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

Question 464-18(3): Assistant Commissioner of Canadian Coast Guard Arctic Region Position
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 45)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is always a challenge to stop the flow of centralization to Yellowknife. We need jobs in our other communities as well. In addition to chatting about the future of this, can the Minister also commit to supporting keeping those positions in Hay River? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 45)

Every single project on here is brand new. They haven't been put out to tender before, or anything like that. Is that correct? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Question 464-18(3): Assistant Commissioner of Canadian Coast Guard Arctic Region Position
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 45)

It's like the old days all over again when Ottawa was calling the shots up here. Since this decision was announced just last week, has the Minister inquired about DFO's plans and if they plan to move operations to Yellowknife?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 45)

Thank you. Nothing further.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 45)

Thank you. What's our portion, and what's the federal portion? Thank you.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 44)

Thank you. Minister.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 44)

Thank you. Ms. Green.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 44)

Thank you, Minister. Next, I have Ms. Green.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 44)

Thank you. I was asking about remand because it is always good to have a Plan B. Just in case this program doesn't work out, I want to make sure that these renovations aren't for naught.

I would like to know a little bit about this program because I imagine this is a large capital cost, and we don't want to just start building things without having a plan here. Could the Minister please discuss this program a little bit? Will the correctional facility be at capacity, and will all the inmates there be in this program? Is that the plan? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 44)

Thank you. Mr. Thompson.