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

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 87)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Associate deputy minister Michael Saturnino will provide an update related to the legislation. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 87)

Thank you, Madam Chair. President Kelly will provide more information around the subscription to this program. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 87)

Thank you, Madam Chair. In April of 2025, Housing NWT's infrastructure deficit estimate was updated to $307 million, with a 20-year projected deficit of approximately $1.27 billion, or $63 million a year. The $150 million, which included $124 million from the GNWT, will reduce the infrastructure deficit estimate to $257 million, with a 20-year projected deficit reduced to $1.17 billion, or $58 million a year. So the 20-year projection was initially $63 million a year, and with the $150 million injection it was $58 million a year. But we still have a deficit overall for infrastructure...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 87)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will defer to President Kelly to provide an update. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 87)

Thank you, Madam Chair. It just helps to know which page and what subject matter because we have notes related to each item. Mr. Saturnino will provide information regarding the training. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 87)

Thank you, Madam Chair. It's good to hear that Members are excited about housing because it is so important that we deliver, especially in our business planning items with our mandate and our priorities. I think with the market rental plan, President Erin Kelly can provide the Member with some information related to that. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 87)

No worries. It is a lot of information to take. And perhaps I will turn to Erin who -- or President Kelly who will provide more in-depth information to the minor modernization and improvement.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 87)

Thank you, Madam Chair. President Kelly will provide information related to the temporary transitional housing unit. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 87)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I think it's important that we understand the structure with housing and housing authorities. We also have housing associations. So we have 24 of either an authority or an association across the Northwest Territories, and we sign community housing services agreements with either the association or the authority, and that outlines the terms and conditions of the authority itself, including either an advisory board or an authority board or an association board. So President Kelly can provide more information in terms of the authority itself and how much -- just...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 87)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just to reinforce that Housing NWT will consider applications outside the regional centres for the down payment assistance program, especially those in smaller communities that are interested in purchasing their own house. Thank you, Madam Chair.