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

Oral Question 157-20(1): Affordability of Seniors Housing
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What Housing NWT is willing to do at this time is meet with the tenants, those clients that need assistance, and provide them with support in applying for the Canada-NWT Housing Benefit. They can go through the forms with the tenants and provide that assistance at this time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral Question 158-20(1): Collaboration with Indigenous Governments on Mackenzie Delta Home Renovations
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister of education could take this question as well. She's a big part of it, and she's the one advancing the work with the other departments.

But, yes, this is something that we talk about often, how we can work together as departments, looking at bringing in advancing capacity, looking at more apprenticeships throughout the North, and just the entire labour workforce, how we can help boost that -- the workforce throughout the North. So, yes, we're willing to do that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 144-20(1): Housing Supply
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 13)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So contractors are delivering on capital projects for Housing NWT. They were affected by low water and barge delays and cancellations over the summer of 2023. Housing made alternative plans to deliver remaining construction materials during the current winter road season. It is recognized that planning will increasingly need to consider the unique logistical challenges immobilizing equipment, construction material, and modular units within the Sahtu with appropriate contingency plans in place for alternative methods of delivery. Housing NWT will continue to work with...

Question 144-20(1): Housing Supply
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 13)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member from the Sahtu for the question. Currently, Housing NWT has 252 public housing units in the Sahtu:

4 in Colville Lake,

35 in Norman Wells,

50 in Fort Good Hope,

74 in Tulita,

89 in Deline.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 144-20(1): Housing Supply
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 13)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Housing NWT is active in working with Indigenous government partners in the Sahtu region. Both the Sahtu Secretariat and the Deline Got'ine government are participants in the NWT Housing Forum, which is currently cochaired by Housing NWT and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. Housing NWT has an intergovernmental agreement from housing with both the Sahtu Secretariat and the Deline Got'ine government on housing. These arrangements address matters, including how we work together, share information, and maximize our joint efforts on housing. Under the SSI memorandum of...

Question 144-20(1): Housing Supply
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 13)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I'm happy to report that Housing NWT will deliver a large capital plan involving 20 new public housing units to the communities in the Sahtu region. Housing recently completed four of these new public housing units in Norman Wells. Fourplexes are now under construction in Deline, Tulita, and Fort Good Hope. And duplexes are under construction in Colville Lake and Tulita. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabled Document 61-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 49-20(1): Yellowknife Aspen Apartments
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 13)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following five documents: Housing Northwest Territories 20222023 Annual Report; Followup Letter for Oral Question 1720(1): Elders Housing and Oral Question 2020(1): Arrears Collection for Elders; Followup Letter for Oral Question 2520(1): Housing Northwest Territories Board Policy; Followup Letter for Oral Question 3420(1): Construction and Retrofitting of Housing Northwest Territories Units, and, Followup Letter for Oral Question 4920(1): Yellowknife Aspen Apartments. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Motion 20-20(1): Affirming Housing as a Human Right, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 12)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank the Member from the Deh Cho and the Member for Range Lake for bringing this motion. It raises an important issue worthy of careful consideration by this House.

I don't think there is anyone in this Chamber who doesn't agree that we are in a housing crisis and that adequate, affordable, and suitable housing provides a foundation for people's well-being and quality of life. I am happy to see the interest of the Members in the House on the critical need for housing across the North, and the work of my colleagues is important and genuine. It comes from a good place, and...

Motion 21-20(1): Taking Action to Address Housing as a Human Right, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 12)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again I wish to thank the Member for Deh Cho and the Member for Range Lake for bringing this motion. Like the previous motion, it raises important considerations.

First, I note that the motion calls for amendments to the Housing Northwest Territories Act as an action item related to the strategic renewal of Housing NWT. During the 19th Assembly, Housing NWT committed to pursuing a substantive review of the Housing Northwest Territories Act. I am happy to confirm that remains the intention of this government.

Mr. Speaker, I also appreciate and agree with the...

Question 127-20(1): Policies and Future of Housing Northwest Territories
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 11)

Mr. Speaker, one of the great things of the 19th Assembly is it came up with the strategic renewal plan, and there's 42 initiatives with that strategic renewal, and the NWT Housing forum and the partnerships with Indigenous governments was introduced at the time and it continues to this day. So through the work of the NWT Housing forum and the Council of Leaders, NWT Housing or Housing NWT staff have these conversations on a daily basis with Indigenous governments. So I think the work continues. The discussions continue. We all want to see success for Housing NWT throughout the North, and we...