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, 2nd Session (day 81)

Thank you, Minister. Next, I have Mr. Thompson.

Question 889-18(2): Proposed Hay River LongTerm Care Facility
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 81)

I was also going to ask potentially where this could be located, but he did mention the site of the old hospital, so I assume that's what they're looking at. Will this be operated by the GNWT or will this be under the authority of the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 81)

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

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 81)

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 81)

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 81)

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Minister.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 81)

Thank you, Minister. Nothing further from Mr. Thompson. Next I have Ms. Green.

Question 854-18(2): RCMP Services in Hay River
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 79)

That is a great start. Another issue that takes up the time of the RCMP, and it is tied in with this last one, is the prisoner transport to and from Yellowknife to attend court in the South Slave. They have to do that because the remand centre in Hay River is no longer being used. This comes at a cost to the RCMP.

That is the RCMP budget that is used to transport the prisoners, and they do not even get the GNWT rate when it comes to flights. Can I ask the Minister: why does the RCMP not get the GNWT rate for these flights, and can we get it for them to save them a few bucks and put that back...

Question 854-18(2): RCMP Services in Hay River
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 79)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Member's statement of a moment ago regarding the RCMP staffing levels in Hay River, I would like to direct these questions to the Minister of Justice. The RCMP presented to the GNWT a request and a business case for two additional general duty constables in Hay River. Will the department include these positions in next year's budget? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 854-18(2): RCMP Services in Hay River
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 79)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Finally, this is something I have brought up in the House many times, and it is all tied in with everything we have just been speaking about. The remand centre in Hay River is not being used. This would save the RCMP money, and it would save everyone time.

I would like to ask the Minister: can I get an analysis of why the remand centre in Hay River cannot be used? What I always get is it is a minimum security centre. Well, there is a remand centre surrounded by a minimum security centre. Remand is located in minimum security prisons in Alberta, other places in Canada...