Lesa Semmler

Member Inuvik Twin Lakes

Minister of Health and Social Services

Lesa Semmler currently serves as the Member representing Inuvik Twin Lakes in the 20th Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, having been re-elected to the position. Born in Yellowknife, NT, and raised in Inuvik, where she still resides, Ms. Semmler has deep roots in the Northwest Territories. 

A Registered Nurse, Ms. Semmler graduated from the Aurora College Northern Nursing Program in 2000 and earned her Community Health Nurse Certification from the Canadian Nurses Association in 2008. With 15 years of frontline nursing experience at the Inuvik Regional Hospital, she focused on Acute Care, Homecare, and Public Health. Her career also included roles as the Manager of Acute Care Services and eventually the Regional Manager of Acute Care Services under the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority. Notably, she served as the Inuvialuit Health System Navigator at the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, assisting Inuvialuit Beneficiaries in navigating the healthcare system. 

Beyond her healthcare career, Ms. Semmler has actively contributed to education and community service. She served on the Inuvik District Education Authority, assuming the role of Chair from 2015 to 2018, and chaired the Beaufort Delta Education Council. Ms. Semmler participated in various working groups at the territorial and national levels, including the Inuit Tuberculosis Elimination Board and the Inuit Midwifery Revitalization. Her commitment to social justice is evident in her voluntary work as a member of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls National Family Advisory Circle, where she worked to ensure northern voices were heard and represented. Lesa Semmler's life and career reflect her passion for healthcare, education, and advocating for the well-being of her community.

Inuvik Twin Lakes Electoral District

Committees

Lesa Semmler
Inuvik Twin Lakes
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Email
Phone
(867) 767-9143
Constituency Office

125 Mackenzie Rd
Unit 203
Inuvik NT X0E 0T0
Canada

P.O. Box
3130
Constituency Phone
867-678-2429
Minister
Email
Email
Minister of Health and Social Services

Statements in Debates

Question 903-20(1): Orientation and Training for Locums
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 71)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when our physicians are onboarded, they are provided with some orientation. I'm not sure the extent of that orientation. However, we do have a lot of locums that come in. The process through a physician, and that is the problem I think that they're relating to, is not everything is an insured service. So if it's not an insured service, then it's not covered by our health care and therefore if there are certain things that a locum may say that -- a patient may come in and ask for them, I can't speak to what these things are unless I have details. So what I...

Question 902-20(1): Health Information Privacy Breach
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 71)

Yes, Mr. Speaker.

Question 902-20(1): Health Information Privacy Breach
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 71)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not aware of what the timelines are when those are reported and what the process is. However, I can follow up with NTHSSA to find out what their process is and why, if there are delays, or how long it takes to notify a resident. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 899-20(1): Northwest Territories Cancer Statistics
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 71)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that level of detail, I'd have to get back to the Member. Thank you.

Tabled Document 428-20(1): 2024-2025 Annual Report - Director of Child and Family Services
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 71)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following five documents: NWT Department of Health and Social Services Annual Report 2024-2025; 2024-2025 Annual Report Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority; Tlicho Community Services Agency HSS Annual Report 2024-25; Hay River Health and Social Services Authority Annual Report 2024-2025; and, 2024-2025 Annual Report - Director of Child and Family Services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 904-20(1): Master Service Agreements with Alberta Health Service
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 71)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can give you the short version, is that -- and I am going to use the example. This is the conversation that I've had, is that Alberta, it took them 10 years to figure out the system that they needed and then to start to implement it. Where we are right now is we know what we need to have in our system that's going to appease what we need as a territory. However it is a small territory with a lot of different components that need to feed into one and so this is the problem that we're having right now is we're trying to build that connection with Alberta, and I have the...

Question 903-20(1): Orientation and Training for Locums
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 71)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Member for identifying two of those.

However, I guess based on the circumstances and where you're living, those may be considered something that would be considered under medical travel. However, if there are specialists coming to, say if it's for Yellowknife, they may be traveling in at a certain time and therefore they would be put onto a waitlist for that. I can't speak to what if, so I guess if there are certain specific instances, I would recommend that the Member bring those forward through my office.

But in the meantime I know that...

Question 903-20(1): Orientation and Training for Locums
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 71)

Sorry, Mr. Speaker. I'm not sure what the question is. The locum travel and medical travel, I?

Question 902-20(1): Health Information Privacy Breach
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 71)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that type of information, I would have to go back to the department and get an answer from them or from the NTHSSA, and once I have that I can give that back to the Member. Thank you.

Question 899-20(1): Northwest Territories Cancer Statistics
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 71)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, that level of detail, I would have to get back to the Member. Thank you.