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 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 59)

Thank you. Minister.

Question 594-18(3): Mental Health Services in Hay River
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 59)

I did not mean any offence, but when I bring these issues up, I know the Minister listens, I know the department listens, I know the authority listens, but I need to see some results. Otherwise, I have to make those kinds of statements. It's good to hear that some staffing is occurring. What are the challenges to staffing? Why did we get down to this skeleton crew? I know it's been going on a long time, so what are the challenges with staffing this office?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 59)

Thank you. Final brief word, Mr. O'Reilly?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 59)

Thank you. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 59)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Recognizing that you will be reporting progress in the next few minutes here, I will keep it brief. I am looking at the business plan under strategic infrastructure development. I couldn't quite hear the conversation that just went on about that. Everyone in this room speaks sort of quietly, and so I didn't quite catch everything, but in the business plan, it talks about dredging and it talks about improving the railhead up to Hay River.

Now, would anyone in this division be tasked with following up on those, hopefully, initiatives? I mean, those have appeared in the...

Member's Statement on Mental Health Services in Hay River
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 59)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in Hay River, there is an eight-month wait list to see a mental health counsellor. That is completely unacceptable. During my time as MLA, I have raised concerns about the availability and accessibility of mental health services in Hay River at every opportunity, but those concerns seem to be falling on deaf ears.

An eight-month-long wait list is ridiculous. It shouldn't be allowed to happen. The wait time to see a counsellor in Hay River is more than two-and-a-half times longer than in Yellowknife; it is eight times longer than in Behchoko; and it is 20 to...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 59)

Thank you. Anything further from Mr. O'Reilly?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 59)

Thank you. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 59)

Thank you. I am aware of that. I just wanted to clear it up in Hansard for anyone who is looking at the budget document and trying to follow that conversation. My questions are about, I guess, corporate management. There was talk in the questions from the Member for Yellowknife North about training opportunities and what the department is doing in terms of addressing this deficit, I guess, of skilled workers, such as a journeyman, that we have. I know there was talk about the Minister said we are looking at breaking up contracts, so that smaller organizations can perhaps get in on them...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 59)

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.