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 310-19(2): Bill 48: Arbitration Act – Addition of clause 74.1, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 125)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that Bill 48 be amended by adding the following after Clause 74: "Education Act, 74.1: Section 57 of the Education Act is amended by striking out “Arbitration Act” and substituting “Arbitration Act 1988 RSNWT 1988, c A5.” Thank you.

Committee Motion 308-19(2): Bill 48: Arbitration Act – Amend subclause 3(5), Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 125)

Thank you, Madam Chair. This motion is part of a package of motions that will deal with the application of arbitration legislation to the Public Service Act and Education Act.

Upon review of the bill, the Union of Northern Workers advised the department that they were concerned with the application of the proposed new Act, notably, that Bill 48 is primarily geared towards commercial and other arbitrations, not labour arbitrations. The Department of Justice has developed these motions to address these concerns. The department is proposing to exclude the application of the new Arbitration Act to...

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. with us today, we have Brad Patzer, assistant deputy minister Attorney General with the Department of Justice, and to his right Ian Rennie, acting director of legislation division with the Department of Justice. Thank you.

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...

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.

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. I don't I'm not sure who the owner of that building is, thank you. But we can find out and get that information to the Member. 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. 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.