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 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.

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. And with the reference to working directly with community governments, we can do that. We can talk, and we can have discussions.

In terms of vacant units and those that could be renovated and have a move-in phase, I mean, we can look at that and provide those numbers to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, yes, we're willing to send a team down to assist those seniors that need assistance.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. Unfortunately, we can't offer that at this time. The agreement was with CMHC. That agreement has sun-setted. So Housing NWT was administering that agreement on behalf of CMHC, and that agreement has expired. 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)

Mr. Speaker, at this time I think that we'd be willing to work with anyone interested in advancing housing in the Northwest Territories. So if a local Indigenous government is willing to talk to us, meet with us, they have ideas, of course we'd be willing to work together. We do have some SEED money that we can partner with to look at potential federal funds, so we're willing to do that. So 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. And thank you to the Member for the question. Housing NWT has not had direct discussions with community governments at this time in Fort McPherson, Aklavik, or Tsiigehtchic. We have had regional discussions with Indigenous governments but no specific discussions at this time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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.

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.

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.