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

Bill 30: Health Statutes Amendment Act (Cremation Services)
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. There is a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

Bill 24: An Act to Amend the Coroners Act
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, Minister. I will now turn to the Chair of the Standing Committee on Social Development, the committee that considered the bill for opening comments. Mr. Thompson.

Bill 28: Interpretation Act
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, committee. Bill 29 is ready for third reading. Does committee agree that this concludes our consideration of Bill 29?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 77)

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. There is a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

I will now rise and report progress.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 77)

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Are there any general comments from committee? Seeing none. Does committee agree that we have concluded consideration of Committee Report 11-18(2)?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 77)

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Does committee agree?

Question 840-18(2): Medical Travel Co-Payment Thresholds
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 77)

I had a bunch of pointed questions, but the Minister is actually doing this work already, so he is off the hook. How about this, though? Because this is a ministerial policy, I assume you can change it with a stroke of a pen. How about at least adjusting that $80,000 threshold for inflation? For the next few months until this is in place, people could get the care they need and it would not be an economic hardship. This is not an academic exercise. I have people in my constituency who bring this up to me for whom this is a real issue, and it affects them every single month. Would the Minister...

Question 840-18(2): Medical Travel Co-Payment Thresholds
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 77)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Member's statement about the ministerial travel policy, I have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. The $80,000 threshold for medical travel that I spoke about earlier does not take into account how many people in the household that $80,000 is supporting, if there is an ongoing medical condition that requires frequent trips out of town, and the fact that it essentially punishes citizens for living outside Yellowknife where most of these services are offered. I am no socialist, but I do not think that costs should get in the way of...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 77)

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Committee Report 11-18(2), Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Review of Standing Committee Public Engagement and Transparency. I would like to report progress and that consideration of Committee Report 11-18(2) is concluded. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 77)

Thank you, committee. Now what is the wish of committee? Mr. Beaulieu.