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

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.

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

That is good to hear. Since the department is supportive of this notion, what pots of money are available to support parenting programs?

Motion to Receive Committee Report 15-18(3) and Move it into Committee of the Whole, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 69)

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Committee Report 15-18(3) be received by the Assembly and moved into Committee of the Whole for further consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Member's Statement on Growing Together Parenting Program
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 69)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to talk about an organization that is near and dear to the hearts of many families in Hay River and has been for the last 22 years. Growing Together is a non-profit organization that offers free programs for parents and their children aged zero to five. Before Growing Together, there was very little in terms of parenting programs in Hay River. I believe there was one that parents could attend once or twice a month.

Today, Growing Together offers a variety of programs throughout the week, and they are always well attended. It is not uncommon to see two or...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 69)

Mr. Speaker, your committee would like to report progress and, Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 69)

I will call the Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Beaulieu.

Bill 29: An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 69)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee would like to report on its consideration of Bill 29, An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Bill 29 received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on October 30, 2018, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations for review. An extension was requested and granted on February 27, 2019.

I would like to advise the House of this committee's wish to seek a further extension for our review of the bill, with the intention of reporting back to the House on May 23, 2019. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, in...

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

I know there are developers who have expressed interest in pursuing this opportunity, so does the Minister know if we can expect a new build, or can we expect renovations?