Lucy Kuptana

Députée de Nunakput

Ministre responsable d’Habitation Territoires du Nord-Ouest
Ministre responsable de la condition de la femme

Lucy Kuptana a été élue à la 20e Assemblée législative des Territoires du Nord-Ouest en novembre 2023 pour représenter la circonscription de Nunakput, qui comprend les collectivités de Paulatuk, de Sachs Harbour, de Tuktoyaktuk et d’Ulukhaktok.

Juste avant son élection, Mme Kuptana était directrice générale du Hameau de Tuktoyaktuk. Elle a également occupé le poste de membre du conseil d’administration de l’Administration scolaire de district de Tuktoyaktuk.

Pendant 22 ans, Mme Kuptana a été la directrice des opérations, des communications et de la culture de la Société régionale inuvialuite. À titre de bénévole, elle a été membre du conseil d’administration de la Inuvik Homeless Shelter Society, administratrice du Prix Inspiration Arctique, présidente de la Société inuvialuite des communications, membre du conseil d’administration de la Société inuvialuite de placement, membre du conseil d’administration des sociétés communautaires de Tuktoyaktuk et d’Inuvik, et membre du comité des Jeux de la jeunesse du Nord 2023 « Inuvialuit Piuyausiat » à Tuktoyaktuk.

Mme Kuptana est originaire d’Aklavik et a grandi à son camp familial établi sur les terres ancestrales du delta du Mackenzie. Elle a obtenu un certificat de niveau II et de niveau III en administration communautaire au Collège Aurora au début des années 1990 et y est retournée pour obtenir un diplôme en administration des affaires et en gestion en 2013. Mme Kuptana poursuit actuellement des études dans le cadre du Programme de gouvernance et d’administration publique des Premières Nations à l’Université du Yukon.

Malgré une carrière fructueuse s’étendant sur plusieurs décennies, Mme Kuptana attribue ses réalisations à ses parents et à sa famille élargie, à son mari, à ses deux fils et à ses deux petits-enfants. À ce sujet, elle dit devoir une grande partie de sa carrière à sa famille, aux aînés et à tous ceux qui se sont battus – et qui continuent de se battre – pour les droits des Autochtones et des Inuvialuits.

Le principe qui guide Mme Kuptana est de diriger avec respect et empathie et avec les connaissances et la volonté de travailler sans relâche pour le bien commun de ses électeurs et de tous les résidents des Territoires du Nord-Ouest.

Committees

Lucy Kuptana
Nunakput
Bureau

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Boîte
1320
Ministre
Ministre responsable du logement des Territoires du Nord-Ouest, Ministre responsable de la Condition féminine

Déclarations dans les débats

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 22)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And from what I've learned with Housing NWT, there is a term lease in place with the NWT Disabilities Council, and they have four years on that lease left. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 22)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Housing NWT is working with the NWT Disabilities Council on a project. They are working on a federal funding arrangement. NWT Disabilities Council is waiting on the proposal and the approval of the project. So we have to give it some time, but we're working in partnership with the NWT Disabilities Council. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 21)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. It raises an important issue worthy of careful consideration by this House. I don't think there's anyone in this Chamber who doesn't agree that we're in a housing crisis and that stable, affordable housing provides a foundation for people's wellbeing and participation in society. The right to housing is the subject of international treaties, including the universal declaration of human rights and the international covenant on economic, social, and cultural rights. These are international obligations that fall within...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 21)

Housing NWT intends to work in partnership with Indigenous governments in advancing our mandate in priorities related to housing in Canada. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 21)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, yes, this is an issue that Housing NWT is concerned about. We have declining funding from CMHC. That's concerning. And basically this fund provides preventative maintenance on all houses across the North, Housing NWT units across the North. So in 20192022, Housing NWT entered into a multiyear bilateral funding agreement with CMHC that provided an ability to offset the annual decline of CMHC operating funding for the public housing program up to 20272028. Housing NWT will continue to work with the GNWT in engaging with the federal government on this important...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 21)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So Housing NWT did review policies related to homelessness and the disproportionate representation of Indigenous people experiencing homelessness in the 19th Assembly. One example of the changed included a homelessness assistance fund policy which now provides an extension for those requiring assistance more than once in their lifetime.

Approximately a year ago, the scoring criteria for public housing was adjusted to include a higher rate for those that are experiencing homelessness. We are currently reviewing other policies to see what changes are required and welcome...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 21)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Homelessness is a complex issue that requires an interdepartmental approach to provide a range of housing and health related wraparound supports. A Way Home, the GNWT's Homelessness Strategy, acknowledges this truth and has set us on a path towards integrated service delivery. Currently, Housing NWT operates two homeless shelters in Inuvik and funds shelters in Fort Simpson and Hay River as well as funding NGOs such as the YWCA, the Yellowknife Women's Society, and the Salvation Army, who provide services directly to the homeless population. Housing NWT also coordinates...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 21)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And this subject, with elderly and disabled residents, it's become a discussion item, a discussion point, throughout the Northwest Territories and with the Council of Leaders. So as part of the strategic renewal, Housing NWT has committed to ongoing policy and program improvements and will work with NWT Housing Forum to consider additional changes to the point rating system that may be needed. Housing NWT works closely with the Council of Leaders housing working group to update its policies in the 19th Assembly as part of the Housing NWT Strategic Renewal.

The current...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 21)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Currently in the town of Inuvik, there are five units for occupancy that are in the process of being allocated, seven units with repairs in progress, and 14 units requiring repairs that have not yet begun. While officially we have 26 units vacant in Inuvik, five will be shortly occupied. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 21)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I want to thank the Member for bringing this motion forward today and acknowledge the importance of this topic. I understand it is a critical issue for many elders across the Northwest Territories.

Housing NWT will continue to work closely with the Department of Finance and other GNWT departments to consider the issues presented in this motion. We look forward to working with the Member and her colleagues on the issues identified in this motion.

Some of this work is already underway. Housing NWT has been reviewing all relevant government policies and considering the...