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

Committee Motion 307-19(2): Committee Report 33-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Review of Bill 52, Elevators and Lifts Act – Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 125)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am here today to present Bill 48, Arbitration Act. The current Arbitration Act was enacted decades ago and has had few amendments since that time. The Arbitration Act establishes the default terms of an arbitration agreement made between two parties. Many powers that an arbitrator possesses in other jurisdictions are not currently available in the Northwest Territories meaning arbitration is currently a less attractive dispute resolution mechanism in this jurisdiction.

This bill is based substantially on the Uniform Arbitration Act, which was adopted in 2016 by the...

Question 1217-19(2): Flood Management and Preparedness
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 125)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you know, we can sit here and say that, you know, we can't predict this and we can't predict that. But if we do nothing, then I know we won't be able to predict anything. But we have to make some educated decisions. We have to use, you know, Indigenous knowledge and, you know, if we're going to move ahead in trying to, you know, lessen the impact of the damages caused by flooding.

So, Mr. Speaker, has the Minister initiated any discussions with the Alberta government, or any Hay River Basin management organizations south of the border, to talk about what can...

Bill 57: Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 124)

Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that Bill 57, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act 2022, be read for the second time.

This bill corrects inconsistencies and errors in the statutes of the Northwest Territories. The bill also deals with other matters of a minor, noncontroversial, and uncomplicated nature in the statutes. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Minister’s Statement 272-19(2): Early Learning and Childcare Update
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 124)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the CanadaNWT Canadawide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement was signed 11 short months ago. Since that time, every licensed child care program in the NWT has signed on to the fee reduction subsidy. Licensed child care fees across the NWT have been cut in half, new licensed child care spaces have been created, and now we are rolling out new wage enhancements that will allow licensed child care centres to pay their employees more.

We could not have done this without the involvement of child care providers, early childhood educators, Indigenous...

Committee Motion 297-19(2): Tabled Document 723-19(2): Capital Estimates 2023-2024 – Legislative Assembly – Deferral of Department (page 14), Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 123)

Thank you, Madam Chair. You know, I'll just hand it to Mr. Bancroft. He has the details on this one.

Committee Motion 297-19(2): Tabled Document 723-19(2): Capital Estimates 2023-2024 – Legislative Assembly – Deferral of Department (page 14), Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 123)

Yes, please.

Committee Motion 297-19(2): Tabled Document 723-19(2): Capital Estimates 2023-2024 – Legislative Assembly – Deferral of Department (page 14), Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 123)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have no problem disclosing who the building owner is. Thank you.

Committee Motion 297-19(2): Tabled Document 723-19(2): Capital Estimates 2023-2024 – Legislative Assembly – Deferral of Department (page 14), Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 123)

Thank you, Madam Chair. So as I understand it, the costs aren't laid out in the capital estimates. Thank you.

Committee Motion 297-19(2): Tabled Document 723-19(2): Capital Estimates 2023-2024 – Legislative Assembly – Deferral of Department (page 14), Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 123)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have Charlene Doolittle, the deputy minister for the Department of Justice, and James Bancroft, the director of corporate services.

Bill 57: Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act 2022
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 123)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present to the House Bill 57, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act 2022, to be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.