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

Committee Motion 251-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2020-2021 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner – Faxing in Health and Social Services System, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 118)

Thank you. To the motion.

Committee Motion 248-19(2): Committee Report 31-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 40: An Act to Amend the Medical Profession Act – Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 118)

The motion is in order. To the motion.

Oral Question 1145-19(2): Hunters and Trappers Disaster Assistance Policy
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 118)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you for that, Minister. As many people supplement their income by offsetting food costs now with harvesting fish, ducks, geese, moose, berries not everyone does this by selling furs or calculating how they're harvesting. So I think I heard in his statement in the review that some of this stuff would be added into the review. And they do this from their cabins out on the delta. So how does ENR or how will ENR, or is this going to be in the review, how they are measuring earning 25 percent and will they do will they ensure that there's a way to include this...

Committee Motion 250-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2020-2021 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner – Policies for Public Service Use of Handheld Mobile Devices, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 118)

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining?

Carried

The motion is carried. Mr. Johnson.

Committee Motion 247-19(2): Committee Report 31-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 40: An Act to Amend the Medical Profession Act – Consultation on with Territorial Physician Executive, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 118)

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed?

I will call a recess.

SHORT RECESS

Oral Question 1145-19(2): Hunters and Trappers Disaster Assistance Policy
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 118)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And the Minister alluded a little bit of the changes but are you able to share what some of these significant changes that may be when this policy comes into effect? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Committee Motion 250-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2020-2021 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner – Policies for Public Service Use of Handheld Mobile Devices, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 118)

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion. Member for Yellowknife North.

Committee Motion 246-19(2): Committee Report 31-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on the Review of Bill 40: An Act to Amend the Medical Profession Act – Consultation on Proposed Standards for Physicians in the Northwest Territo
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 118)

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining?

Carried

The motion is carried. MLA for Kam Lake.

Bill 54: Supplementary Appropriations Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 20222023, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 118)

For.

Member’s Statement 1141-19(2): Hunters and Trappers Disaster Assistance
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 118)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in June of 2020, I raised the impact of flooding that caused many of my constituents and at that time, I was advised that the hunters and trapper disaster compensation could help. This program, harvesters must earn at least 25 percent of their gross income from renewable resource harvesting to be eligible, and they could be eligible up to a maximum of $4,500 per occurrence for damage or loss by natural disaster other than forest fires according to the guidelines by ENR at this time.

Mr. Speaker, on February 12th, 2021, there was a news article quoting that...