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

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

I'll now call Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, we've agreed to consider Committee Report 3-18(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2014-2015 NWT Human Rights Commission Annual Report. I will turn to the chair of the Standing Committee on Government Operations for any opening comments. Mr. Testart.

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. Testart. To the motion. Question has been called. Motion is carried.

---Carried

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

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Does committee agree?

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. O'Reilly. To the motion. Minister Sebert.

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)

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for all his answers. So we've talked about what we're doing in the territory. What is the government doing to reach out to potential immigrants? What sort of advertising, I guess, what sort of outreach, is there?

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)

Question has been called.

---Carried

Mr. Nakimayak.

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)

Thank you, Mr. Testart. There is a motion on the floor. To the motion.

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

We always talk about diversifying our economy. Other jurisdictions, like Manitoba, have welcomed farmers and agricultural workers to their province to fill the gaps they have. What is the department doing to align our current economic diversification strategies, like with agricultural, with tourism, hospitality, the fisheries? What are they doing specifically to attract immigrants who can fill those gaps? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.