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

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 6)

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

Question 63-18(3): Concerns of Hay River Secondary School Students
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 6)

I see that there's one innovative solution that the government is undertaking to expand course selection, so that's what I'm looking for, is more innovative solutions like that. Maybe facilitate working together, facilitate the way that the different school boards can work together to pool their resources so they have a critical mass that they can offer more of these course. I'm looking for more solutions.

My next question is that students are concerned about the lack of support for students with special needs. I believe the Hay River Metis Government Council puts in people in the schools, and...

Question 63-18(3): Concerns of Hay River Secondary School Students
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 6)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier, I spoke about the constituency meeting I held at Diamond Jenness Secondary School in Hay River. I had a great discussion. I had told the students there that I would bring their questions forward and get some answers for them. I have some questions for one of the other youngsters here in the Ledge, our Minister of Education. I would like to ask the Minister: students at Diamond Jenness are concerned about the lack of courses available to them. They brought up a lack of dash-4 classes, basic courses like core French, and courses that better prepare...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 6)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There's a strong showing from Hay River North today. I would like to welcome Roy and Kathleen Courorielle, Sharon Caudron, Diane Chisholm, and Jackie Milne was here earlier, as well. Welcome. Thank you for joining us.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the Minister said the DFO is looking at a fisherman cooperative to possibly take over Freshwater. If that happens, will that have any effect on the plans to build a plant? There is a Freshwater plant in Hay River; it's just sort of the shell of one right now. If a cooperative takes it over, they might own that infrastructure. Will that affect the plant in Hay River that the GNWT plans to build? Thank you.