Rocky Simpson is facing over $200,000 in tax arrears related to properties owned by his businesses in Hay River.
Simpson, a former Hay River South MLA and the father of current NWT Premier R.J. Simpson, is the owner of two companies based in Hay River: Concept Consulting Ltd. and Concept Energy Services Ltd.
Concept Consulting owes $23,527.07 in arrears on one of its business properties, while Concept Energy Services owes a total of $214,746.98 related to a trio of its properties. That works out to a total of $238,274.05 owed to the Town of Hay River.
Simpson could not be reached for comment on the matter.
Hay River Mayor Kandis Jameson did not respond to questions about the impact Simpson's debt is having on the community of just over 3,500 people, or how the repayment of the former MLA's debt will be enforced.
Hay River Senior Administrative Officer (SAO) Glenn Smith stated, "The town wouldn’t typically comment publicly on personal matters."
This is not the first time Simpson has faced trouble with debt.
When he began his term as Hay River South's MLA in 2019, Concept Energy Services owed close $2 million to the territorial government.
NNSL Media contacted the GNWT's Department of Finance to inquire about Simpson's current debt situation, but spokesperson Adetoyeke Adedipe stated the department would not be able to comment.
"Due to privacy legislation, the Government of the Northwest Territories cannot disclose any personal or financial information about individuals, including details regarding outstanding debts," Adedipe said.