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

Committee Motion 31-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Industry, Tourism and Investment – Deferral of Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 25)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Member's comment, I understand that the work that Housing NWT has to do over the next year, especially in carrying out much of this capital and MMI projects, it's going to be a lot of hard work over the next year, especially with the timelines and the deliverables. But I'll ask President Eleanor Young to comment as well and just to give some more information if you don't mind, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 31-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Industry, Tourism and Investment – Deferral of Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 25)

Yes, that is correct, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

Committee Motion 31-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Industry, Tourism and Investment – Deferral of Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 25)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I understand, and I've heard of the many concerns around the Housing First program and the implementation of the program within the city of Yellowknife. Perhaps I can allow the president of Housing NWT to talk more about the Housing First program. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 31-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Industry, Tourism and Investment – Deferral of Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 25)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, this is what the program would be eligible for, is for privately owned units, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

Committee Motion 31-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Industry, Tourism and Investment – Deferral of Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 25)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. One of the things that Housing NWT is finding with much of our capital projects and our MMI projects is either cost. We put it out for tender, and it just the costs come back and they're way too high. Maybe because it's government, they think they can bid a higher rate. Sometimes we're having resupply issues. We're having capacity issues. There's many issues that we're having with Housing NWT with our capital and MMI projects that have deterred us from completing those over the last couple years. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 31-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Industry, Tourism and Investment – Deferral of Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 25)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 31-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Industry, Tourism and Investment – Deferral of Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 25)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In speaking to Housing NWT, I have encouraged that we get the housing needs assessment done sooner rather than later, and we're hoping to have something done for winter 2024. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 31-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Industry, Tourism and Investment – Deferral of Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 25)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. If President Young can talk a bit more about the home purchase program to provide information to MLA Nerysoo. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 31-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Industry, Tourism and Investment – Deferral of Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 25)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Unfortunately, our CIRNAC agreement sunsetted, and it decreased our MMI budget. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 31-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Industry, Tourism and Investment – Deferral of Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 25)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I understand the MLA's question, and the work that we do in collaboration with Indigenous governments is critical, especially in advancing our mandate and business plan.

In terms of missing opportunities, I think at this point Indigenous governments, with their distinction base funding that they're getting from the federal government, see that as an opportunity for market houses in their communities, and they're advancing that. They're advancing their own plans. So that's fine with Housing NWT if they want to do that. The thing is that nobody is interested in public or...