Premier R.J. Simpson and Minister Caroline Wawzonek issued the following statements today in response to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated, the Gwich’in Tribal Council, and Pehdzéh Kı̨ First Nation regarding the proposed Mackenzie Valley Highway.

Premier R. J. Simpson

“The signing by Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated, the Gwich’in Tribal Council, and Pehdzéh Kı̨ First Nation is an important moment for the Mackenzie Valley Highway and for the future of the Northwest Territories.

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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the responsibility all of us carry as Members of this Legislative Assembly.

In our system of consensus government, every Member has an important role to play. Regular Members have a responsibility to scrutinize government decisions, hold Ministers accountable, propose alternatives, and speak on behalf of their constituents. Cabinet has a responsibility to listen, to respond, to be accountable for the decisions we make, and to do the work residents expect of us.

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Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise the House that the Honourable Member for Thebacha, Minister of Environment and Climate Change will be absent from the House today and tomorrow to attend the Canadian Council of Ministers of Forestry in Langford, British Columbia.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Mr. Speaker, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples establishes the minimum standard for the survival, dignity, and well-being of Indigenous peoples worldwide. First voted on by the UN General Assembly in 2007, this vital human rights instrument affirms the rights of Indigenous peoples to self-determination and authority to manage their own affairs, whether this is in the education system, healthcare, or justice. Its implementation in Canada has been a long time coming.

As Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon prepares to conclude her service as Governor General of Canada, Premier Simpson extends his thanks for her leadership and lifelong dedication to Canada and the North.

“For people across the Northwest Territories and the Arctic, Mary Simon’s appointment as Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General carried deep meaning. Throughout her life and her time in office, she brought northern and Indigenous perspectives to the centre of national conversations and reminded Canadians that the North is a vital part of who we are as a country.

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Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise the House that the Honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, will be absent from the House today for a personal matter.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Premier R.J. Simpson today thanked Brigadier-General Daniel Rivière for his service to the Northwest Territories as Commander of Joint Task Force North and welcomed Brigadier-General Marc Parent as he prepares to assume command.

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Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise the House that the Honourable Member for Hay River North will be absent from the House today for a personal matter.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Ministerial Activities Advisory for the week of May 12-18, 2026

Ministerial Travel 

Please note that travel schedules may change with little or no notice. This schedule is accurate as of May 11, 2026. 

Realizing the territory's potential will take more than public investment; it requires an efficient regulatory system

By R.J. Simpson, Premier of the Northwest Territories

Note: this is a reprint of an opinion piece published by The Financial Post on April 17, 2026. The original article can be found here.