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
Constituency Office

62, promenade Woodland, bureau 104
Hay River Nord NT X0E 1G1
Canada

Minister
Premier of the Northwest Territories, Minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs, Minister of Justice, Government House Leader

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The rental office doesn't I guess is not a conduit for environmental health. So this is something that I can confer with the Minister of health on and get her take on it but right now that is not something that happens. They're two different entities and two different departments. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Thank you. So I cannot commit to spending money that won't come to the Government of the Northwest Territories any time soon. I expect this to be years away if we get any type of money. And who knows what the landscape will look like by then. Perhaps Indigenous governments will be delivering health services themselves so it might be a different discussion. But the idea of this legislation is to allow us to participate in a class action lawsuit open to federal, territorial, and provincial governments. I don't think there's anything stopping Indigenous governments from starting filing their own...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I can't speak on behalf of Cabinet but I can say no, I'm not content. And if I could, you know, will a new building into existence, I would do that. But, unfortunately, I don't have that ability. I do understand where the Member is coming from. I would like to see the same changes that she would like to see. But, unfortunately, we're up against the constraints of, you know, the reality that we are in, so. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Thank you. So if the GNWT pays the costs, then it's my understanding that those costs could be recoverable. But I don't believe and, again, this is not my area. But it's not my understanding that the reimbursements like the Member is talking about are commonplace. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And like I've stated before, it depends on the technical condition of the school. So there are many buildings in the territory that need replacing. There's many capital needs. And structures and deficiencies are addressed when they can be addressed when they get to them. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Thank you. This is costs that are incurred by the GNWT only. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I mean, I'm not the chair of AOC. I can't invite someone to attend a meeting that is not my meeting. So, once again, I mean, the Regular Members do have a role in this House. It's not just to stand up and ask questions. They do have power as a standing committee, and they can use that. So I recommend that this discussion, which happens in the House quite often, must be happening up in the Eagle Room of AOC, and so I would recommend that they get together, and they make that request to the commanding officer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

That is for the law clerk, I believe the Member said?

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The RCMP don't share those kinds of details about investigations, with myself even. So what I can do is I can try I will reach out again and see what type of information is out there. I will say that it's my understanding that the RCMP are in contact with the family and when there is anything to update to the family with, they do that. But I can get back to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Thank you. So that would be a question for the Minister of health. I don't have an answer. But I don't believe that is the case. And I don't believe that, you know receipts are submitted and then the GNWT reimburses, I don't believe that's the practice. Thank you.