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

Question 854-18(2): RCMP Services in Hay River
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 79)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Member's statement of a moment ago regarding the RCMP staffing levels in Hay River, I would like to direct these questions to the Minister of Justice. The RCMP presented to the GNWT a request and a business case for two additional general duty constables in Hay River. Will the department include these positions in next year's budget? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 854-18(2): RCMP Services in Hay River
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 79)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Finally, this is something I have brought up in the House many times, and it is all tied in with everything we have just been speaking about. The remand centre in Hay River is not being used. This would save the RCMP money, and it would save everyone time.

I would like to ask the Minister: can I get an analysis of why the remand centre in Hay River cannot be used? What I always get is it is a minimum security centre. Well, there is a remand centre surrounded by a minimum security centre. Remand is located in minimum security prisons in Alberta, other places in Canada...

Question 854-18(2): RCMP Services in Hay River
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 79)

I understand that upcoming budgets are often kept pretty close to the chest, so I appreciate that answer. I will take that as a positive. One of the other issues I touched on is how the RCMP are responsible for duties that sheriffs are generally responsible for in other jurisdictions.

My question is: why can we not put the responsibility for transporting and overseeing prisoners to and from court and while they are in court on the sheriffs instead of the RCMP? I am sure it is a much cheaper option, and there is already a sheriff in the courtroom. Why can we not do this?

Bill 24: An Act to Amend the Coroners Act
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, Minister. I will open the floor to general comments on the bill. Are there any general comments? I see none. Can we proceed to a clause-by-clause review of the bill? Committee, please turn to page 2 of the bill. We will defer bill number and title until after consideration of the clauses. Clause 1, does the committee agree?

---Clauses 1 through 7 inclusive approved

Bill 30: Health Statutes Amendment Act (Cremation Services)
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. I will turn to the chair of the Standing Committee on Social Development, which considered the bill. Mr. Thompson.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 24: An Act to Amend the Coroners Act; Bill 25: An Act to Amend the Residential Tenancies Act; Bill 28: Interpretation Act; Bill 29: Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2017; and Bill 30: Health Statutes Law Amendment Act (Cremation Services) and would like to report that Bills 24, 25, 28, 29 and 30 are ready for Third Reading. Mr. Speaker, I move I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you.

Bill 28: Interpretation Act
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, Minister. Committee, please turn to page 5 of the bill. I'm sorry, I should open the floor to general comments. Do we have any general comments? I see Mr. Testart has comments. Mr. Testart.

Bill 24: An Act to Amend the Coroners Act
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister, do you have any witnesses you would like to bring to the Chamber?

Bill 28: Interpretation Act
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, committee. Thank you, Minister. Thank you to the witness. Sergeant-at-Arms, you may escort the witness from the Chamber. Ms. Green.

Bill 30: Health Statutes Amendment Act (Cremation Services)
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, committee. Thank you to Mr. O'Reilly and your witness. Sergeant-at-Arms, you may escort the witness from the Chamber. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Beaulieu.