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 18)

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister Abernethy.

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

Thank you. Minister.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I had to step out, so I apologize if this has been asked. The Minister and Ms. Green had an exchange about a funding formula. There has been discussion of this since I was elected. There has been talk of the guidelines. Guidelines have been in draft form for over two decades, I believe. I was wondering when we can expect this funding formula to be completed. We will start with that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

Thank you, Minister. I just ask when you're done talking, just to mention it. Ms. Green.

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

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister.

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

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.

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

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly.

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

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister Abernethy.

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

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister.

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

Thank you, and this sort of ties into what I was talking about earlier, and that the human resources division of Health is out there doing all this stuff to recruit these mental health counsellors and Hay River not being part of the authority, although they do have access to some of that, is sort of left on the outs. We need to fill the positions we have now, never mind the dozens of new positions that are being created. So that's my concern, is: what's going on to fix Hay River's situation right now? Are there any active steps being taken? I know there are shortfalls everywhere, but that's...