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 377-18(2): Rationale for Departmental Position Reductions
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 34)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is there followup on how positions, how things are going now? Are the staff who are picking up the slack, do they feel as though things are running smooth? He doesn't have to talk specifically about this office, but does that discussion happen afterwards? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 377-18(2): Rationale for Departmental Position Reductions
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 34)

I'm still unclear of how that works, if because of privacy concerns they can't ask maybe the regional managers or the office managers, how things would operate without these certain positions. So, to determine how this all worked out, is there a baseline? Do they know what the level of service is before the cuts, and do they know what the level of service is after the cuts? I'm just trying to get my head wrapped around this whole process.

Question 370-18(2): Rationale for Departmental Position Reductions
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 34)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So from the sounds of it, it's senior management, which I assume is above a director. I'm not quite sure what "senior management" means, but they identified positions that they feel as though could be filled by someone else or it won't affect the work being done on the front lines. So I just want to confirm there's no consultation with the actual office manager or a direct supervisor of someone's position who is up for the chopping block? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 370-18(2): Rationale for Departmental Position Reductions
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 34)

So what level in the government are these expendable positions identified at? Is it the office manager, regional manager, director, ADM, deputy minister, et cetera?

Acknowledgement 10-20(2): Alison Kilgour, GNWT Long Service Award Recipient
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 34)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge longtime Hay River resident, Alison Kilgour. Earlier this month, Ms. Kilgour received the Long Service Award for her 45 years of service with the GNWT. This is a milestone that only one other GNWT employee has ever achieved. Ms. Kilgour was raised in the North. After attending university, she moved to Hay River, began working at Library Services in the Hay River Centennial Library, and she has been there ever since. Her coworkers describe her as a model employee. It's assured that whatever task she takes on will be completed thoroughly...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 34)

Thank you. Do I have a seconder? Member for Frame Lake.

---Carried

Question 377-18(2): Rationale for Departmental Position Reductions
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 34)

So, in the positions I'm talking about, the ECE cuts in Hay River, were other positions in that office reprofiled, or were duties given from the cut positions to other employees?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 33)

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Mr. Minister.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 33)

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Ms. Green.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 33)

Thank you. Mr. Minister. Ms. Green.