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

Member's Statement on Reflections on Role as a Member of the Legislature
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 5)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as you are well aware, the life of an MLA can get quite busy. That is true if you are a Regular Member or a Minister or even Speaker. There is a never-ending supply of constituency issues, policy issues, legislative issues, meetings, appearances, travel, and so on, and with so much going on we always run the risk of losing focus on why we are here. That is why it is important that, once in a while, we take a step back and reflect on what our role really is.

Despite the diversity of our responsibilities and the complexity of many of the issues we deal with...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 5)

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Minister's Statement 1-18(3), North Slave Correctional Complex Inmate Concerns. I 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 5)

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

Question 56-18(3): Great Slave Commercial Fishery
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 5)

That is an expensive piece of infrastructure. I would like to ask about the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation. Last year, the feds commissioned a report on possibilities for the future of the corporation, and I was wondering: can the Minister give us an update on what that report said and how the conclusions of that report may affect the industry in the Northwest Territories?

Question 56-18(3): Great Slave Commercial Fishery
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 5)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Those who pay attention to our proceedings know that I start every sitting with a discussion of commercial fishing. I spoke at length about this issue, so I am going to forego a big introduction and get right down to business. I have questions for the Minister of ITI about the implementation of the strategy for revitalizing the Great Slave Lake fishery.

I apologize in advance, because I am going to be bringing this up a lot during this sitting. A quarter-century ago, my dad did work on the revitalization strategies for the commercial fishery in the Great Slave Lake, and...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 5)

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

---Carried

The motion is carried. I will rise and report progress. Thank you.

Question 38-18(3): Commercial Fishery in Hay River
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 4)

Moving on to another fishing issue. Like I said, this House has been debating the supplementary estimates. We recently discussed $1.4 million for a fish plant in Hay River. I have a bunch of questions about this. I will just ask the Minister: what is going on with the fish plant in Hay River?

Committee Motion 25-18(3): Committee Report 3-18(3): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Motion 32-18(2): Referral of Petition 6-18(2): Elimination of Time Change in the Northwest Territories to the Standing Committee on Social Develo
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 4)

Thank you, Mr. Nakimayak. To the motion. I will allow the mover of the motion to close debate. Mr. Thompson.

Committee Motion 21-18(3): Committee Report 2-18(3): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2015-2016 Public Accounts of the Government of the Northwest Territories - Continued Debt Servicing and Infrastructure Financ
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 4)

Question has been called. All those in favour. All those opposed. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Thank you. Mr. Testart.

Question 38-18(3): Commercial Fishery in Hay River
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 4)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just like the Member for Nahendeh asked questions about summer students every sitting, I have to ask questions about commercial fishing. I have some questions for the Minister of ITI. Earlier this year, the federal government commissioned a study on the future of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation. I know that those people conducting the study came to the Northwest Territories. They spoke with the department and they spoke with the fishermen. Because the NWT is the last territory or province legally obliged to deal with the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation...