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 130-18(2): Hay River Family Support Centre
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 11)

The Minister stated that he's aware that there's some major problems with that facility. My question is: if the government can’t help renovate that facility, if it's beyond repair, if it needs a new building, is the department prepared to help provide that building or are they willing to let this service just disappear from the community?

Question 119-18(2): New Community Funding Formula
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 10)

It's not only the Housing Corporation that is hitting hard financial times. I think that instead of going to direct competition with local businesses, the Housing Corporation might want to consider an alternative, and I'd just ask that the Minister consider that in the future.

Question 119-18(2): New Community Funding Formula
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 10)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier this week we learned that the NWT Housing Corporation plans to build 45 homes for the RCMP. My question is to the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. Do they know how many of those homes are supposed to be built in each region, in each community, and specifically in Hay River? Thank you

Question 119-18(2): New Community Funding Formula
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 10)

I understand from the Minister's previous comments in the House that the RCMP approached the Housing Corporation so the RCMP didn't have to negotiate with multiple companies in each community for housing. Instead of adding the 45 units to the hundred-plus market units that the Housing Corporation already needs to build, has the Housing Corporation considered implementing a program similar to the Rent Supplement Program, where local businesses could build and maintain these housing units or possibly utilize existing units and lease them to the Housing Corporation. This way the RCMP only have to...

Member’s Statement on Congratulations to Dr. Lance Crook
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 10)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate Dr. Lance Crook. He's a local Hay River boy who just last week completed his medical residency and is now officially an attending physician. I'm not surprised by Lance's success. He's always been a hard worker. Before beginning on his career path, he was already an accomplished guitarist and a journeyman tradesperson. Dr. Crook attended the University of Saskatchewan, where he received a Bachelor of Science honours degree in biochemistry. He went on to complete the Island Medical Program in Victoria and...

Question 105-18(2): Long-Term Care Program Review
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 9)

I would like to ask: Will the Minister commit to doing that review with Public Works and Services so we can use this facility?

Question 105-18(2): Long-Term Care Program Review
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 9)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In Hay River right now, we're in the process of moving the medical clinic to the new health centre, and it's my understanding that, I imagine, in the next year or two the rest of the hospital will move as well. The Minister of Health and Social Services tabled the Long-Term Care Program Review in this House on Monday and it discusses our lack of long-term care beds. Currently we're slated to get 10 new beds built onto the Woodland Manor, and all that does is take the current long-term beds in the current hospital and move them to the Manor. My question to the Minister...

Question 105-18(2): Long-Term Care Program Review
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 9)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My grandma has lived in that building for 12 years, and so while it is an institutional setting, it is still a home and she looks at it as a home, so I know people do. It is their home. I would ask that the Minister commit to sharing that assessment with myself and the other Member for Hay River. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 105-18(2): Long-Term Care Program Review
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 9)

I could probably live with that 50-bed expansion that the Minister mentioned.

---Laughter

I understand the old hospital is not meeting, maybe, today's standards. I know there's an older part of it and there's a newer part of it, and the older part is the issue. That’s the reason, I believe, that we needed to move out. The new part appears to be structurally sound. I know there needs to be some renovation done to it. Will the government look at renovating that building so the newer part of the building can extend its life?

Member’s Statement on Spring Events in Hay River Area
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 9)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This weekend is going to be a busy one in Hay River, so I thought I'd take this opportunity to let everyone know about some of the exciting events that are going to be happening in our region. This year will be the 34th annual Kamba Carnival held just across the river at the K'atl'odeeche First Nation. It's an annual celebration of spring and a tradition in the region, attracting people from all over the North. It features snowshoe races, talent shows, dog sledding, fish-eating competitions, traditional games, and more. There's something for everyone in the family to...