R.J. Simpson

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

Question 529-20(1): Support for Charitable Non-Governmental Organizations
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 45)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes. Thank you.

Question 522-20(1): Funding of the Northwest Territories Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 45)

Thank you. I'd be happy to. Thank you.

Question 520-20(1): Senior Envoy to the Government of Canada
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 45)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And of course I spoke with my Cabinet colleagues, and I've spoken with Indigenous leaders, and there is a lot of support, a lot of positive feedback about this decision. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 520-20(1): Senior Envoy to the Government of Canada
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 45)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the Premier generally has a principal secretary, and so the mandate I was given was when I was elected as Premier to have that position.

Looking at the circumstances, I made the decision that that position would be transitioned into a senior envoy to the Government of Canada to help ensure that we have a voice in Ottawa and to help ensure that our Indigenous government partners also have a voice in Ottawa so we can support them. So the principal secretary is a political position in the Premier's office, and I made the decision to adjust that position. Thank you.

Question 519-20(1): Funding of the Northwest Territories Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 45)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, I don't have $200,000 free in EIA's budget. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 45)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to welcome Bronwyn McVale who is joining us in the executive hallway as an executive -- sorry, the executive administrative coordinator for the chief of staff. So I'm happy to have her in the House here in her first week. Thank you.

Tabled Document 293-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 12-20(1): Report on the Review of the 2023-2024 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 45)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents: Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 10-20(1), Report on the Review of the 2023-2024 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Information and Privacy Commissioner; and, Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 12-20(1), Report on the Review of the 2023-2024 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 531-20(1): Timeline for Introduction of Anti-Crime Legislation
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 45)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, no, no, I can't do that. We only have so much capacity in this government. You know, there was the bill the Member was referencing that moved through very quickly. Unfortunately, at the Department of Justice we have a limited number of policy staff who work on all of our initiatives, and then we have a limited number of drafters as well. And so to bring forward all of these items in such a short timeframe, it wouldn't be logistically possible if we want to it well. And we also have a public engagement piece we want to do with things, especially like the SCAN...

Question 530-20(1): Senior Envoy to the Government of Canada
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 45)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll have to take that question on notice. Thanks.

Question 529-20(1): Support for Charitable Non-Governmental Organizations
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 45)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's been a while since I looked at that report, so I was just pulling it up. But from what I recall, there are good recommendations in there, they're solid recommendations. Some of the recommendations relate to a policy that we already have in place but just haven't been following, and if we followed that policy, I think there would be a lot of improvement in our relationships with the NGOs. So from what I can recall, yes, I look forward to following some of those recommendations. Thank you.