Hay River North MLA R.J. Simpson is the new premier of the N.W.T.
MLAs gathered in the Legislative Assembly in Yellowknife Thursday to select the territory’s next premier, Speaker and cabinet. The meeting follows the territory’s general election on Nov. 14.
The morning started off with a surprise: in an emotional speech, Nahendeh MLA Shane Thompson — who had earlier said he wanted to be premier — instead put his name forward for Speaker and removed himself as one of the four candidates for premier.
He won the Speaker job easily — no one else was nominated for the role.
That left MLAs with three options for premier:
