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 890-18(2): Prescription Drug Coverage for Mental Illness
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 82)

As an MLA, I am the person who a lot of these people reach out to. I have never heard about these exceptions, and the people who come to me have never heard from their physicians about these exceptions, so what is being done to inform physicians, let alone the general public, that this coverage could be extended to them?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 82)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am wondering why we need a different system for mental health and addictions information. Why can it not just be compiled in the same database that we are currently using? Is this system going to be used to analyze trends? What exactly is the point of an additional system dedicated to just mental health and addictions? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 82)

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 82)

Thank you, Minister. Seeing no one further on the list for comments, Mr. O'Reilly, we are doing one round here but I'll give you another shot. Mr. O'Reilly.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 82)

Thank you, Minister. Opening comments on the Department of Justice? I see no opening comments from committee. We will begin consideration of the activities. The first activity is on page 51, corrections. Mr. Testart.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 82)

Thank you, committee. Thank you to the Minister and his witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, you may escort the witnesses from the Chamber. Noting the time, I will now rise and report progress.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 82)

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

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 82)

Thank you, committee. We will now turn to page 35, with the accompanying information on page 36, and I will allow the Minister to respond to Mr. Beaulieu's first question. Minister Abernethy.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 82)

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly. Mr. O'Reilly?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 82)

Thank you, Minister. I will open up the floor to general comments from committee. Mr. O'Reilly.