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

Question 479-19(2): Income Assistance
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 50)

I am not going to write to the federal Minister to ask that question. I am going to look into what we are doing, how we can do it better. When I have the conversations with the appropriate federal ministers and when I am on these FTP calls, I will have those types of conversations and promote the types of changes that we are looking at. The Member mentioned there are a number of different programs that we offer across the GNWT, across departments, and that the federal government offers, as well. Within the GNWT, part of the income assistance review is going to be looking at everything that is...

Member's Statement on Remembrance Day
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 50)

Madam Speaker, each year on November 11th, Canadians pause to remember the sacrifices of the men and women who gave their lives for our country so that we may enjoy the freedoms that we have today. I encourage residents to reflect on the bravery of Canadians, both past and present, who have put their lives on the line to protect the peace and safety that make up the fabric of our society. The heroes who have stepped up in the name of freedom and democracy have done so in conflicts that span every generation.

During some of our darkest days, Madam Speaker, Canadians left their families behind to...

Tabled Document 246-19(2): Annual Reports for the Northwest Territories Education Bodies for the 2019-2020 School Year Ending June 30, 2020 Volumes 1 and 2
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 50)

Madam Speaker, I wish to table the following document: "Annual Reports for the Northwest Territories Education Bodies for the 2019-2020 School Year Ending June 30, 2020 Volumes 1 and 2." Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Question 479-19(2): Income Assistance
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 50)

Yes, we'll look at what everyone's doing. If we're going to review something, we're going to review the money that, a program that's solely about the money that people are getting, we're going to look at what money people are getting from every source. That includes the federal government.

Question 479-19(2): Income Assistance
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 50)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I pretty much agree with everything the Member has said and earlier in his statement, as well. I will just answer the question. Are we going to conduct a review or a feasibility study for universal basic income? No. However, that is because I do think that the Income Assistance Program has a strong foundation and that we can build on it. In many ways, it's just a tweaking of a few rules here and there, and we have something that is very similar to what the Member is talking about. We have already made some of those changes, and he mentioned those, as well. He is doing...

Bill 17: An Act to Amend the Corrections Act, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 49)

Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Corrections Act, be read for the third time, and, Madam Speaker, I request a recorded vote. Thank you.

Question 475-19(2): Location of RCMP Detachment in Monfwi
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 49)

When the federal government is involved, I cannot really commit to expediting. It's just the nature of the beast. However, I told the department that it's probably been a month since this first came up and that I want to start moving on it immediately, so I am doing my best. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Question 475-19(2): Location of RCMP Detachment in Monfwi
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 49)

The detachment in Whati right now, I believe it's about 30 years old. It's being replaced because it's no longer up to the RCMP standards. If the detachment were to be moved to Gameti, it wouldn't be positioned as an RCMP detachment. They are getting rid of it because they don't want to use it as a detachment. That being said, in Gameti, I know, even when I was there years ago, the chief brought this up that, if someone is detained while the RCMP are in the community, they keep them in the back of the truck for however long they need to, or they put them in the community government office...

Question 474-19(2): Francophone School Admissions and Funding
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 49)

The Member is correct. The GNWT doesn't provide these services at all. It doesn't have the ability to provide these services currently. School boards are funded for their operations, including things like workplace assessments. That said, though, I will have a discussion with the Minister of Finance and see what kind of progress we can make on this. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Question 474-19(2): Francophone School Admissions and Funding
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 49)

The department worked closely with the proponent on the proposal to the federal government, but in the end, the cost was just too much for the GNWT. We have an Early Learning and Childcare Infrastructure Fund that is $500,000 a year for the entire territory, and our cost for this project would have been greater than that for the creation of six spaces. It couldn't be justified under our fiscal reality.