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
Lesa_semmler@ntassembly.ca
Phone
(867) 767-9143 (link is a phone number)
Constituency Office

125 Mackenzie Rd
Unit 203
Inuvik NT X0E 0T0
Canada

P.O. Box
3130
Constituency Phone
867-678-2429(link is a phone number)
Minister
Email
Lesa_semmler@gov.nt.ca
Minister of Health and Social Services

Statements in Debates

Question 1346-19(2): Carbon Taxation
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 136)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the things that we've been talking about is carbon tax this week and so my questions are for the Minister of Finance.

You know, I also want to know, like, how we're ever going to grow the Northwest Territories' population when the federal government is forcing the NWT to create a new logo I guess, is what I'm thinking, is move to the Northwest Territories where you can wear a parka eight months of the year in your house just so you could feed your family. You know, that's what carbon tax is going to make people do, is choose.

Mr. Speaker, can the...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 136)

Thank you. All those in favour? All those opposed?

Carried

Question 1346-19(2): Carbon Taxation
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 136)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, the federal government, like I said in my Member's statement, is forcing the hand of all of us to do their to do this work. They want us off oil. Our MP has said we need to move from oil. Okay, so what are we going to use? We've heard from other people, like pellets. We're sending our pellets in Canada to the UK. So oil and gas, we can't even use our oil and gas. Inuvik, we've had we had natural gas but now we're on truckedin propane. We're trucking it up on diesel fuel trucks. Like, this is not an NWT madeintheNWT. I mean, if Justin Trudeau wants...

Question 1346-19(2): Carbon Taxation
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 136)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, the question I asked is why is this $15 million, or 25 percent, being held by the GNWT to go into general revenues? Where is it going; why is it not going back so we're carbon neutral for some of our businesses? I know I had this discussion on Yukon, the way that they're rebating with the Minister. You know, they have got small businesses, medium businesses that are being rebated, but I guess it's a little bit more complicated than just being rebated.

So will the Minister look at our plan, a madeintheNWT plan, that will include businesses, and if it's...

Member’s Statement 1329-19(2): Carbon Taxation
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 136)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about carbon tax. I specifically want to talk about what we're doing as a territory to mitigate the cost of living and the cost of business impacts on carbon tax. I understand that we don't have a choice about imposing the tax. If the GNWT doesn't impose the tax, Ottawa will do it for us. But we do have a choice about how we spend the revenues from the carbon tax.

The government has decided to go with a madeintheNWT approach. But this approach leaves some residents, most businesses, and all community governments, Indigenous governments, and...

Committee Motion 351-19(2): Committee Report 39-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Prevention and Management of Contaminated Sites – Regulatory Decision-Making and Inspection Capacity, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 135)

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? The motion is carried.

Carried

Member for Nunakput.

Committee Motion 362-19(2): Committee Report 39-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Prevention and Management of Contaminated Sites – Partnerships for Landfill Managers in Training, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 135)

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion? Member for Great Slave.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 135)

Sergeantatarms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Thank you. Minister, please introduce your witnesses.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 135)

Committee, to the bill as a whole, does committee agree that Bill 62, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, is now ready for third reading?

Committee Motion 356-19(2): Committee Report 39-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Prevention and Management of Contaminated Sites – Departmental Coordination of Securities, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 135)

Thank you. To the motion.