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 46-18(2): Committee Report 4-18(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2014-2015 Public Accounts – Reporting on Student Loan Remissions, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 42)

Thank you, Minister Sebert. To the motion. Mr. Testart.

Committee Motion 41-18(2): Committee Report 4-18(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2014-2015 Public Accounts – Completion of Interim and Final Public Accounts, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 42)

Question has been called.

---Carried

Mr. McNeely.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 42)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Beaulieu.

Committee Motion 46-18(2): Committee Report 4-18(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2014-2015 Public Accounts – Reporting on Student Loan Remissions, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 42)

Thank you, Mr. Nakimayak. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. O'Reilly.

Committee Motion 40-18(2): Committee Report 4-18(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2014-2015 Public Accounts – Timing for Provision of Public Accounts, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 42)

Question has been called.

---Carried

Mr. Testart.

Question 452-18(2): Economic Growth through Improved Immigration Outcomes
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 42)

Earlier, the Minister, in a different set of questions, talked about Aurora College waiting to make any changes, basing that on Skills 4 Success, and he just mentioned the immigration framework, as well. Is that also going to be based on Skills 4 Success? Is this all going to be integrated, and when can we expect this immigration framework?

Committee Motion 45-18(2): Committee Report 4-18(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2014-2015 Public Accounts – Plain Language Reporting on Public Accounts, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 42)

Thank you, Mr. Sebert. To the motion.

Committee Motion 39-18(2): Committee Report 3-18(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2014-2015 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report – Response to Report within 120 Days, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 42)

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Mr. Testart.

Question 452-18(2): Economic Growth through Improved Immigration Outcomes
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 42)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment in relation to my statement about immigration. The immigration program is jointly run between ITI and ECE. There's a lot of overlap between departments; Education Culture and Employment obviously has employment and ITI has business development. What sort of coordination is happening between the two departments on this front, and has the department considered merging the immigration unit into perhaps one department to streamline? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Committee Motion 45-18(2): Committee Report 4-18(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2014-2015 Public Accounts – Plain Language Reporting on Public Accounts, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 42)

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Testart.