Former Hay River South MLA Rocky Simpson still owes close to $1.7 million to the GNWT, meaning only a fraction of his overall debt to the territorial government has been repaid.
Simpson was on the hook to pay back $1,885,955 to Prosper NWT, formerly known as the NWT Business Development and Investment Corporation. Prosper North collects interest based on the prime rate SA国际影视传媒� currently at 5.45 per cent SA国际影视传媒� plus two to four per cent. Asked if Prosper North has given any consideration to forgiving Simpson's loan, a spokesperson for the organization replied, "No, not at this time."
That loan has been outstanding since 2011 and was for Hay River-based Concept Energy Services, a business Simpson formerly owned. In 2019, NWT Supreme Court Justice Karan Shaner ordered Simpson and his companies to settle the debt.
But that figure has been reduced only modestly. A writ of execution obtained from the NWT Supreme Court shows a balance of more than $1.7 million still owing as of April 2024. Prosper NWT confirmed that figure was accurate to SA国际影视传媒 on Jan. 9.
Concept Energy Services was a business that provided portable accommodat ions, equipment and a variety of services. In 2016-17, the company was awarded a $9.2-millinon design/build contract through the NWT Housing Corporation.
With Simpson's debts mounting, the GNWT was later prepared to sell off the company's property to help pay back its loan SA国际影视传媒� that comprised nine lots in Hay River and one in Fort Liard. Buildings and equipment were also to be seized.
Yet it's unclear just how much, if any, property was actually sold. Five years later, Concept Energy still holds properties owing more than $200,000 in property tax arrears to the Town of Hay River.
According to Glenn Smith, the town's senior administrative officer, the municipality has no way to ensure that money is collected.
Smith told SA国际影视传媒 that the property owner has not paid the arrears. According to the NWT's property registry office, Concept Energy Services is still the property owner. The corporate registries office also confirmed that Pierre Simpson SA国际影视传媒� Rocky's legal name SA国际影视传媒� is still the director of Concept Energy Services. Its deadline to pay its tax arrears was Dec. 31, 2024, according to the Town of Hay River.
"There is no way for a community government to ensure arrears are collected; only tools to help encourage the debtor to pay whatSA国际影视传媒檚 owed to the town," said Smith. If a property owner doesn't pay their arrears, their property will be auctioned at a discount of at least 50 per cent of its assessed value, he explained. The town will then receive the proceeds from that sale.
Shaner also approved the sale of a pair of Hay River lots to Rocky's son, R.J. Simpson, now premier. The sale price of those lots combined in 2019 was $41,500, $200 above the asking price, according to Rocky's lawyer at the time.
SA国际影视传媒 asked the premier's office where R.J. Simpson is residing, whether he purchased the two lots from his father and whether he's paid any arrears to the Town of Hay River.
On Jan. 7, the premier's office stated that he resides in Hay River, but he does not owe any property tax arrears to the municipality. It declined to answer whether the younger Simpson actually purchased the lots.
While serving as the MLA for Hay River South between 2015 and 2019, Rocky Simpson had his wages garnished to cover some of his debts, but it's not clear how much that amounted to in total.
SA国际影视传媒 reached out to the Department of Finance to ask if his wages are still being garnished but did not receive an answer in time for publication.
The elder Simpson also was in debt to the federal government. Court documents showed Concept Energy owed $1.1 million to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) as of 2019. SA国际影视传媒 reached out to the CRA, asking whether Concept Energy has paid back the debt, but the federal agency would not comment on the case.
"The confidentiality provisions of the laws we administer prevent the CRA from disclosing taxpayer information and as a result, we do not comment on the specific details of court cases," stated a CRA spokesperson.
When Rocky Simpson ran for MLA, he did not publicly disclose his debt to voters, but he maintained at the time that it would not hinder his ability to serve.
When he got the green light to sell off properties and assets five years ago, Garth Wallbridge, Rocky Simpson's then-lawyer, said he expected to wrap up the remaining sales within three to six months. Wallbridge told SA国际影视传媒 on Jan. 11 that he is no longer Rocky Simpson's attorney.
SA国际影视传媒 tried to contact Rocky Simpson for comment but calls to Concept Energy Services and Concept Consulting indicate that those phone numbers are no longer in service. Emails were not returned.
