R.J. Simpson Explained

R. J. Simpson
Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
Honorific-Suffix:MLA
Office:14th Premier of the Northwest Territories
Term Start:December 8, 2023
Predecessor:Caroline Cochrane
1Blankname:Commissioner
1Namedata:Margaret Thom
Gerald Kisoun
Office2:Member of the Executive Council of the Northwest Territories
Term Start2:October 24, 2019
Office3:Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories
Term Start3:November 23, 2015
Predecessor3:Robert Bouchard
Constituency3:Hay River North
Party:non-partisan
consensus government

Rocky "R.J." Simpson (born September 27, 1980) is a Canadian politician, the 14th and current premier of the Northwest Territories since December 2023.[1] He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in the 2015 election.[2] He represents the electoral district of Hay River North.

He was returned to office in the 2019 Northwest Territories general election by acclamation, as no candidates filed to run against him by the close of nominations.[3] Before the election, he announced that he would put his name forward for Premier of the Northwest Territories when the newly elected MLAs met to select the premier and cabinet.[4] Simpson was elected to Premier Caroline Cochrane's cabinet committee by the new territorial MLAs on October 24, 2019.[5] His cabinet portfolio includes Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Minister Responsible for the Public Utilities Board, and Government House Leader.[6]

RJ Simpson's father, Rocky Simpson, was also elected to the 19th Assembly as representative for Hay River South.[7]

Notes and References

  1. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nwt-premier-speaker-cabinet-selection-1.7051317
  2. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/premier-bob-mcleod-wins-seat-again-in-northwest-territories-general-election/article27449238/ "Premier Bob McLeod wins seat again in Northwest Territories general election"
  3. John Last and Sidney Cohen, "Eight ridings to watch in the Northwest Territories' election". CBC News, September 7, 2019.
  4. Paul Bickford, "Hay River North MLA R.J. Simpson to run for premier". Northern News Services, September 9, 2019.
  5. Ollie Williams, "Here's who will be in Caroline Cochrane's NWT cabinet". Cabin Radio, October 24, 2019.
  6. Ollie Williams, "Full list of NWT ministers as Cochrane hands out portfolios". Cabin Radio, November 5, 2019.
  7. Ollie Williams, "Only Nahendeh left to elect MLA, 18 others are elected". Cabin Radio, October 1, 2019.