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 516-18(3): Marine Transportation Services
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 50)

Could the Minister elaborate on just what is going to be disposed of? I know there are a couple dozen barges right on the water, and then there are probably a dozen tugs in the NTCL yard itself. Could he elaborate on how much of that is going to disappear from the landscape?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 50)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a couple people I would like to recognize. First, Ms. Kristine Vannebo-Suwala, the executive director of the Family Support Centre in Hay River. I want to welcome her here and thank her for all her hard work.

The second person I want to recognize is my beautiful girlfriend, Chantal Lafferty. I appreciate her coming out. This is the first time she has been to the House while I have been here, and she informed me that it might be the last. I'm not sure why, but that is what she said. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 50)

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Minister's Statement 131-18(3), Sessional Statement, and Tabled Document 322-18(3), Main Estimates, 2019-2020, and 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 50)

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

Question 516-18(3): Marine Transportation Services
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 50)

Now, I know scrap metal has a value. It is probably not much. Is this costing the government money, or is there some money coming into the government's coffers from this?

Question 516-18(3): Marine Transportation Services
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 50)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have some questions about Bob's Navy that will be directing to the Vice Admiral of Infrastructure. I'm talking, of course, about the Marine Transportation Services, and I have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure. When Cabinet purchased NTCL, they purchased a lot of decommissioned vessels, barges and tugs. It is my understanding that disposal of those units has begun. Is that correct? I'll just start with that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Member's Statement on Emerging Leaders for the Northwest Territories
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 50)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the things that being a Member of this Legislative Assembly has taught me is that I am an optimist; and honestly, I don't think I could do this job if I wasn't.

Just look at the state of our territory. Government labour relations are at an all-time low. The impending closure of all the diamond mines is going to do to Yellowknife what the fall of the oil and gas industry did to the communities up and down the valley. It is getting harder for small businesses to make it in the NWT, and they are increasingly becoming convinced that this government is...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 49)

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Minister's Statement 131-18(3), February 2019 Sessional Statement, and 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 49)

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

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 49)

Thank you, Mr. Testart. There is a motion to report progress. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

I will rise and report progress.