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

Member's Statement on Revitalization of the Commercial Fishing Industry
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 46)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Two days ago I spoke about the commercial fishing industry. The proposed budget released yesterday means that I'm talking about it again. Noticeably absent from that budget is the $1.4 million dollars that had been set aside for the last two years to revitalize the commercial fishing industry and to build the fish processing plant in Hay River. The Minister told me Tuesday in this House that there were plans for that money, but now we see that it's not included in the budget at all.

Does this mean that revitalizing the fishery is no longer a priority of the government...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 46)

I will now rise and report progress.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 46)

I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of Committee? Mr. Testart.

Question 487-18(2): Commercial Fishing and Agriculture Industries
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 46)

An ask isn't a guarantee. I assumed the Ministers had the power to do more than just ask, but I'll take it for now. ITI has an agricultural consultant position. I spoke about it earlier. It's located here in Yellowknife. You know, with the beautiful, fertile ground in Yellowknife it only makes sense, right? Well, no, this used to be back in Hay River, you know, the heart of agriculture. I don't even know why I have to ask this, but can I get a guarantee from the Minister that this position will be moved back to Hay River? Better yet, can it be re-profiled so it's agriculture and fisheries...

Question 487-18(2): Commercial Fishing and Agriculture Industries
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 46)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to the money that the government had put aside to help revitalize the commercial fishery, two days ago when I questioned the Minister of ITI about this he said, "The important thing about the $1.4 million is for the Department of ITI to use that as leverage for the funding that we are putting forward to CanNor to give us the best potential to help build that plant in Hay River," and he said, "We're getting very close to an agreement with Freshwater regarding the plant."

So, Mr. Speaker, because this $1.4 million isn't in next year's budget, is it because the...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 46)

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Document 261-18(2), Northwest Territories Main Estimates, 2017-2018. I would like to report progress. 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 46)

Thank you, Mr. Testart. There is a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

Question 487-18(2): Commercial Fishing and Agriculture Industries
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 46)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final question. I won't put the Minister on the spot by asking him to justify why the manager of fisheries and agriculture is in Yellowknife. We know it can't be justified. So can I get the Minister to not just look into moving this position? It doesn't even need to be looked into. Can we just have this position moved to where it logically should be, in Hay River? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 45)

I will now rise and report progress.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 45)

I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Beaulieu.