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 55-18(3): Standing Committee on Government Operations and Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 6: Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Implementation Act – Record Suspension for Cannabis Possession
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 32)

Thank you, Mr. Blake. Mr. Nakimayak.

Committee Motion 53-18(3): Committee Report 7-18(3): Standing Committee Review on Government Operation and Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 6: Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Implementation Act – Interdepar
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 32)

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. To the motion. Ms. Green.

Recorded Vote
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 32)

The results of the recorded vote are: seven in favour, zero opposed, nine abstentions. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 32)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I also travelled with the Members who travelled in the southern group. It was a very eye-opening experience, and we learned a lot.

This is a monumental undertaking, and I think that that really hit me as we were going to the communities. You only lift a prohibition on a substance less than once in a generation. I always like to strive for excellence in everything we do here, but with this being so important, it was very important to me that we get it right. Unfortunately, it looks like, to paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld, "You legalize cannabis with the legislation you have...

Committee Motion 55-18(3): Standing Committee on Government Operations and Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 6: Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Implementation Act – Record Suspension for Cannabis Possession
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 32)

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Mr. Beaulieu, to the motion.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 32)

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Committee Report 7-18(3), Standing Committee on Government Operations and Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 6: Cannabis Legalization and Regulations Implementation Act, with eight motions being adopted and would like to report progress and that consideration of Committee Report 7-18(3) is concluded. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

Committee Motion 53-18(3): Committee Report 7-18(3): Standing Committee Review on Government Operation and Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 6: Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Implementation Act – Interdepar
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 32)

Thank you, Mr. Testart. There is a motion on the floor. The motion has been distributed in the motion packages, which actually include all the recommendations. To the motion. Mr. Testart.

Committee Motion 56-18(3): Committee Report 7-18(3): Standing Committee Review on Government Operation and Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 6: Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Implementation Act – Northern E
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 32)

Thank you. I will allow the mover to close debate and ask for a recorded vote if he wants. Mr. Thompson.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 32)

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. We will take a brief recess and reconvene in 15 minutes.

---SHORT RECESS

Recorded Vote
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 32)

Mr. Testart.