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 , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 65)

Thank you. I am not sure about the historic numbers, but I think that part of the issue is the timing of legislation. We made it through the last Assembly, like it or not, with the outcome. We were able to do it, and I know that the drafters put in a lot of hours. We are hoping that, by controlling the flow of legislation a little better, we will be able to do a better job of managing their work loads. I am not sure if Ms. Bolstad has any of the history or the deputy minister. Yes, the deputy minister. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 65)

Thank you. The Member noted a decrease of about $600,000, and that is due to the sunsetting of the victim services agreement. That is about $749,000. However, I believe we may have signed that, a new agreement -- no, we are working on negotiating a new agreement, and we are confident that it's going forward. It's just a matter of time, but it was not ready for these main estimates. That is in the works. There is limited money in Justice to move around. It is very mandated, and we require budgets for specific things such as RCMP, such as courts, and we do not really control those budgets...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 65)

Thank you. I'm not sure if we have that information. Perhaps the deputy minister can offer some information.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 65)

Thank you. Every community is different, and I think that's why we have this money distributed, because it's up to the communities to identify. Perhaps I can ask the deputy minister to provide some insight, as well.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 65)

Thank you. This has been the plan for some time, so those have been accounted for. Perhaps I can ask Ms. Bolstad. I know we had been delayed in implementing this, so I believe the funds were already in the budget. Ms. Bolstad might be able to add some more. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 65)

Thank you. As we get into this, our first item is community justice and policing, and I just want to remind everyone that policing services is later on, so this is not the section to discuss the RCMP. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 65)

Thank you. For some of the variation between the 2019-2020 actuals and the current budget, I can ask Ms. Bolstad. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 65)

Thank you. I had this discussion with the department very soon after I took this file. I think the Member knows that I like costed plans with timelines, and so I've asked the department to go ahead and do that work. We hope to have something in the near future. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 65)

Thank you. We have no backlog. Perhaps, for a bit of history, Ms. Bolstad might be able to enlighten us. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 65)

Yes, I do. Should I just take it away? Thank you. I am here to present the 2021-2022 Main Estimates for the Department of Justice. Overall, the department's estimates propose an increase of $136,000 over the Main Estimates 2020-2021. These estimates continue to support the mandate objectives for the Department of Justice while continuing to meet the GNWT's fiscal objectives to prioritize responsible and strategic spending.

Highlights of these proposed estimates include forced growth funding of $877,000:

$99,000 to fund increased external counsel costs in the Office of the Children's Lawyer;

$123...