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

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box

1320

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

Statements in Debates

Committee Motion 447-19(2): Committee Report 49-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the 2021-22 Review of the Official Languages Act – Indigenous-Language Signs, Carried

Debates of March 30, 2023 , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 153)

Thank you. To the motion.

Committee Motion 441-19(2): Committee Report 49-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the 2021-22 Review of the Official Languages Act - Annual Official Languages Action Plan, Carried

Debates of March 30, 2023 , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 153)

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 461-19(2): Committee Report 51-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Indigenous Representation in the Northwest Territories Public Service - Indigenous Recruitment and Retention Framework, Carried

Debates of March 30, 2023 , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 153)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, with the second or the sorry, with the third bullet, the education leave to help Indigenous employees to finish any education. Sometimes we have Indigenous employees that get into frontline positions, they may have, you know, some education, and then when they apply to for educational education leave, they're denied because they say well, you're already in this job and you don't need any more education to do the job. And then education leave is denied. And so some and so, and then when we look at the next one, we have people that are in frontline jobs...

Committee Motion 408-19(2): Bill 68, An Act to Amend the Child Day Care Act – Amend Clause 13, DEFEATED