Lucy Kuptana

Member Nunakput

Minister Responsible for Housing Northwest Territories
Minister Responsible for the Status of Women

Lucy Kuptana was elected to the 20th Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in November 2023 to represent the constituency of Nunakput, which includes the communities of Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour, Tuktoyaktuk, and Ulukhaktok. A member of the Executive Council, she is the Minister Responsible for Housing Northwest Territories and the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women.

Prior to her election, Mrs. Kuptana was the Senior Administrative Officer for the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk. She was also a director with the Tuktoyaktuk District Education Authority.

For 22 years previous, Mrs. Kuptana was the Director of Operations, Communications, and Culture with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC). In a volunteer capacity, she has served as a director of the Inuvik Homeless Shelter Society, trustee of the Arctic Inspiration Prize, president of the Inuvialuit Communications Society, director of the Inuvialuit Investment Corporation, director of the Tuktoyaktuk and Inuvik Community Corporations, and a committee member for the 2023 Northern Youth Games “Inuvialuit Piuyausiat” in Tuktoyaktuk.

Originally from Aklavik and raised at her family’s bush camp in the Mackenzie Delta, Mrs. Kuptana obtained a Level II and Level III Certificate in Community Administration from Aurora College in the early 1990s and returned to graduate with a Diploma in Business Administration and Management in 2013. Mrs. Kuptana is currently enrolled with Yukon University, where she is working towards accreditation in the school’s First Nations Governance and Public Administration program.

Despite a successful career spanning decades, Mrs. Kuptana credits her husband and family in supporting her. She says she owes much of her success to those who have fought – and continue to fight – for Indigenous and Inuvialuit rights.

Mrs. Kuptana’s guiding principle is to lead with respect, empathy, knowledge, and the willingness to work hard for the constituents she represents and all residents of the Northwest Territories.

Nunakput Electoral District

Committees

Public Accounts
Lucy Kuptana
Nunakput
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Email
Phone
(867) 767-9143
Minister
Email
Email
Minister Responsible for Housing Northwest Territories, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women

Statements in Debates

Question 962-20(1): Radon Testing in Public Housing Units
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 75)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Housing NWT began its current radon testing program in 2024 with discussion with the LHOs to identify units that would meet the criteria for potential radon exposure. Housing NWT continues to conduct radon tests for housing units that meet the applicable testing criteria for radon risk; for example, housing units with a basement or a sealed crawl space. To date, Housing NWT has completed radon testing in the following communities:

Gameti,

Lutselk'e,

Whati,

Yellowknife,

N'dilo,

Dettah,

Norman Wells,

Fort Smith, and

Hay River.

70 of the 76 tests conducted to date had acceptable...

Question 960-20(1): Affordable Housing and Northern United Place
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 75)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The space is currently not available, and Aurora College currently has the lease, so no discussions have been committed at this time. Should this situation change, the GNWT would reassess whether discussions are needed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabled Document 452-20(1): Response to Motion 64-20(1), Naming of the 50th Street Affordable Housing Complex
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 74)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Response to Motion 64-20(1), Naming of the 50th Street Affordable Housing Complex. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Member’s Statement 806-20(1): Congratulations to New Inuvialuit Regional Corporation Chair Erwin Elias
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 73)

Quyananni, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the Member for Nunakput to congratulate the newly elected chair and CEO of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation Mr. Erwin Elias.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working together in collaboration for the benefit of Inuvialuit and our constituents. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Duane Ningaqsiq Smith for his ten years of service as the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation chair. Quyananni, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 73)

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize Julie Thrasher. Julie is a constituent of Yellowknife but a member of the Mackenzie Delta, and we're both from Aklavik. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 920-20(1): New Housing Allocation for Tlicho Communities
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 72)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, understanding the situation, I do know for a fact that with the 84 -- 94 units, because the Tlicho have been assigned 10 of those units, Tlicho government, that the community of Behchoko will be assigned ten of the modular units over the next two years. So these are being constructed in the Northwest Territories at the METCAN facility and in Behchoko in partnership with Tlicho government. So over the next couple of years, we'll have ten units for the community of Behchoko. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 909-20(1): Housing Northwest Territories Contracting Process
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 72)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, just repeating my answer, it is a vendor complaint process and this will inform future processes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 909-20(1): Housing Northwest Territories Contracting Process
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 72)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, a contract was recently awarded and announced for the Northwest Territories, 84 modular units in the North. There is an exemption period, an appeal period, and housing is moving forward with the construction. And the exemption or the oversight of the bid will be used as a lesson going forward if there's any discrepancies. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabled Document 437-20(1): 2024-2025 Annual Report: Action Plan in Response to the Calls for Justice on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 72)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: 2024-2025 Annual Report Action Plan in Response to Calls for Justice on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 920-20(1): New Housing Allocation for Tlicho Communities
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 72)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the work with housing over the last couple of years has been extensive. Again, we've had a hundred units across the North from the 19th Assembly, and then we're completing the work of the 20th Assembly. So, again, in terms of specifics, I would have to give the Member some information. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.