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 704-18(2): Commitment to the Manufacturing Industry
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 65)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier I spoke about manufacturing in the Northwest Territories. I mentioned that there were barriers to growth that needed to be addressed. They were too numerous to mention in detail in my Member’s statement, and too numerous to mention now. They include things outside the government’s control, but there are also bureaucratic issues that the government has the power to address. That is one reason that this manufacturing strategy is so important, and I have learned that when the government announces the development of a strategy, there is no point in...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 65)

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Green.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 64)

Thank you, committee. We will defer the bill number and title until after the consideration of the clauses. Please turn to page 5 of the bill. Clauses 1 through 10. Comments or questions? Seeing none. Does committee agree?

Committee Motion 77-18(2): Concurrence of Tabled Document 315-18(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures) No. 3, 2016-2017, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 64)

Thank you, Mr. Stewart. Nothing further from O'Reilly. Mr. Testart.

Committee Motion 78-18(2): Concurrence of Tabled Document 316-18(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2016- 2017, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 64)

Thank you, committee. Municipal and Community Affairs, operations expenditures, total department, not previously authorized, negative $809,000. Does committee agree?

Member’s Statement on Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre Employment Training Programs
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 64)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when I was growing up, I would attend the day camp at the Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre every summer. That is where I learned how to make a bed with pine boughs, cook bannock over an open fire, and snare rabbits.

I am happy to say that after all these years, the friendship centre's tradition of educating youth is as strong as ever, but now, it is focused on delivering programs to develop job skills and provide work experience. Just this past Friday, our Member of Parliament was in Hay River where he announced that the friendship centre is receiving a...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 64)

Thank you, Minister. Anything further? Mr. Testart.

Committee Motion 77-18(2): Concurrence of Tabled Document 315-18(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures) No. 3, 2016-2017, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 64)

Thank you, committee. Moving on to page 8, Industry, Tourism and Investment. Comments or questions from committee? Seeing none, I will begin calling this page. Industry, Tourism and Investment, operations expenditures, economic diversification and business support, not previously authorized, $83,000. Does committee agree?

Committee Motion 78-18(2): Concurrence of Tabled Document 316-18(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2016- 2017, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 64)

Thank you, committee. Moving on to page 13, Transportation. Do I have comments or questions from committee? I see none. I will call the page. Transportation, capital investment expenditures, asset management, not previously authorized, negative $79,494,000. Does committee agree?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 64)

Thank you, Minister, and welcome to the witnesses. I will now open the floor to general comments on Bill 13. General comments? Seeing none, does committee agree that we proceed to a clause-by-clause review of the bill?