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

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 47818(2): Fish Processing Plant for Hay River
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 44)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier, I spoke about the infrastructure deficit when it comes to commercial fisheries in Hay River, so I have some questions for the Minister of ITI.

As far as I understand, the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation is responsible for maintaining their commercial fishing infrastructure in the territory. Somehow, we let them shirk their responsibilities, and the fishermen are the ones who ultimately suffered. Now we're left with a packing plant that needs about $2 million in upgrades to bring it up to code. I'd like an update on the status of the negotiations with...

Question 47818(2): Fish Processing Plant for Hay River
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 44)

As MLA for Hay River North, I regularly attend GSLAC meetings, I meet privately with the NWT Fishermen's Federation president, I attend the NWT Fishermen's Federation meetings, I talk to fishermen in Hay River, and I know that these issues they brought to GSLAC. The issues with zoning aren't being addressed. When I went to my first GSLAC meeting, they brought up issues. We went to the second one, there were the same issues with absolutely no movement. If anything, there was a denial of doing anything. I've also hear, from the federation that when they talk to the bureaucrats they tell them, we...

Question 47818(2): Fish Processing Plant for Hay River
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 44)

It's good to hear that we're moving and it should be in within a week. If a deal can't be struck with Freshwater -- given their track record, I'm not sure one can be, but I'm still hopeful -- will the GNWT take the initiative and dip into that $1.4 million they've had set aside and build a fish processing plant in Hay River?

Member's Statement on Commercial Fishing Industry
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 44)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there's a lot of issues at the forefront right now that I could talk about, but I'm going to start with an issue that I need to keep at the forefront, commercial fishing.

Since 2014, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment has been talking about a strategy to revitalize the commercial fishing industry. This is exactly the type of work that ITI should be undertaking. They're not trying to create an industry from nothing. We have a resource. There are markets for that resource, and we have entrepreneurs to drive the industry.

There are many positive...

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.

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, Ms. Green. Anything further, Mr. Testart?

Committee Motion 44-18(2): Committee Report 4-18(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2014-2015 Public Accounts – Reporting on Infrastructure Financing and Affordable Debt, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 42)

Question has been called.

---Carried

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, committee. We have concluded the consideration. Next we have agreed to consider Committee Report 4-18(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2014-2015 Public Accounts. I will turn to the chair of the Standing Committee on Government Operations for any opening comments, Mr. Testart.

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

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Committee Report 3-18(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2014-2015 NWT Human Rights Commission Annual Report and Committee Report 4-18(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2014-2015 Public Accounts. I would like to report progress with 10 motions being adopted, and that Committee Reports 3-18(2) and 4-18(2) are concluded. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.