Member Hay River North

Premier
Minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs

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

R.J. Simpson
Hay River North
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Rj_simpson@ntassembly.ca
Phone
867-767-9141 (link is a phone number)
Extension
11120
Constituency Office

62, promenade Woodland, bureau 104
Hay River Nord NT X0E 1G1
Canada

Phone
867-874-6301(link is a phone number)
Minister
Email
Rj_simpson@gov.nt.ca
Premier of the Northwest Territories, Minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs, Minister of Justice, Government House Leader

Statements in Debates

Committee Motion 194-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 – Education, Culture and Employment – Deferral of Department, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 101)

Thank you. Not every community has a community justice committee but those that do, I believe are operating. Some are operating at a higher capacity than others. I'm not sure if deputy minister has more information. Thank you.

Committee Motion 194-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 – Education, Culture and Employment – Deferral of Department, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 101)

Thank you. So I'm seeing right now there's a reduction to OROGO's budget, and Madam Chair, if we could take a sort recess and we can sort of I can speak with the Minister of Finance and perhaps legal counsel and figure out this situation. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 101)

Thank you. So we might be able to provide some information on where that money was distributed to.

In terms of success, I'm not quite sure what is meant by that. It's a little hard sometimes to measure success because you might have someone who is stuck in a firstyear apprentice because there is no one to, you know, mentor them for their secondyear apprentice. So there are some issues there.

But noting that Tlicho region is not part of the North Slave, I will see if we have a list of where this money has gone, with that breakdown. If it doesn't, we will do our best to provide that at a later...

Committee Motion 194-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 – Education, Culture and Employment – Deferral of Department, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 101)

Thank you. So we have probation services. We have the correctional facilities. And we have corrections administration. So for some description of those, I can ask Mr. Bancroft. Thank you.

Committee Motion 194-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 – Education, Culture and Employment – Deferral of Department, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 101)

Thank you. Mr. Bancroft, please.

Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 – Infrastructure – Deferral of Department, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 99)

Thank you. I'd ask Mr. MacDonald to answer. Thank you.

Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 – Infrastructure – Deferral of Department, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 99)

Thank you. So as was noted, we have in previous years increased the staff who are dedicated to this item and yes, we do have a lot of initiatives and they are across the department, and so they're not all supported directly by corporate services. There are initiatives that are being undertaken by the labour division and other areas. So we do have a lot but it is we feel as though we can undertake them and do it successfully with the contingent that we have. Thank you.

Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 – Infrastructure – Deferral of Department, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 99)

That's correct. If I may use the Member's time to clarify my statement earlier. I'm not apologizing for the pace of the work that we do in terms of saying that we are slow and employees are slow; I'm saying that it's a big job and that's why it takes a long time. It's just government but people are working hard on all of these things that the Members are bringing up.

And, yes, the Member is correct that the agreement was signed well after this was finalized by the printer so we will have to get that money through a different method. Thank you.

Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 – Infrastructure – Deferral of Department, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 99)

Thank you. I can probably ask Mr. Shannon to explain the or Mr. MacDonald to explain the on the changes. Thank you.

Committee Motion 193-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 – Infrastructure – Deferral of Department, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 99)

Thank you. That staff member is being added to support the Education Act modernization. Thank you.