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

Bill 94: Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2023
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 164)

Yes, I would.

Bill 81: An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 164)

Thank you. To my left, I have John MacDonald, the deputy minister of Education, Culture and Employment. And on my right, Laura Jeffrey, legislative counsel with legislation division and the Department of Justice.

Bill 81: An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 164)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm here today to present Bill 81, An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2.

Bill 81 represents the first phase of amendments that make operational and technical improvements necessary to improve the education system. A second phase will continue beyond the 19th Assembly to allow for more indepth discussions with Indigenous governments, education bodies and the public on the future of education governance in the Northwest Territories.

This bill seeks to amend the Education Act to recognize the vital role Indigenous peoples and Indigenous governments have in education...

Question 1592-19(2): Northwest Territories Archives and Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 164)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand that it was back in the sometime in the 90s, I'm not sure exactly when, when the archives, they started storing archives off site. And as I mentioned, there are some minor upgrades planned for next year. Hopefully, the Member will support funding for those upgrades. And those would include, at the offsite space, minor space improvements, fencing, so secure access to the documents. New racking so there you know, more stable storage. As well as some temperature and humidity control improvements where possible. So given the situation and the needs, ECE is...

Question 1592-19(2): Northwest Territories Archives and Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 164)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, of course, we are currently deliberating the capital budget in Committee of the Whole, so I don't want to go too much into that because that document is properly before committee of the House. But I can say that ECE has taken undertaken work to explore the renovation or replacement of the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre and, in particular, as the Member mentions, the need for archival space. So there has been a comprehensive planning study, the development of estimates to explore various options ranging from replacing the entire museum to pursuing more...

Bill 82: Legal Profession Act
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 163)

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 82, Legal Profession Act, be read for the third time. And, Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded vote. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 163)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I didn't get permission but I'm still going to recognize them anyway. I'd like to recognize my mom in the gallery as well as my sister Chelsea and my niece Inaaya. Thank you.

Tabled Document 1003-19(2): Department of Justice Corrections Service Annual Report 2022-2023
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 163)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Department of Justice Corrections Service Annual Report 20222023. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Committee Motion 468-19(2): Bill 77, Nursing Profession Act, Amend Subclause 56(1), Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 162)

Thank you. To my right, I have Mr. Ian Rennie, legislative counsel with the Department of Justice, and on my left is Mr. Brad Patzer, assistant deputy minister Solicitor General.

Committee Motion 468-19(2): Bill 77, Nursing Profession Act, Amend Subclause 56(1), Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 162)

Madam Chair, thank you. I am pleased to be here today to present Bill 82, Legal Profession Act.

Bill 82 proposes a repeal and replacement of the current Legal Profession Act, which was passed in 1976 and establishes the Law Society of the Northwest Territories as the body which regulates lawyers in the Northwest Territories. The department has worked in collaboration with the law society to bring forward these amendments and appreciates the time and effort contributed by law society membership both with their initial review of the existing act and with reviewing an engagement draft of the bill...