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 , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 48)

Thank you. So we have a number of different tables. I mean, I don't know if the Member wants me to get into each one and talk about where things are at but there's been progress on, you know, moving towards AIPs, moving towards finalized agreements. We do send -- and just so the public is aware, we do send the Members quarterly updates that really detail where things are at with those tables, and I'm happy to provide some in-camera briefings as well if committee would wish on these. But, you know, here at the table, it's really hard to sort of in broad terms talk about where we are with all of...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 48)

Thank you. And just to be clear, there is some structural change. It's not an overhaul but we did bring the GSOs into this division. You know, we created this division. We brought the integrated case management team from justice into this division. So we are slowly and incrementally doing the work that the Member is talking about. And I appreciate that his zeal for this, you know, I -- it features prominently in the mandate because I recognize the importance of integrating services and making things easier for residents. We do actually have an MOU with Service Canada and the GSOs can provide...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 48)

Thank you. Maybe I could get the deputy minister to chime in on that one. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 48)

Thank you. To my right, we have Tram Do, the director of corporate services. And to my left, John MacDonald, secretary to Cabinet and deputy minister of the department of EIA. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 48)

Thank you. So it hasn't formally come up at the Council of Leaders. At the upcoming Council of Leaders, I believe that anti-poverty initiatives are on the agenda, and so there's an opportunity to broach that subject and have a discussion there. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 48)

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. And I know we're not quite in the intergovernmental Indigenous relations section yet, but I can speak to this.

So the Government of Canada has -- you know, seems to have an always evolving approach to negotiations, and I think at the same time that we're trying to figure out what that evolution means for the negotiations, the Government of Canada is trying to figure out what it means for negotiations as well, and so we are trying to understand that to help us land on mandates, so. And, you know, with changes in governments, there's also considerations that need to be...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 48)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's a -- I'm happy to look into this and see what we can do. It makes sense to have that information available. You know, even for MLAs, we often get inquiries from constituents and we need that type of information at hand, whether you're a Yellowknife MLA or you know some folks who wound up here and might need that information. So I will look into it and get back to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 48)

Next month. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 48)

Thank you. I understand the Member's time has run out, so I'll just keep it quick that we're not committing more resources to this. I know that was a statement that was just made, but that's not accurate. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 48)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't have that level of detail on hand. I apologize to the Member. Thank you.