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 2)

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

Question 14-18(2): Enrolment Directive for French First Language
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is all good news and I appreciate the Minister's response. Finally, I'd just like to ask the Minister, is it the department's working assumption that Ecole Boreale is viable in the long term as a French language school in Hay River? Thank you.

Question 14-18(2): Enrolment Directive for French First Language
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 2)

That's good to hear that a review is underway. I'd like to know what impediments or roadblocks that the government perceives stand in the way of loosening these strict admission requirements that are stopping the GNWT from bringing its admissions policy more in line with the rest of the country.

Member’s Statement on Admissions Policy for Ecole Boreale
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights of people whose first language is French or whose primary school education was in French to have their children educated in that language if they reside in a province or territory where that is the linguistic minority. In Hay River, Ecole Boreale services this right. In 2008, the Minister of Education issued a directive stating that admissions to French language programs shall be restricted only to those students who qualify according to a strict interpretation of section 23 and have the...

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

I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Question 14-18(2): Enrolment Directive for French First Language
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 2)

I'd just also like to ask, would the Minister commit to working in good faith with the Hay River District Education Authority (DEA) and the Commission scolaire to find a solution to the Ecole Boreale enrolment issue?

Question 14-18(2): Enrolment Directive for French First Language
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my statement today about Ecole Boreale and the ministerial directive, I will be directing my questions to the honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Will the Minister commit to conducting review in good faith of the ministerial directive related to the enrolment of students in French first-language language education programs before the end of this school year? Thank you.

Motion 4-18(2): Appointments to the Striking Committee
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 1)

I give notice that on Monday, February 22, 2016, I will move the following motion.

Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Nakimayak, Mr. O'Reilly, Mr. Testart, and Mr. Thompson be appointed to the Striking Committee of this Assembly.

At the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today.

Member’s Statement on Hay River Economic Reality
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 1)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Through conversation with other Members, I have come to realize the economic realities we’re facing in Hay River, the territory's second largest community, aren't well known outside of the town. Even though this Assembly is in its infancy, the decisions we make in the coming months will have both immediate and lasting effects. Because we need to make informed decisions, I want to provide all of my colleagues with some context regarding the fragile state of Hay River's economy. The economic downturn is evident all over the territory. However, there are certain...

Motion 2-18(2): Appointment of Deputy Chairpersons of Committee of the Whole, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 1)

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.