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 115)

I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Member for Frame Lake.

Oral Question 1114-19(2): Sexual Violence
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 115)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too am an Indigenous woman of the Northwest Territories and have grown up here my entire life and have known of many other women, and even when I was younger, young girls who were being, you know, sexually had sexual violence against them, and the majority of the time the perpetrators were intoxicated. So my concern is with this defence, you know, and now that it's gone through the Supreme Court of Canada as possibly could affect, this could come out I mean, we will have defence lawyers that may try to use it if there are, so that's why I'm raising it...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 115)

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Committee Report 2919(2) and would like to report progress with four motions adopted. And Mr. Speaker, I move the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you.

Oral Question 1114-19(2): Sexual Violence
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 115)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Justice.

In regards to my Member's statement, has the Minister of Justice considered ways in which women, children, and those in the LGBTQ2S+ communities will be impacted by this recent supreme ruling allowing for the selfinduced extreme intoxication defence? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Committee Motion 242-19(2): Committee Report 29-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the Languages Commissioner for the Northwest Territories Annual Report 2020-2021 – Government Response to Recommendations, Ca
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 115)

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

Carried

The motion is carried.

Thank you, committee. Do you agree that you have concluded consideration of Committee Report 2919(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the Languages Commissioner for the Northwest Territories Annual Report 20202021,.

Member’s Statement 1112-19(2): Sexual Violence Awareness Month and Supreme Court of Canada Ruling
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 115)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today is the last day of the Sexual Violence Awareness Month in Canada, and I recognize and pay tribute to all the victims of sexual violence. We must raise awareness of the devastating impacts sexual violence has on a person, their family, and their community.

Mr. Speaker, every day in the territory someone is the victim of sexual violence. Sexual violence is verbal harassment, sexual exploitation, sexual assault, and rape. The Northwest Territories has the second highest rate of sexual assault in Canada. This is 7.3 times higher than the national rate, Mr...

Committee Motion 241-19(2): Committee Report 29-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the Languages Commissioner for the Northwest Territories Annual Report 2020-2021 – Public Bodies’ Response to Recommendatio
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 115)

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

Carried

Mr. Johnson.

Committee Motion 240-19(2): Committee Report 29-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the Languages Commissioner for the Northwest Territories Annual Report 2020-2021 – Requests for Information from Public Bodie
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 115)

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

Carried

Mr. Johnson.

Committee Motion 239-19(2): Committee Report 29-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the Languages Commissioner for the Northwest Territories Annual Report 2020-2021 – Clarification of Languages Commissioner’
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 115)

Thank you. To the motion?

Committee Report 29-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the Languages Commissioner for the Northwest Territories Annual Report 2020-2021
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 115)

I now call Committee of the Whole back to order.

Committee, we've agreed to consider Committee Report 2919(2), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of Languages Commissioner for the Northwest Territories Annual Report 20202021. I will go to the chair of the Standing Committee on Government Operations for any opening comments. Member for Yellowknife North.