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 32)

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

Question 349-18(2): NTCL Employee Pension Plan and Severence Payments
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 32)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. These answers are, I guess, what I expected. We see that there's not much happening on the part of the government to support, you know, the affected employees of NTCL. In general, these type of things can be avoided in the future. I know that in Ontario they have a system where they have regulations to protect pensions, and there was an article a couple days ago in the Financial Post talking about how even public sector pensions, the investments are becoming riskier. They're not as stringently regulated as things like banks, and so there's a risk that, you know, a lot...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 32)

Thank you, Minister. We have the total capital estimates on page 25 for Finance, but we will defer that until we consider the detail. The first item for consideration is on page 28, Finance, office of the Comptroller General, infrastructure investments, $1,325,000. Do I have comments or questions on this? It appears that page 29 is the detail of this section. Comments? Questions? Mr. O'Reilly.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 32)

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Minister.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 32)

I'd like to thank the witness. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort her from the Chamber.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 32)

Continuing on to page 21. Environment and Natural Resources, water resources with detail on page 22. Committee agrees?

Question 349-18(2): NTCL Employee Pension Plan and Severence Payments
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 32)

I think I know how my second question will be answered. In 1999, the GNWT supported an application to the courts in the Royal Oak bankruptcy proceedings taking place in Ontario, relating to the termination of federally-regulated Giant Mine employees. Our government argued on behalf of the employees that the NWT Labour Standards Act had to be complied with to the benefit of the employees despite the fact that it is federal jurisdiction. Despite the fact this took place in a different jurisdiction, they did this to support our residents. So is the GNWT willing to put in the same effort to...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 32)

The next department we have agreed to consider is the Department of Finance. Minister McLeod, would you like to bring witnesses into the Chamber?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 32)

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Minister.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 32)

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Minister McLeod.