enforcement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 1042-19(2): Implementation of Federal Childcare Subsidy
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 108)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And this has been raised a number of times. And no, we are not going to be exploring those avenues. There has been a desire from some people to have us subsidize more than just licensed centres, so unlicensed centres or family members, but unfortunately we can't be everything to everyone and we have to pick our lane. And so what we're focusing on is early licensed early learning childcare spaces. Thank you.

Question 1042-19(2): Implementation of Federal Childcare Subsidy
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 108)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So as most people are aware, we recently signed a deal with the Government of Canada for around $50 million, and that is to help us transition to a system of universal childcare. There are a number of aspects to this. The first aspect that is rolling out across Canada is to reduce fees for parents by 50 percent on average.

The Member raises some good points. There are other issues. Staffing has always been an issue. And in terms of a living wage, we don't have I don't have the stats for living wages in every community. I know that in some of the regional centres, it's...

Recorded Vote
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 108)

For.

Bill 38: Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2021, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 108)

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 38, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2021, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 108)

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 37, An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 997-19(2): Correctional Facilities
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 103)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, this should be a written question and so in the future, it would be nice if these were presented in accordance with the rules. But we can work on putting something together. Thank you.

Question 997-19(2): Correctional Facilities
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 103)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is really should be presented as a written question, but I will work on that. Thank you.