R.J. Simpson

Member Hay River North

Premier
Minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs
Minister of Housing

 

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

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's Office
Email
Email

Statements in Debates

Question 721-18(3): Recruitment of Physicians in Hay River
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 74)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just a moment ago I spoke about the need for more permanent physicians at the Hay River Health Authority, and I talked about some of the issues, some of the barriers that we are facing, in terms of being able to recruit physicians. There are just a few. I often get complaints about the work environment as well, but I didn't want to delve into that too much.

I have a series of questions for the Minister of Health. My first is: what steps is the Hay River Health Authority, along with the Department of Health, doing to recruit more physicians in Hay River? Is there a...

Committee Motion 118-18(3), Defeated
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 74)

Thank you, Minister. To the motion. Mr. O'Reilly.

Member's Statement on Doctor Shortage in Hay River
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 74)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier this month Hay River was in the midst of a serious physician shortage. We had one physician in the community, one physician to service not just Hay River but all of the South Slave communities served by the regional health centre, one doctor to manage the workload usually allotted to five full-time positions. The number of scheduled appointments was limited, and walk-in appointments, which are hard to get on a good day, were either limited or sometimes cancelled entirely, so, as you can imagine, the emergency room turned into the walk-in clinic.

Mr. Speaker, this...

Committee Motion 118-18(3), Defeated
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 74)

Thank you, Mr. Testart. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is being distributed. I will wait until all Members have a copy. The motion has been distributed and is in order. To the motion. Mr. Testart.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 74)

Thank you, and welcome to the witnesses. I will now open the floor to general comments on Bill 26, if there are any general comments. Mr. Testart.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 74)

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 26, Statistics Act, and would like to report progress, and that Bill 26, Statistics Act is ready for third reading. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 74)

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister, would you care to bring witnesses into the Chamber?

Recorded Vote
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 74)

Thank you, committee. Thank you to the witnesses and to the Minister. Sergeant-at-Arms, you may escort the witnesses from the Chamber. We have concluded the consideration of the item at hand. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Beaulieu.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 74)

I will now call Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, we have agreed to consider Bill 26, Statistics Act. I will ask the Minister responsible for the bill to introduce it. Minister McLeod.

Recorded Vote
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 74)

Thank you, committee. Does committee agree that Bill 26 is now ready for third reading?