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

Bill 25: An Act to Amend the Residential Tenancies Act
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Minister, would you please introduce your witnesses.

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

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Mr. Testart.

Question 847-18(2): Medical Travel
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Because of this lack of communication, I've informed the Minister's office that the handbook doesn't contain the information that I mentioned. It is not very detail-oriented and it's good to know that officers are supposed to provide this information, but, like I said, we're not doing that, and so it sounds like, just like the Hay River authority is outside the territorial authority and we receive those services in a unique way, it sounds like the same thing has happened with medical travel. The Minister says he's going to work to fix these, but it's time to change it. What is the Minister...

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

Bill 28 is now ready for third reading. Does committee agree that this concludes our consideration of Bill 28?

Bill 25: An Act to Amend the Residential Tenancies Act
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, Minister. I will now turn to the Chair of the Standing Committee on Social Development, which considered the bill for any opening comments. Mr. Thompson.

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

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Anything further, Mr. Testart?

Question 847-18(2): Medical Travel
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'll be asking questions of the Minister of Health and Social Services regarding the level of medical travel services received in Hay River. As I stated, my office receives more complaints about medical travel than anything else. I was only able to touch on a few areas of concern during my statement. As I mentioned, I understand that when patients are sent to Edmonton they must take what flights are available, but when bookings are constantly being made at the last minute there are just no decent flights left. I want to ask the Minister: how does the...

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

All right, committee. I note there's also one schedule at the end.

---Clauses 1 through 52 inclusive and Schedule 1 approved

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

Thank you, committee. Thank you to the Minister and your witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, you may escort the witnesses from the Chamber.

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

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Welcome back, Ms. Jeffrey. I will open the floor to general comments on the bill. Do we have any general comments? I see Mr. Testart.