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

Oral Question 707-19(2): Closure of the Inuvik Homeless Shelter
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 74)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The emergency warming shelter in Inuvik is vital to our home residents. You know, in my opinion, it saved many lives over the years. This government has put millions into COVID restrictions to save lives. When are we going to do that, the same for addictions and homelessness?

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister, in Inuvik, is her department continuing to help to ensure that the homeless in Inuvik are being looked after, if there's things for them in place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral Question 707-19(2): Closure of the Inuvik Homeless Shelter
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 74)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my final supplementary, I just want to know will the Minister commit to making sure that there's something in place for our homeless in Inuvik right now so that they have a place to wash, so they have a place to use the washroom, where they can try and get a meal. Like, we need to have something for our homeless right now. With this board, we don't even know if they're meeting right now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral Question 707-19(2): Closure of the Inuvik Homeless Shelter
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 74)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This challenge isn't from March or February. This challenge has been ongoing. I raised it in the fall session. They've been struggling. This is volunteer board of caring people that just keep trying to keep this open. Will the Minister can she commit that this manager or person is somebody who's in Inuvik and maybe where all of our shelters are to have somebody directly working in that community from her department in the community of Inuvik to ensure that this board has support. Thank you.

Member's Statement on Closure of the Inuvik Homeless Shelter
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 74)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In a previous members statement, I stated that housing is a basic necessity that everyone needs, especially here in the North where the temperatures swing dramatically. And at home right now, currently, it's snowing.

Mr. Speaker, I raised the issue on October 28th, 2020, regarding the struggles that the Inuvik Emergency Warming Shelters was having. At that time, the Minister stated her department was working on a homelessness strategy but the draft was still not complete.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister also committed to sending in staff to assist with the operations and staff...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 70)

Thank you. Committee, we will now consider the Department of Finance on page 5. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021, Department of Finance, directorate, not previously authorized, $4,537,000. Member for Frame Lake.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 70)

Thank you. Minister.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 70)

Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021, Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, support, recreation and youth, not previously authorized, $263,000. Does committee agree?

Committee Motion 90-19(2): Committee Report 12-19(2) – Standing Committee on Social Development - Report on the Review of Bill 20: An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act – Financial Resources for Employees on Unpaid Emergency Leave, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 70)

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

---Carried

Member for Kam Lake.

Committee Motion 91-19(2): Committee Report 12-19(2) – Standing Committee on Social Development - Report on the Review of Bill 20: An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act – Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 70)

Clause 11? Member for Frame Lake.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 70)

Mr. Speaker, we've been really busy. Your committee has been considering Tabled Document 349-19(2), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021; Tabled Document 348-19(2), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021; Committee Report 12-19(2), Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Chief Electoral Officer's Report on the Administration of the 2019 Territorial General Election; and Bill 20, An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act. I would like to report progress with five motions carried, that Committee Report 12-19(2)...