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 378-20(1): Housing Waitlist
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 34)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand the needs for housing in the Northwest Territories is difficult and that 897 families on the waitlist is an almost insurmountable task for the Northwest Territories and for this government. And the Legislative Assembly has made housing its number one priority. Housing NWT is up to the task along with this government, but that requires both federal funding, territorial funding, working with partners like our Indigenous governments, working with NGOs. So, again, it's not insurmountable but we have to make headway. We have been making some headway over the...

Committee Motion 47-20(1): Tabled Document 193-20(1): 2025-2026 Capital Estimates – Health and Social Services– Deferral of Department, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 34)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. If there was a contract with Housing NWT to retrofit the unit, Housing NWT will pay the contract. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 47-20(1): Tabled Document 193-20(1): 2025-2026 Capital Estimates – Health and Social Services– Deferral of Department, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 34)

Yes, Mr. Chair, there is funds. It's outlined in the capital plan. There's two houses currently being retrofitted and three planned for next fiscal year. So just to confirm, three for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 47-20(1): Tabled Document 193-20(1): 2025-2026 Capital Estimates – Health and Social Services– Deferral of Department, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 34)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I was just getting some information from the vice-president. Currently, Behchoko, there is two units being repaired, and 15 units still to be repaired. The plan is that we repair three in Behchoko which would leave 12 units to be repaired once this capital budget is approved. The reason we're not repairing more units is this budget is based on what we have as Housing NWT for capital planning purposes. We look at our budget, we look at -- we provide an analysis of our operating costs, and at the end of the day we're left with $11 million for capital planning. So that's...

Question 357-20(1): Tulita Four-Plex Transfer
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 32)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. The four-plex in Tulita has been transferred over to health for use for the nursing staff in Tulita. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister’s Statement 68-20(1): Damage to Public Housing Units
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 32)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about an issue that is important to the maintenance of the public housing stock. I am speaking about the damage to public housing units and the costs to the local housing organizations and Housing NWT. I want to highlight how this damage impacts the work plan of the local housing organizations and Housing NWT.

Housing NWT and local housing organizations strive to support tenants to be successful. Part of that success relies on the tenant keeping up with their responsibilities. This includes taking care of their unit, keeping it clean, and...

Minister’s Statement 67-20(1): Capital Delivery Status Update
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 31)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, providing suitable, accessible, and affordable housing is a top priority for this government. Housing NWT is dedicated to delivering quality solutions that address the evolving housing needs of the Northwest Territories' communities and residents. Housing NWT continues to deliver a significant capital plan, including 512 housing units. This will result in 148 new and replacement public housing units, as well as the modernization and improvement of 364 housing assets currently operating throughout the territory.

Housing NWT's large multi-year capital program...

Question 331-20(1): Housing
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 30)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to inform the MLA that Housing NWT has a contribution agreement for the Akaitcho territory government to complete the home inspection units as requested. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 322-20(1): Housing
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 30)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories, through our finance department, provides us about $80 million a year for Housing NWT operations. We do get funding from CMHC and from CIRNAC to operate and maintain the homes across the North. That's an additional $20 million. So that's the sum of our public housing operating funds throughout the North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 322-20(1): Housing
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 30)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The current number of people on the housing waitlist is 897 applications across the North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.