R.J. Simpson

Member Hay River North

Premier
Minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs
Minister of Justice
Government House Leader

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

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

Committee Motion 194-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 – Education, Culture and Employment – Deferral of Department, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 101)

Thank you. So the community justice committees:

The hamlet of Aklavik receives $53,000.

Inuvik Community Justice Committee receives $129,500.

Fort McPherson receives $82,000.

Paulatuk receives $45,000.

Tsiigehtchic $41,500.

Tuk $56,000.

Ulukhaktok $56,000.

Colville Lake $41,500.

Deline $75,000.

Norman Wells $56,000.

Tulita $49,000.

Fort Smith $71,000.

Fort Providence $53,000.

Fort Resolution $49,000.

Hay River $78,500.

Katl'odeeche First Nation $45,000.

Kakisa $41,500.

Enterprise $20,000.

Fort Simpson $63,000.

Wrigley $41,000

Fort Liard $49,000.

Somba K'e $41,000.

Behchoko $78,000.

Gameti $40...

Committee Motion 194-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 – Education, Culture and Employment – Deferral of Department, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 101)

Thank you. So the RCMP pay their members, and so they've been paying them they pay them the retro active pay and they haven't billed us for it yet, so. For some information on this, I can hand it to the...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 101)

Thank you. And again, we do have to follow the rules in other financial legislations. So there are processes in place to request forgiveness if you get to the point where you, you know, you're having collections called on you. So there are some processes in place but we don't want to have a program and have some people, you know, have to follow that program and others not. So what we might need is to perhaps change the program so it's a little more responsive but I don't want to, you know commit to, you know, just treating some people differently because, you know, they have different...

Committee Motion 194-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 – Education, Culture and Employment – Deferral of Department, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 101)

Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. I am here today to present the Department of Justice's main estimates for the fiscal year 20222023.

Overall, the department's estimates propose an increase of $3.3 million, or 2.5 percent, over the 20212022 Main Estimates. These estimates support the mandate objectives while continuing to meet the GNWT’s fiscal objectives to prioritize responsible and strategic spending.

Highlights of these proposed estimates include:

Forced Growth funding totaling $2.1 million of which $252,000 is to establish one court officer and one legal aid electronic disclosure position. The...

Committee Motion 194-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 – Education, Culture and Employment – Deferral of Department, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 101)

Thank you. I don't believe it is publicly available. I will have further discussions with the department though about that because I'm always in favour of releasing things publicly where possible. So I will see what we can do on that. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 101)

Yes, that is the language that is, as the Member described it, it is offered here provided by College Nordique. Perhaps on how that is funded, because I know that we did provide a significant amount of funding to ensure that the backlog of, you know, applications for this program were dealt with. I can ask Mr. Saturnino for some more information. Thank you.

Committee Motion 194-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 – Education, Culture and Employment – Deferral of Department, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 101)

Thank you. Similar to comments I made earlier, yes, I've been saying that for years. Unfortunately, this is an accounting document for the most part and that's why we're here, just to parse out this information and provide additional information to committee as requested. You know, I wish this document was ten times its size and we could have information about all of the programs. But the fact is that I have two binders here that together are probably two feet high, and that's only my two departments. So I'm happy to provide information as I can but what is in the main estimates is what's...

Committee Motion 194-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 – Education, Culture and Employment – Deferral of Department, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 101)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, there is a significant amount of collaboration between the Department of Justice and the RCMP before we see a final product and before it makes it to the Assembly. Mr. Bancroft can provide some detail on that. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 101)

Yes, Madam Chair, thank you. I do wish to bring in my witnesses.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 101)

Thank you. So I can speak briefly to this. There isn't a plan. There's no plan for a new school in Dettah. There are 49 schools across the territory and they are looked at each individually. And the factors that they're taking into consideration are, you know, the safety of the school, the structural safety. You know, the mechanical safety. Is it nearing its end of life in enough ways that it's cheaper to build a new school than to continue to maintain a new school? And, you know, in Dettah I know there is a desire for a new school. I think, you know, talking to leaders from that community...