On Friday, December 8th, MLAs Shane Thompson and R.J. Simpson were both officially sworn into their new roles at the 20th Legislative Assembly as Speaker and Premier, respectively.
The Speaker, elected by all Members, assumes the position of highest authority in the Legislative Assembly and represents the Legislature in all its powers and proceedings. Like all Members of the Legislative Assembly, Speakers are first elected in one of the 19 territorial constituencies. Members elect the Speaker by secret ballot at the beginning of the first legislative session following a Territorial election or at any time a vacancy occurs. While in this position, the Speaker still attends to the tasks of an MLA in responding to the concerns of their constituents.
The Premier is the head of government in the Northwest Territories. The role of Premier includes chairing Cabinet meetings, assigning portfolios to ministers and disciplining ministers. The Premier also develops consensus with other ministers and serves as their spokesperson on matters that do not fall within individual portfolios.
In a statement, R.J. Simpson said that he is “honoured that members of the 20th Legislative Assembly have placed their trust in me to be the next Premier of the Northwest Territories. Excited to lead our territory at such a critical time, I look toward the next four years with hope, confidence, and urgency to get things done.
“In my eight years as a Member of the Legislative Assembly, I’ve learned that collaboration is the best way to effect real, positive change. By working with fellow Members of the Legislative Assembly, Indigenous governments, community leadership, and public servants across the territory, we can propel the NWT towards a brighter, better future where residents, communities and economies prosper.”
In a one-on-one interview, Simpson shared why he had decided to throw his name in the ring for Premier.
“This was actually my second run for Premier, as I ran for Premier at the start of my second term. I just felt compelled to because I felt that I could make a difference. I saw the issues in the Territory, I thought there were ways we could address them, and I wanted to make sure that we did. I figure if you wanna get something done, you should do it yourself.”
Simpson also shared that there is a sense of excitement from Hay River residents about having a Premier from their very own neighbourhood.
“I’ve heard from many many constituents and I haven’t even had a chance to get back to them yet. There is a lot of excitement and I’m really happy to be a part of that. I wouldn’t be here if not for the people of Hay River. You can’t even be elected as an MLA without a good group around you, a good team around you, and support from the community, so right from election to MLA, right up to my election as Premier, they’ve been very supportive, and it’s been great to be able to represent the town and be the first Premier out of Hay River!”
Friday’s first session also saw each of the MLAs give quick statements where they thanked their constituents and allies, as well as stating some of their main priorities that they wish to tackle in the years ahead.
