R.J. Simpson

{{Short description|Canadian politician}}

{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| image =

| honorific-prefix = The Honourable

| honorific-suffix = MLA

| caption = Official portrait

| birth_date =

| birth_name =

| birth_place =

| residence =

| office = 14th Premier of the Northwest Territories

| term_start = December 8, 2023

| term_end =

| predecessor = Caroline Cochrane

| successor =

| 1blankname = Commissioner

| 1namedata = Margaret Thom
Gerald Kisoun

| deputy = Caroline Wawzonek

| office2 = Member of the Executive Council of the Northwest Territories

| term_start2 = October 24, 2019

| term_end2 =

| office3 = Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories

| term_start3 = November 23, 2015

| term_end3 =

| predecessor3 = Robert Bouchard

| successor3 =

| constituency3 = Hay River North

| party = non-partisan
consensus government

| occupation =

| spouse =

}}

Rocky "R.J." Simpson (born September 27, 1980) is a Canadian politician, the 14th and current premier of the Northwest Territories since December 2023.{{Cite web | title=MLAs to choose N.W.T.'s next premier today {{!}} CBC News | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nwt-premier-speaker-cabinet-selection-1.7051317 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207120911/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nwt-premier-speaker-cabinet-selection-1.7051317 | access-date=2024-12-27 | archive-date=2023-12-07}} He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in the 2015 election.[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"]. The Globe and Mail, November 23, 2015. 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.John Last and Sidney Cohen, [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/races-to-watch-nwt-election-1.5274406 "Eight ridings to watch in the Northwest Territories' election"]. CBC News, September 7, 2019. 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.Paul Bickford, [https://nnsl.com/hayriverhub/hay-river-north-mla-r-j-simpson-to-run-for-premier/ "Hay River North MLA R.J. Simpson to run for premier"]. Northern News Services, September 9, 2019. Simpson was elected to Premier Caroline Cochrane's cabinet committee by the new territorial MLAs on October 24, 2019.Ollie Williams, [https://cabinradio.ca/24459/news/politics/heres-who-will-be-in-caroline-cochranes-nwt-cabinet/ "Here's who will be in Caroline Cochrane's NWT cabinet"]. Cabin Radio, October 24, 2019. His cabinet portfolio includes Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Minister Responsible for the Public Utilities Board, and Government House Leader.Ollie Williams, [https://cabinradio.ca/25147/news/politics/full-list-of-nwt-ministers-as-cochrane-hands-out-portfolios/ "Full list of NWT ministers as Cochrane hands out portfolios"]. Cabin Radio, November 5, 2019.

RJ Simpson's father, Rocky Simpson, was also elected to the 19th Assembly as representative for Hay River South.Ollie Williams, [https://cabinradio.ca/22582/news/politics/nwt-election-2019/watch-live-nwt-election-2019-results-expected-after-8pm/ "Only Nahendeh left to elect MLA, 18 others are elected"]. Cabin Radio, October 1, 2019.