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

Committee Motion 178-18(3): tanding Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of Bill 42: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act and Bill 43: An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act – Government Response, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 84)

Thank you. Ms. Green.

Committee Motion 178-18(3): tanding Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of Bill 42: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act and Bill 43: An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act – Government Response, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 84)

Mr. Stewart.

Question 811-18(3): School Busing in Hay River
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 84)

So, because of how the SSDEC distributes funds, the Hay River DEA receives only the funding that is calculated in the funding formula. Now, I haven't gone through the DEA's books line by line, but I know that their budget is stretched thin and they have absolutely no wiggle room. I know the budget amount for busing doesn't cover the full cost of busing, and because their entire budget is already fully utilized, they have no extra funds to put aside to cover the costs of replacing the buses which need to be replaced in the next year or two. In the meantime, the district education council, the...

Committee Motion 178-18(3): tanding Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of Bill 42: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act and Bill 43: An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act – Government Response, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 84)

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 178-18(3): tanding Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of Bill 42: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act and Bill 43: An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act – Government Response, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 84)

Thank you. Minister.

Committee Motion 178-18(3): tanding Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of Bill 42: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act and Bill 43: An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act – Government Response, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 84)

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Committee Motion 173-18(3): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of Bill 42: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act and Bill 43: An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act – Plain Language Summaries of Bills, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 84)

Thank you. There is a motion. The motion is in order. To the motion, Mr. Testart.

Committee Motion 178-18(3): tanding Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of Bill 42: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act and Bill 43: An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act – Government Response, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 84)

Thank you. Ms. Green.

Committee Motion 178-18(3): tanding Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of Bill 42: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act and Bill 43: An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act – Government Response, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 84)

Thank you. Anything further? Seeing nothing further, can we agree that we move to the clause-by-clause consideration?

Member's Statement on School Busing In Hay River
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 84)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This past June 26th, the last day of school, students were sent home with a letter from the Hay River District Education Authority stating that, starting September 9, 2019, students who want to ride the bus to school will need to purchase a bus pass. The estimated cost: $300 to $375 per student. As far as I know, there has never been any bus fees charged in Hay River up until this point.

This has upset a number of people in the community, and understandably so. No one wants to pay yet another fee. Some people didn't appreciate the timing of the letter, and some people...