Member Hay River North

Premier
Minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs

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
Constituency Office

62, promenade Woodland, bureau 104
Hay River Nord NT X0E 1G1
Canada

Minister
Premier of the Northwest Territories, Minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs, Minister of Justice, Government House Leader

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 134)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Followup Letter for Oral Question 117819(2): Grade Level Outcomes and Data for Northwest Territories Students. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 134)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will do what I can, but sometimes we learn about federal engagement after it happens. So it's hard for me to commit to doing that. But this is an issue that is close to the heart of many people in the Northwest Territories. So despite the fact that it is a federal bill, we are on top of it and we are paying attention, and I will continue to share information with the Members and I will continue to advocate for the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 133)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, you know, the Member is correct that the school boards have paid for some of those services, and that is with the funding that comes from the department of Education, Culture and Employment under the heading of inclusive schooling, and those funds are restricted for the types of things that the Member is talking about. So we are providing the funds, and we're letting the school boards determine how they use those funds.

And so there are those types of partnerships, but they're not at the territorial level. They are at the school board level. That being said, I think...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 133)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't think there's a straightforward simple answer to that. There's a number of different things you have to factor in. Probably four minutes worth of things that you need to factor in here. So you need to look at you need to look at the capacity within the department of Education, Culture and Employment. If we are talking about ECE managing clinical staff, you know, we don't have that capacity at this point. The Member pointed out the fact that the department of health has a mandate to serve all residents, whereas ECE focuses on the schools. So there is an argument...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 133)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There was actually a pilot ready to go in the 20212022 school year, but like many things, COVID derailed that, and there was just it was not a possibility to do this work. The department's efforts were elsewhere unfortunately. Since that time, the approach to integrated services has changed across government, and so we are looking at new ways to integrate our services in that new approach. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 132)

Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that Bill 65, Builder's Lien Act, be read for the second time.

This bill repeals the Mechanics Lien Act. It replaces it with a new act that sets out modern law regarding builder's liens, an area of construction law. Specifically this new act sets out the following:

trust provisions and the duties of owners, contractors and subcontractors and vendors as trustees of revenue received;

details respecting how liens are created and calculated and how they can be applied as interest against land;

holdbacks and finishing...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 132)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'll have to get back to the Member on that. But as we are doing reviews of different programs, for example in ECE, we are taking steps to try and adjust the programs so that we can move towards something like this so that, you know, whether you are an ECE representative or, you know, you worked in the housing frontline, you will have perhaps we're trying to free up time, streamline processes, so that departments can work more closely together. But for the Member's specific question, I will get back to her. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 132)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Recently there was a report done that looked at our attempts to integrate services and some of the barriers. And out of that report there were things identified such as these privacy issues. And so from that steps have been taken. Departments are working on addressing those issues. So that work is happening, and it is ongoing. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 132)

Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 68, An Act to Amend the Child Daycare Act, be read for the second time.

This bill amends the Child Daycare Act in order to

clarify exemptions from the application of the act;

establish a complaints process for parents to ensure compliance with prescribed rules of conduct;

provide for maximum childcare fees that can be charged by operators;

provide for minimum pay rates for the employees of certain early learning and childcare facilities;

provide for the establishment of a certification process and for mandatory...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 132)

Madam Speaker, I wish to table the following three documents: Plain Language Summary for Bill 65, Builder's Lien Act; Plain Language Summary for Bill 68, An Act to Amend the Child Daycare Act; and, Northwest Territories Coroner Service 2021 Annual Report. Thank you, Madam Speaker.