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 45-18(2): Apprenticeship Programs
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 4)

Given the frustrations that have been expressed by entrepreneurs and journeymen and the Chamber of Commerce, will the government commit to meaningfully consulting small- and mediumsized businesses in the regional centres as they improve existing programs and develop new programs?

Committee Motion 6-18(2): Tabled Document 1-18(2): Proposed Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019, Replacement of Text Regarding Management of Contaminated Sites, carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 4)

Thank you, Mr. Nakimayak. To the motion. Mr. O'Reilly.

Committee Motion 9-18(2): Tabled Document 1-18(2): Proposed Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019, Addition of Text Regarding French Language Education, carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 4)

There's a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Committee Motion 4-18(2): Tabled Document 1-18(2): Proposed Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019, Replacement of Text Regarding the Northern Manufacturing Industry, carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 4)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The manufacturing sector in the NWT has been showing strong growth, averaging 26 per cent a year. If this government is serious about diversifying our economy, this is the sector we should be focusing on. It generates jobs, creates opportunities for apprenticeships and builds capacity. If manufactured products can be purchased locally that means money stays in the territory instead of flowing south. Right now, we have the NWT Manufactured Products Policy which is well-meaning, but inadequate. I've had discussions with manufacturers in Hay River and Yellowknife and they've...

Committee Motion 9-18(2): Tabled Document 1-18(2): Proposed Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019, Addition of Text Regarding French Language Education, carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 4)

Thank you, Mr. O’Reilly. A motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. O'Reilly.

Member’s Statement on Innovative Apprenticeship Programs
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 4)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This government has tasked itself with fortifying our resource sector and diversifying our economy. These two goals require different approaches. However, to be successful at either it is essential that we have a well-trained workforce. The same way this Assembly is committed to supporting the physical infrastructure needed to grow the economy, we need to equally support the workforce development. If we spend hundreds of millions of dollars on infrastructure to attract new mining operations and don't have the skilled workforce to staff them, hundreds of millions more in...

Committee Motion 6-18(2): Tabled Document 1-18(2): Proposed Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019, Replacement of Text Regarding Management of Contaminated Sites, carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 4)

A motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. O'Reilly.

Committee Motion 9-18(2): Tabled Document 1-18(2): Proposed Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019, Addition of Text Regarding French Language Education, carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 4)

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Are there any more comments to the motion? To the motion. Mr. O’Reilly.

Committee Motion 3-18(2): Tabled Document 1-18(2): Proposed Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019, Replacement of Text Regarding Resource Development Options, carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 4)

Thank you, Mr. O’Reilly. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. O'Reilly.

Committee Motion 8-18(2): Tabled Document 1-18(2): Proposed Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2016-2019, Replacement of Text Regarding Cultural Programming and Official Languages, carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 4)

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Any more comments or questions on the motion?