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 125)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents: Aurora College Corporate Plan 20222023; and, Operating Plans for the Northwest Territories Education Bodies for the 20222023 School Year ending June 30th, 2023, Volumes 1 and 2. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 125)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. All that, and we still flooded. Mr. Speaker, what direction, if any, has the Minister provided to his department to start assessing how the department can work both internally and with Indigenous governments, with communities, and with residents, to develop policy and work plans to deal with flood and ice management for Hay River and the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 124)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the CanadaNWT Canadawide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement was signed 11 short months ago. Since that time, every licensed child care program in the NWT has signed on to the fee reduction subsidy. Licensed child care fees across the NWT have been cut in half, new licensed child care spaces have been created, and now we are rolling out new wage enhancements that will allow licensed child care centres to pay their employees more.

We could not have done this without the involvement of child care providers, early childhood educators, Indigenous...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 124)

Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that Bill 57, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act 2022, be read for the second time.

This bill corrects inconsistencies and errors in the statutes of the Northwest Territories. The bill also deals with other matters of a minor, noncontroversial, and uncomplicated nature in the statutes. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 123)

Thank you, Madam Chair. So as I understand it, the costs aren't laid out in the capital estimates. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 123)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have Charlene Doolittle, the deputy minister for the Department of Justice, and James Bancroft, the director of corporate services.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 123)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present to the House Bill 57, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act 2022, to be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 123)

Thank you. I don't I'm not sure who the owner of that building is, thank you. But we can find out and get that information to the Member. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 123)

Thank you, Madam Chair. You know, I'll just hand it to Mr. Bancroft. He has the details on this one.