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 63)

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Does committee agree?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 63)

Thank you. I apologize to the translators for talking a little fast. There is a lot to get through though. We will now continue to the programs and district operations activity on page 361. I will call this activity. Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, programs and districts operations, operations expenditure summary, total activity, $31,707,000. Does committee agree?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 63)

Thank you, committee. The Department of Health and Social Services begins on page 151. However, we will begin with the community health programs activity before returning to the departmental total. Committee, please turn to page 167. I will call the activity. Department of Health and Social Services, community health programs, operations expenditure summary, total activity, $158,460,000. Does committee agree?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 63)

Thank you. On to the water resources activity on page 79. I will call this activity. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, water resources, operations expenditure summary, activity total, $11,802,000. Does committee agree?

Question 688-18(2): Additional Funding for Homecare Services
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 63)

If Hay River is the baseline, I think you are going to have to fire a bunch of home support workers in the other regions. I am pretty sure that we are understaffed. I will just leave it at this. I know the answer that I am going to get. Will the Minister commit to adding a couple of more home support workers in Hay River with this money?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 63)

Thank you, committee. Does committee agree that that concludes our consideration of the Department of Infrastructure.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 63)

Please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Minister, would you please introduce your witness to the committee?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 63)

Thank you. On to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources beginning on page 55. We will begin with corporate management activity on page 67. I will call this activity. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, corporate management, operations expenditure summary, activity total, $13,829,000. Does committee agree?

Question 688-18(2): Additional Funding for Homecare Services
Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 63)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Health Minister just talked about what they had to do to roll out the homecare money. It doesn't seem that complicated if you look at the number of homecare workers in the different regions. Can't you throw a couple of hundred thousand or a few hundred thousand to Hay River, and they can hire a couple of homecare workers and continue doing what they are doing? It doesn't seem like there needs to be a plan necessarily. As for a study, they know how many homecare workers are in the region. We can see which regions are understaffed. Is that a possibility? Thank you, Mr...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 63)

Thank you, committee. We will now proceed to the regional operations activity. Please turn to page 239. Department of Infrastructure, regional operations, operations expenditure summary, activity total, $126,995,000. Does committee agree?