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 27)

Thank you, committee. Let's get down to it. I will turn to the chair of the standing committee who considered the report for any opening comments. Mr. Testart.

Committee Motion 43-18(3): Committee Report 6-18(3): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2017 Report of the Auditor General of Canada on Climate Change in the Northwest Territories - Draft Knowledge Agenda Action
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 27)

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

Mr. Testart.

Committee Motion 48-18(3): Committee Report 6-18(3): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2017 Report of the Auditor General of Canada on Climate Change in the Northwest Territories - Comprehensive Response to Repo
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 27)

Thank you, committee. This concludes our consideration of Committee Report 6-18(3). What is the wish of committee? Mr. Beaulieu.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 27)

I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Beaulieu.

Committee Motion 42-18(3): Committee Report 6-18(3): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2017 Report of the Auditor General of Canada on Climate Change in the Northwest Territories - Draft Climate Change Strategic
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 27)

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

Mr. Testart.

Committee Motion 48-18(3): Committee Report 6-18(3): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2017 Report of the Auditor General of Canada on Climate Change in the Northwest Territories - Comprehensive Response to Repo
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 27)

Thank you, Mr. Testart. To the motion.

Question 276-18(3): Government Response to Pilot Shortage
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 27)

That is great to hear. I have gotten a couple of good answers from the Minister today. I was talking to someone yesterday, and one of their relatives wants to go to flight school, but it's, I think it was, $90,000 a year. You know, it's pretty cost-prohibitive, so I am glad to see that the department is taking these steps. I know it's early days, but does the Minister have a timeline when we can expect an update on the progress of this?

Committee Motion 42-18(3): Committee Report 6-18(3): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2017 Report of the Auditor General of Canada on Climate Change in the Northwest Territories - Draft Climate Change Strategic
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 27)

Thank you, Mr. Testart. There is a motion on the floor. To the motion. Mr. Testart.

Committee Motion 48-18(3): Committee Report 6-18(3): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2017 Report of the Auditor General of Canada on Climate Change in the Northwest Territories - Comprehensive Response to Repo
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 27)

Thank you, Mr. Testart. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. Minister McLeod.

Question 270-18(3): Taxation of Student Loans and Grants
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 27)

I'm glad the department is taking that step to look at this. I understand maybe why it rolled out like this, because this is even offered to people who aren't from the territory, who didn't get SFA, who may have got other student loans, so I can see maybe why this happened. Does the Minister have an idea if this might be changed for the upcoming year?