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

Committee Motion 75-18(3): Bill 7: Chartered Professional Accountants Act - Amend the French Version of Subclause 6(11), CARRIED
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 41)

Thank you, Minister. Sergeant-at-Arms, you may escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Minister, please have a seat at the witness table.

Each Member may speak 10 minutes to an item. I will allow committee to speak, ask questions of the Minister if they wish, and they can have a bit of a back and forth in that 10 minutes. At the end, I will give Minister Schumann the opportunity to respond if he wishes.

Do we have comments or questions regarding this Minister's Statement on Marine Transportation Services? Sorry, first, I will let the Minister introduce his witnesses.

Committee Motion 75-18(3): Bill 7: Chartered Professional Accountants Act - Amend the French Version of Subclause 6(11), CARRIED
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 41)

Thank you. Minister.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 41)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize Ms. Dale Loutitt, who is here, vice-president of the Mackenzie Recreation Association as well as the recreation programmer at the town of Hay River. I would also like to recognize, I believe, a former constituent, Ms. Erin Porter, who is the South Slave director of the Mackenzie Recreation Association. Finally, I would like to recognize my mother for once again joining us in the gallery, Ms. Betty Lyons. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Committee Motion 75-18(3): Bill 7: Chartered Professional Accountants Act - Amend the French Version of Subclause 6(11), CARRIED
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 41)

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Mr. McCormick.

Committee Motion 75-18(3): Bill 7: Chartered Professional Accountants Act - Amend the French Version of Subclause 6(11), CARRIED
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 41)

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Schumann.

Question 421-18(3): Policies Impacting Small Businesses
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 40)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I haven't seen the situation first-hand, but I take my fellow colleagues at their word. If the Member for Nunakput says there is an issue, then I believe there is an issue.

My final question is that, you know, we have had a lot of questions around the table here. It always comes down to how much money we have. The Minister says, "I only have this much money in my budget." Well, I think I've sat running through supplementary estimate deliberations where the government says we need more money, then we sit down and we give them more money. Will the Minister bring forward a...

Question 421-18(3): Policies Impacting Small Businesses
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 40)

Maybe the Minister should begin reading his emails, Mr. Speaker.

Earlier, the Member from Yellowknife North brought up the standing offer agreements. The department has standing offer agreements with firms from the south. The Minister stated that northern firms don't have the expertise, and that's why they have to go to the south. What other options has the department looked at? Have they looked at perhaps requiring some northern content when these firms get these agreements, or going to local companies and helping them build that expertise?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 40)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize and thank a couple of the Pages from Hay River North, Ms. Charlotte Buth and Ms. Josee Touesnard, who have been here with us all week. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 40)

Thank you. I will let Minister Schumann catch his breath. We'll take a short recess.

---SHORT RECESS

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 40)

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