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

Extension

11120

Constituency Office

62, promenade Woodland, bureau 104
Hay River Nord NT X0E 1G1
Canada

Phone

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 88-13(3): Bill 20: Ombud Act – Amended in subclause 37(1), Carried

Debates of October 31, 2018 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 47)

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. There is a motion to report progress. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

I will rise and report progress.

Question 471-18(3): High-Speed Internet Accessibility

Debates of October 30, 2018 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 46)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It sounds like pretty soon they are going to start getting the criteria and start developing their applications, and I encourage the Minister to come to committee for some ideas on how we would like to see that application roll out.

I would also like to ask: all across North America now, communities are installing their own fibre optic infrastructure so that they can own the infrastructure and sell access to the Internet. It is being done where it doesn't make sense for a company, economically, to invest that type of money, yet it turns out that it is often a money...

Debates of October 30, 2018 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 46)

All those abstaining, please rise. The results of the recorded vote: two in favour, 13 opposed, zero abstentions. The motion is defeated.

---Defeated

Debates of October 30, 2018 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 46)

Thank you. Nothing further. Next, I have Mr. McNeely.

Question 471-18(3): High-Speed Internet Accessibility

Debates of October 30, 2018 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 46)

That is good to hear. I spoke earlier, we need to start investing in this infrastructure for a variety of reasons; economic, social, and so on. I would like to know: will the Minister fully commit to engaging in this strategy so that the North's voice is heard, and so that when this national strategy comes out, the territory is well-represented, and we can begin moving ahead with connecting all of our residents?

Debates of October 30, 2018 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 46)

Minister.

Committee Motion 81-18(3): Amendment to Clause 2, Bill 18: An Act to Amend the Cities, Towns and Villages Act, Defeated

Debates of October 30, 2018 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 46)

Question has been called. Mr. Thompson, after the mic was off, I believe I heard you ask for a recorded vote. Could you please say that on the record? Mr. Thompson.

Debates of October 30, 2018 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 46)

Thank you. Minister.

Debates of October 30, 2018 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 46)

Thank you, committee. Thank you to the Minister. Thank you to our witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, you may escort the witnesses from the Chamber. As we have concluded our business, I will rise and report progress.

Committee Report 10-18(3): Report on the Review of Bill 20: Ombudsperson Act

Debates of October 30, 2018 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 46)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Some Northwest Territories statutes contain provisions requiring a mandatory review of the legislation at set intervals of time, usually every five or ten years.

Ms. Wendy Bisaro suggested that Bill 20 "is missing a clause requiring a review of the Act every 10 years."

The merit of including such a provision in legislation is that it sends a public message about the importance of keeping the legislation up to date and suitable for current circumstances. Unfortunately, such provisions can tie an Assembly to an expensive and time-consuming review, when one may not be...