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

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 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 70)

All those opposed, please rise. All those abstaining, please rise. The results of the recorded vote: 16 in favour, zero opposed, zero abstentions. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Ms. Green.

Recorded Vote
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 70)

Thank you, committee. Does committee agree that this concludes consideration of Tabled Document 381-18(3), Supplementary Estimates, (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 4, 2018-2019?

Committee Motion 114-18(3): Concurrence of Tabled Document 381-18(3): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 4, 2018-2019, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 70)

Industry, Tourism and Investment, tourism and parks, not previously authorized, $122,000. Does committee agree?

Committee Motion 114-18(3): Concurrence of Tabled Document 381-18(3): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 4, 2018-2019, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 70)

Infrastructure, total department, $3,543,000. Does committee agree?

Committee Motion 115-18(3): Concurrence of Tabled Document 382-18(3): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2018-2019, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 70)

Thank you, committee. Mr. Thompson.

Committee Motion 116-18(3): Concurrence of Tabled Document 388-18(3): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2019-2020, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 70)

Infrastructure, total department, $1,483,000. Does committee agree?

Bill 44: Forest Act
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 69)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I share the concerns of many of my colleagues. I have heard not a lot of support for bill; even the Members who say that they are going to support the bill are doing so begrudgingly. There seems to be a bit of a difference between the perception of Indigenous groups from land claim areas and those areas without settled land claims yet. In my area, there are no settled land claims. I know that Indigenous leaders in my region have spoken out against moving forward with this bill.

I look at the process that went into drafting this compared to something like the Mineral...

Question 687-18(3): Request for Proposals for Hay River Health Long-Term Care Facility
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 69)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I expect, if it's new space, it's going to be a little later that the move is going to happen, and if it's just a renovation, it might be sooner. Does the Minister know, in either scenario, when we can expect the employees to be moved out of H.H. Williams into the new office space? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 687-18(3): Request for Proposals for Hay River Health Long-Term Care Facility
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 69)

Could the Minister update the House as to when he expects it to be issued and, if he's willing, even when he expects it to be awarded?

Question 680-18(3): Funding for Parenting Programs
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 69)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister is giving me all the right answers today, and I appreciate it. This is the $1-million question. Well, it is not a $1-million question. I think this is probably a $50,000-a-year question. Can I assure the people over at Growing Together and all the parents and the children who rely on this service that, come April 1st, there won't be a reduction in their funding and that their programming can continue? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.