Lesa Semmler

Member Inuvik Twin Lakes

Minister of Health and Social Services
Minister Responsible for the Status of Women 

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

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's Office
Email
Email

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 54)

Thank you, committee. We will take a short recess and resume.

---SHORT RECESS

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 54)

Thank you, Minister. Member for Thebacha.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 54)

Thank you, Minister. Member for Kam Lake.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 54)

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Do you want to respond, or are you good?

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 54)

Thank you. We will now move into management board secretariat, beginning on page 150, with information items on page 154. I am just going to remind Members that we are going to be having a hard stop at six o'clock, so get your questions and answers to the point, shorten them just to the point. Thank you. Questions to the management board secretariat from Members? Member for Kam Lake.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 53)

Thank you, Mr. Norn. There is a motion on the floor and it is non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

I will now rise and report progress.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 53)

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Minister's Statement 77-19(2), National Housing Co-Investment Fund; Tabled Document 165-19(2), Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 1-19(2): Report on Long-Term Post-Pandemic Recovery - Recommendations to the GNWT; Tabled Document 166-19(2), Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 2-19(2): Report on Long-Term Post-Pandemic Recovery - Recommendations to the GNWT; Tabled Document 167-19(2), a Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 3-19(2): Report on Long...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 53)

I will now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of the committee, Mr. Norn?

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 52)

All right. There is a motion on the floor to rise and report progress. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Question 498-19(2): Culturally Sensitive Healthcare Services
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 52)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I hear the Minister. I know that we are supposed to be rolling out a very detailed cultural awareness campaign soon, and all of the GNWT staff are going to be there; but there is no course in the world that is going to change somebody who doesn't want to take it. That's the issue. These are the issues. Our people are still going to be afraid of the healthcare system, so they're not going to speak up; they're not going to advocate for themselves. I, again, just want to push the Minister to really look into these types of positions for our people in the Northwest...