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 46)

Minister.

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

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Committee Report 9-18(3), Report on the Review of Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Cities, Towns and Villages Act, and Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Cities, Towns and Villages Act, and would like to report that consideration of Committee Report 9-18(3) has concluded and that Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Cities, Towns and Villages Act, is ready for a third reading. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

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

Thank you. 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 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 46)

Thank you, Mr. Testart. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

We will sit beyond 6:00 p.m. to conclude this item. To the motion.

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

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

Thank you. Minister.

Recorded Vote
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 46)

Thank you, committee. Bill 18 is now ready for a third reading. Does committee agree this concludes our consideration of the bill?

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

Thank you. 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 , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 46)

Thank you. Ms. Green.

Committee Report 9-18(3): Report on the Review of Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Cities, Towns and Villages Act
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 46)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

While committee appreciates that support for this proposed amendment to the CTV Act is not universally supported, committee did not hear any substantive input that caused it to consider any amendments to this part of Bill 18. Committee recognizes that there do not appear to be any tax-based municipalities, other than Yellowknife, who are interested in exercising this authority at this time. Committee is comfortable that Bill 18, as written, does not compel participation where a municipality does not desire it.

As fuel costs continue to rise and people look for other ways...