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 65)

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Document 327-18(2), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2017-2018, and Committee Report 8-18(2), Report on the Review of the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 Annual Reports of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. I would like to report progress with nine motions being adopted, that Committee Report 8-18(2) is concluded, and that consideration of the Tabled Document 327-18(2) is concluded, and that the House is concurring those estimates, and that an appropriation bill to be based thereon be...

Question 710-18(2): Yellowknife Airport Terminal Hours of Operation
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 65)

The story continues. A stranger who was on the same flight as the Bennetts overheard Mr. Bennett's conversation with his wife, and, out of the blue, he said, "We have an extra bedroom at home. You can come spend the night with us, no problem. You won't be left alone." That helpful stranger was Yellowknife City Councillor Adrian Bell. My second question to the Minister is: what happens with people who want to stay at the airport overnight when it's closed and Councillor Bell isn't around?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 65)

Thank you. Infrastructure, operations expenditures, corporate management, not previously authorized, $500,000. Does committee agree?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 65)

Thank you, committee. Moving on to page 5. Environment and Natural Resources. Comments or questions? Seeing none, I will call the page. Environment and Natural Resources, operations expenditures, wildlife, not previously authorized, $310,000. Does committee agree?

Committee Motion 88-18(2): Committee Report 8-18(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 Annual Reports of the Information and Privacy Commissioner – Response to Report within 120 Days, Ca
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 65)

Thank you, Mr. Testart. 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

Question 704-18(2): Commitment to the Manufacturing Industry
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 65)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m still shaken from that first answer and the second answer. How about this? Will the Minister commit to being an agent of change and working with committee the way I suggested in my second question? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 65)

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister.

Question 701-18(2): Consultations on Climate Change and Energy Strategy
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 64)

I heard the Minister say that it is open to Chamber staff and board members. Luckily in Hay River, the Chamber has sent out the invitation to their actual membership, so there are small businesses that will be attending. That is just by accident and not by design. I would like to ask the Minister what the engagement has been like in past workshops. Has there been a lot of attendance and input by them?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 64)

Thank you. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Committee Motion 77-18(2): Concurrence of Tabled Document 315-18(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures) No. 3, 2016-2017, Carried
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 64)

Thank you, committee. Justice, operations expenditure summary, total department, not previously authorized, $606,000. Does committee agree?