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

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 24)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to know if the department can tell me, in the 2018-2019, just so I can get a picture of what extra costs in overtime the NTHSSA had to come back for, to this government, well, not this government, but the previous government, to ask for, just related to overtime in the NTHSS? Thank you.

Member's Statement on Nursing Shortage
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 24)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to discuss the nursing shortage in the NWT and how our hiring process is working against us. As someone who is very familiar with the hiring practice in this area as well as the difficulty in staffing healthcare professionals, we need to look at how we do things. In my experience, it's more beneficial to be hired as a locum than it is to sign on as indeterminate. There are also times where staff choose not to extend terms or do not want to take on an indeterminate position, and instead choose to become a locum or work short-term casual contracts because...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 24)

There is a line item in that $295 million for estimated overtime? Or is that something that is going to come later? Thank you. Just clarifying, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 24)

Thank you, Madam Chair. The $295 million is what operations and staffing for our hospitals, health centres, and that all fall under the NTHSSA throughout the Northwest Territories, just to be clear? Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 24)

No, that's all I have. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 24)

Thank you. Under this medical travel benefit, I know that we have contracts. Does that fall under this budget? Just to clarify, for Larga and for Vital Abel and for the different homes, does that fall under this chunk of money? Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 24)

Thank you for that answer. With that answer, with us sitting there with $11.4 million and we don't have the extra funding this year, what was given to me with 2018-2019 was $18 million. Is this budget we're looking at, probably a $6 to $7 million difference? That's what we need to be looking at for this next year? It's not actual? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 24)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just to clarify, in 2018-2019, we had $13 million, and 2019-2020, we had $13.1 million, almost $13.2 million, and now, we're going down $2 million almost. It was $2 million a year for a review? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 24)

Last question: can the Minister provide me with the number that it costs to pay for job shares and travel associated within these departments for the 2019-2020 year, if she has that? Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 23)

Thank you, Member. Minister.