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 , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 18)

Multiyear funding. Thank you.

Committee Motion 5-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): Main Estimates 2024-2025, Deferral of Department – Executive and Indigenous Affairs, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 18)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are always going to the federal government. The Department of Justice hustles to find agreements, to find pots of money that they can access. And so I wouldn't say we're going back to them, but there is a constant dialogue and there's always not always new agreements but there are a number of agreements. And we do give our two cents to the feds about what we would like to see and what direction we would like to see their agreements go in if it's not one that works for the territory. And as always, I when I speak to the federal Ministers, I say we need ensure that...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 18)

Thank you. I appreciate those comments. I look forward to the Members on this. Thanks.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 18)

Thank you. So when we integrate services, we integrate them from all departments, and so the money that the Member's referring to exists in health's budget, in housing's budget. Perhaps the deputy minister can provide a bit more detail. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 18)

Sure, I won't comment. I believe that's in the previous section so I'll just I don't want to the puck drops in about an hour so I don't want to take up too much time with going back. Thank you.

Committee Motion 5-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): Main Estimates 2024-2025, Deferral of Department – Executive and Indigenous Affairs, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 18)

Thank you. I believe there's potential that it could work in a lot of places, but it's the funding issue that is, I would say, the holdup right now. This is federally funded. And when I last met with the Minister of public safety or I guess the previous time this was discussed, and we did talk about the success of this program understanding there isn't an evaluation yet. And there was interest, and it does appear that the federal government is interested in this. And so we hope that this program, the evaluation will show that it is successful, and then we can move into other communities.

With...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 18)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I apologize, I was just getting my business plan sent over to me. If the Member could repeat the item he was referencing. Thank you. I apologize.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 18)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. You can find it in this budget and budgets all across the GNWT because it is a governmentwide approach. But the deputy minister can provide more specifics. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 18)

Thank you. So I believe we're still we're in Cabinet support right now? That's where I sort of lost track of where things are going there.

Committee Motion 5-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): Main Estimates 2024-2025, Deferral of Department – Executive and Indigenous Affairs, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 18)

Thank you. There are two community safety officers. Thanks.