Our Meeting with Premier R. J. Simpson, NWT Legislative Assembly

The OLIP interns were honoured to meet with R. J. Simpson, Premier of the Northwest Territories and MLA for Hay River North.

Premier Simpson was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in 2015 during the 18th Assembly, later elected to the 20th Assembly, and on December 7th, 2023, chosen by his colleagues to serve as Premier. Prior to entering territorial politics, he worked with the Government of Canada and served on the board of the Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre.

During our meeting, we had a wide-ranging conversation about governance in the North and the unique political context of the NWT. Premier Simpson shared his experiences serving as Premier and discussed how the territory’s consensus model of government differs from the party-based systems used in most Canadian provinces. We also spoke of the opportunities and challenges evoked through this model regarding collaboration, leadership, and policymaking processes.

Building upon this foundation, we further explored the differences in governance between northern and southern Canada. Primarily, we focused on geography, smaller populations, and close-knit communities, and how these factors shape the way policies are developed in the territory. Premier Simpson highlighted how these components influence priorities such as infrastructure development, transportation connectivity, housing, and access to essential services across remote communities.

We were also interested to hear about the territory’s role in broader national and international conversations, particularly regarding Arctic governance and contestations related to sovereignty in the circumpolar region. Premier Simpson spoke about how northern jurisdictions contribute to discussions on Arctic security, environmental stewardship, and sustainable development in a rapidly changing region.

Drawing to a close, we would like to extend our gratitude to Premier Simpson for taking the time to meet with us and share his perspectives regarding governing the NWT.