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

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 13)

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. I'll give the witnesses a chance to respond if they would like to. Thank you. Mr. Beaulieu.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 13)

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Premier McLeod.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 13)

Seeing no one else on my list, would the committee please turn back to page 27. The departmental summary of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations. $8.754 million.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 13)

Thank you, Mrs. Green. Premier McLeod?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 13)

Thank you, Premier McLeod. Mr. Goldney.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 12)

Motion is on the floor to report progress. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is passed. I will now rise and report progress.

Question 138-18(2): Hay River Long-Term Care Beds
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 12)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the Minister has cleared up a lot of the lingering questions we've had. I know the Minister doesn't have a long-term plan yet, they said they're working on the action plan to address the needs by 2026. I'm just wondering: when can we expect to know. And I understand there's needs all over the territory, there's 286 or 256 beds needed across the territory, and so I know Hay River is not the first in line. When can we expect to know when a solution will be presented? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 138-18(2): Hay River Long-Term Care Beds
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 12)

I guess my government math was wrong; it's 10 beds, not nine beds. Regardless, even if it's 10 beds, it still isn't going to address our needs. It's going to replace what we have now. This piece of land, it can't accommodate an expansion; there's the manor there, there's the hospital there, there's the ravine there. Is there another piece of land in Hay River that's suitable? By suitable, I mean large enough to build on and economical?

Member’s Statement on Hay River Long Term Care Beds
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 12)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier, the Minister of Finance pointed out that there is money in this budget to allow the residents of a longterm care unit at H.H. Williams Hospital to remain in their homes. Given that we have no other longterm care beds available in Hay River, I'm excited to hear that the government isn't evicting my nana or the other residents of longterm care. This highlights an important and urgent issue. On February 29th, the Long-Term Care Program Review was tabled in this House. It states that in 15 years, Hay River will require 46 long-term care beds. Right now, we have 25...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 12)

Mr. Speaker, your committee would like to report progress and, Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.