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

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 913-19(2): School Funding
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 94)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Unfortunately, I'm not going to be able to make that commitment. But, fortunately, there are mechanisms in place where schools are in situations where they have extraordinary enrolment compared to what they are funded for. And the school, if it meets certain criteria, if there's a certain increase in their student population, they can apply to ECE to receive additional funding to cover that, recognizing that there are extraordinary circumstances. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 907-19(2): Indigenous Hiring
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 94)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to say yes, but I can't commit to something that's already happening. I don't want to take credit for it. That is what's happening. And if the Member knows of specific instances where it appears that it's not happening, please let me know. We want to find out. No system is perfect. And if there are some gaps in the system, we want to figure out how to address those. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral Question 900-19(2): Family Day
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 93)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, and I wish the Member a happy Monday. Thank you.

---Laughter

Oral Question 899-19(2): Community Gas Tax Funding and Water Issues in Behchoko
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 93)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is imputing motives to the Minister, saying that he's making comments in an attempt to discredit the municipality. I think it's a pretty clear one. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral Question 897-19(2): Mandatory Vaccination Policy
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 93)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A number of times the Member has stated that the government has a mandatory vaccination policy and has stated that GNWT employees are being required to get vaccinated or being laid off, and both of those are false. The Member is uttering falsehoods about the government and its policies. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabled Document 551-19(2): Follow-up letter for Oral Question 853-19(2): Immigration Strategy
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 93)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents: Follow-up letter to Oral Question 82219(2), Territorial Policing Services Agreement; and Follow-up letter to Oral Question 85319(2), Immigration Strategy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral Question 899-19(2): Community Gas Tax Funding and Water Issues in Behchoko
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 93)

Apologize.

Oral Question 899-19(2): Community Gas Tax Funding and Water Issues in Behchoko
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 93)

Point of order.

Oral Question 897-19(2): Mandatory Vaccination Policy
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 93)

Mr. Speaker, point of order.

Oral Question 887-19(2): Community Justice Programs
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 92)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I agree with the Member about the types of evaluations we need do. Just because you deliver something doesn't mean it's working. So I will commit to share whatever we can share. I'm not familiar with the particulars of the type of information that will be used in these evaluations, and I don't want to overcommit and share sensitive information that really shouldn't be shared. But I want to make sure that there is oversight of the funds the GNWT are spending. And so there will be some information that will be sufficient for that purpose that I will share with the...