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 73)

Thank you, Ms. Gardiner. Mr. Thompson.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 73)

Thank you, Mr. McNeely. Would the Minister like to respond?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 73)

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Clause 2.

Recorded Vote
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 73)

Mr. Thompson.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 73)

Thank you, Ms. Gardiner. Mr. Testart.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 73)

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 73)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To clause 2. From Hay River, there has been lots of talk of junior kindergarten ever since the Minister was just a lowly Regular Member in social programs. Some people in Hay River are philosophically opposed to junior kindergarten, for whatever reason. They don't think children should be in school. Some people are unsupportive of the idea of early childhood education. I feel that we already have the facilities needed in Hay River. While Hay River might be equipped to educate our four-year-olds, I am aware that other communities aren't. My first question to the Minister...

Committee Motion 105-18(2): Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Education Act, Amendment to Clause 4 (re: mandatory review of hours of instruction after three years by the Legislative ASsembly), defeated
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 73)

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Next, Mr. Testart.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 73)

I now call Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, we have first agreed to consider Minister's Statement 18618(2), Update on the A New Day program. Minister, do you have witnesses you wish to bring into the Chamber?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 73)

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.