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

Committee Motion 49-18(3): Concurrence of Tabled Document 193-18(3): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2018-2019, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 31)

Thank you. Mr. Testart.

Committee Motion 49-18(3): Concurrence of Tabled Document 193-18(3): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2018-2019, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 31)

Thank you, committee. Turning to page 11, Infrastructure. Mr. O'Reilly.

Committee Motion 49-18(3): Concurrence of Tabled Document 193-18(3): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2018-2019, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 31)

Thank you, committee. Does committee agree this concludes our considerations of Tabled Document 194-18(3), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2018-2019?

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

Thank you. Minister.

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

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Does committee agree?

Question 313-18(3): Dredging in Hay River Harbour
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 30)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not even quite sure what to ask anymore. Let's talk about addressing in the short term. It sounds like there might be a plan to address it in the short term. Could the Minister elaborate on what that would look like? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Summary Conviction Procedures Act; Minister's Statement 1-18(3); and Minister's Statement 19-18(3), and would like to report that Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Summary Conviction Procedures Act, is ready for third reading. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

Question 313-18(3): Dredging in Hay River Harbour
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 30)

The federal government isn't too keen on funding dredging, and it doesn't seem like the territorial government is, either. I did a quick Google search of "dredging Hay River," and it came up with posts from the last decade, MLAs standing up in this House talking about dredging the port of Hay River and nothing getting done. Finally, we have a vocal MLA over here hammering this issue. We have a Minister from Hay River. When can we expect this dredging to begin? I hope the answer is 2018.

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

Thank you. Thank you to the Minister, and thank you to the witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, you may escort the witnesses from the Chamber. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Testart.

Question 302-18(3): Funding Formula for Family Support Centre
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 30)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I mentioned that there have been guidelines drafted up for the family violence shelters, and I think they are in their third decade of draft form. Has the government committed to finally finalizing these draft guidelines and taking this issue seriously? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.