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

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 52)

Thank you, Minister. My next question is on medical travel. How does the department determine what airline they're going to be transferring patients with? Say if someone is in Hay River and needs to be sent up to Yellowknife. Well, obviously there's only one airline now, but how is that determination made? Is there a standing offer? Is there some deal with a particular airline or is it open to the lowest bidder? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 52)

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Document 261-18(2), Northwest Territories Main Estimates 2017-2018. I would like to report progress and, Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 52)

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Green, anything further?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 52)

Thank you, Minister. Seeing nothing further from Mr. Beaulieu, I believe I have Mr. Vanthuyne next on my list.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 52)

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Do I have any further comments or questions? Mr. O'Reilly.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 52)

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 52)

We will take a short recess and begin with consideration of the document after. Thank you.

---SHORT RECESS

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 52)

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 52)

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 52)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Looking at page 182, extended health benefits, these are benefits for people over the age of 60. The NWT basically provides them with healthcare. There are people who don't have government healthcare plans, you know, people who worked in private industry who had private healthcare plans, who paid their $75-$100 a month and had healthcare. When you turn 60 in the territory, though, there's not much of an incentive to keep paying that $100 a month. It seems like if we could somehow encourage those people to hold on to that through a tax break or something the GNWT might...