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 15)

Thank you. Mr. Testart.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 15)

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 15)

Thank you. Mr. Testart.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 15)

Thank you. Anything further from committee? Seeing nothing, I will call the borrowing plan. Borrowing plan for the government reporting entity and established borrowing limits for the Government of the Northwest Territories, total government borrowing, established limits per 20182019 Appropriation Act, $811,688,000. Does committee agree?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 15)

Thank you. Anything further from committee? If not, I will call the department. Department of Finance, total department, $234,688,000. Does committee agree?

Question 154-18(3): Child and Youth Care Counsellors
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 15)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like I said, the country, I think, as a whole is behind when it comes to dealing with mental health. This is a great start, but it just seems like an addon.

Going forward, I think we need a more holistic approach. Would the Minister commit to increasing funding to schools so that they can offer additional academic support to help these students who are accessing these mental health counsellors? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 15)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a separate issue with human resources that has to do with direct appointments: I understand the reason behind direct appointments; I understand that cabinet will agree to direct appointments. My question is, if there is a direct appointment, is there any sort of a recourse or appeal process that maybe a GNWT employee or anyone can take regarding that?

So, if there were two people, say, who wanted a position, and one was directly appointed over the other, I know that that is supposed to be looked at if there were any other people who wanted that position, but is there...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 15)

Thank you, Minister, for that commitment. Mr. O'Reilly.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 15)

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 15)

Thank you, Minister. Ms. Green.