Member Hay River North

Premier
Minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs

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

R.J. Simpson
Hay River North
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Rj_simpson@ntassembly.ca
Phone
867-767-9141 (link is a phone number)
Extension
11120
Constituency Office

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

Phone
867-874-6301(link is a phone number)
Minister
Email
Rj_simpson@gov.nt.ca
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 44)

Thank you. It also addresses pedestrian access, if I could just get a clarification of what that means? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

Thank you, Minister. Committee, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment begins on page 9. As always, we will defer the departmental totals until consideration of the activity summaries, the first of which is found on page 10 with an information item on page 11, culture, heritage and languages. To the activity. Seeing none, I will call this activity. Education, Culture and Employment, culture, heritage and languages, infrastructure investments, $495,000. Does committee agree?

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

Thank you. Minister.

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

Thank you. Next, I have Mr. Thompson.

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

Thank you. Minister.

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

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Document 215-18(3), Capital Estimates, 2019-2020, and would like to report progress, and, Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

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

Thank you. Ms. Green.

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

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Green.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Has this been attempted elsewhere?

My concern is that we are going to spend this money, and we are going to try and create a program that is not really a proven or effective program. We need to start going all in on things and making sure that they are going to succeed. I don't want to see this not succeed, and that is my main concern.

Is there some evidence that this type of program, not just based on Guthrie House, because this is clearly different, is there some evidence that this type of program is effective? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

Thank you. Mr. Thompson.