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 202-18(2): Report of the Northwest Territories Judicial Remuneration Commission
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 18)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just thought that was something the public should be informed of so I wanted to get the Minister out of his seat. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

Question 202-18(2): Report of the Northwest Territories Judicial Remuneration Commission
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 18)

I respect the separation of the judiciary from the Legislature. Does this increase have any sort of effect on ongoing negotiations or can it be used as precedent? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Motion 17-18(2): Extended Adjournment of the House to June 13, 2016, CARRIED
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 18)

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Does committee agree?

Mr. Simpson’s Reply
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 18)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just have a few general comments in reply to the budget address and I’ll save my specifics for when we debate the main estimates. This budget process has been quite a unique experience. We have an unprecedented number of first-term MLAs, elected during a time when commodity prices were falling to ten-year lows, investment in the territory was waning, and no new mining projects were on the horizon. The Department of Finance told us that we need to find $150 million in savings, and because the previous Assembly saw fit to extend its term, we were forced to compress a...

Question 202-18(2): Report of the Northwest Territories Judicial Remuneration Commission
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 18)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. How well do we pay our judges compared to other jurisdictions in Canada? Thank you.

Question 202-18(2): Report of the Northwest Territories Judicial Remuneration Commission
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 18)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a document that was tabled yesterday by the Minister of Justice and it hasn’t really received much press so I’d just maybe like to ask the Minister about it. It’s the Report of the Northwest Territories Judicial Remuneration Commission. I was looking at it and I guess it’s like negotiations with judges for judicial remuneration, and I see that they got about $1000 a month raise. I’d like to ask the Minister is this correct? That’s it for now. Thank you.

Motion 17-18(2): Extended Adjournment of the House to June 13, 2016, CARRIED
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 18)

We will consider the document after a short break. Thank you.

Motion 17-18(2): Extended Adjournment of the House to June 13, 2016, CARRIED
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 18)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I now call the Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Beaulieu.

Committee Motion 30-18(2): Tabled Document 50-18(2): Main Estimates, 20162017, Environment and Natural Resources, Corporate Management, Operations Expenditures (pg. 87), Reinstatement of Funding for Public Education Coordinator in Field Support Unit
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 17)

Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. O'Reilly.

Committee Motion 30-18(2): Tabled Document 50-18(2): Main Estimates, 20162017, Environment and Natural Resources, Corporate Management, Operations Expenditures (pg. 87), Reinstatement of Funding for Public Education Coordinator in Field Support Unit
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 17)

Thank you, Mr. Campbell. Mr. Blake.