Lesa Semmler

Member Inuvik Twin Lakes

Minister of Health and Social Services

Lesa Semmler currently serves as the Member representing Inuvik Twin Lakes in the 20th Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, having been re-elected to the position. Born in Yellowknife, NT, and raised in Inuvik, where she still resides, Ms. Semmler has deep roots in the Northwest Territories. 

A Registered Nurse, Ms. Semmler graduated from the Aurora College Northern Nursing Program in 2000 and earned her Community Health Nurse Certification from the Canadian Nurses Association in 2008. With 15 years of frontline nursing experience at the Inuvik Regional Hospital, she focused on Acute Care, Homecare, and Public Health. Her career also included roles as the Manager of Acute Care Services and eventually the Regional Manager of Acute Care Services under the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority. Notably, she served as the Inuvialuit Health System Navigator at the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, assisting Inuvialuit Beneficiaries in navigating the healthcare system. 

Beyond her healthcare career, Ms. Semmler has actively contributed to education and community service. She served on the Inuvik District Education Authority, assuming the role of Chair from 2015 to 2018, and chaired the Beaufort Delta Education Council. Ms. Semmler participated in various working groups at the territorial and national levels, including the Inuit Tuberculosis Elimination Board and the Inuit Midwifery Revitalization. Her commitment to social justice is evident in her voluntary work as a member of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls National Family Advisory Circle, where she worked to ensure northern voices were heard and represented. Lesa Semmler's life and career reflect her passion for healthcare, education, and advocating for the well-being of her community.

Inuvik Twin Lakes Electoral District

Committees

Inuvik Twin Lakes
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Email
Phone
(867) 767-9143
Extension
12195
Constituency Office

198 Mackenzie Rd
Unit 123
Inuvik NT X0E 0T0
Canada

P.O. Box
3130
Constituency Phone
867-678-2429
Minister
Email
Email
Minister of Health and Social Services

Statements in Debates

Question 408-19(2): Use of Indigenous Languages in Government of the Northwest Territories Workplaces
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 43)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess what I'm saying is that our policies have no teeth. Our Indigenous languages have no teeth. To say it's important, we have to add the French in. We don't have to add the Inuktun in. We don't have to add the Chipewyan in. We don't have to add all these other ones, but we have to add the French in. This is what I'm saying: why? I get it that, but again, it's not an "us against them." If we're saying it in whatever, we're saying hello, if somebody needs a service, but why? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Committee Motion 42-19(2): Tabled Document 181-19(2): Capital Estimates 2020-2021 - Environment and Natural Resources - Deferral of Department (page 15), Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 43)

Thank you, Mr. Norn. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question 408-19(2): Use of Indigenous Languages in Government of the Northwest Territories Workplaces
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 43)

Thank you to the Minister for that. I am aware of the training and the videos that went along with it, and there was never any part of saying that you could do it in another language. Will the Minister review whatever policy or whatever could be put in place to make sure that our Indigenous public service who answer phones in French and English be removed or be informed that, if they want, they don't have to, they can answer in one of their own languages, for instance?

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 43)

We will now turn to wildlife and fish on page 23 with information items on page 24. Are there any comments under this activity? Seeing none, I will call the activity. Environment and Natural Resources, wildlife and fish, infrastructure investments, $682,000. Does committee agree?

Committee Report 5-19(2): Report on the Review of the 2018-2019 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 43)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

During their review, standing committee had good discussion with the IPC. They discussed both the ATIPP Act and the HIA. They also spoke about how the GNWT meets their duties under these acts. Committee is making recommendations in the following areas:

The IPC noted it had been a year since the Assembly had amended the ATIPP Act. However, the changes to the ATIPP Act have not taken effect. Committee has not received an update from the GNWT on when the changes will take effect.

As a result, Committee recommends:

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 43)

Thank you, Minister. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, any further comments?

Member's Statement on Indigenous Languages
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 43)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Indigenous languages are an important part of the NWT identity, given that over 50 percent of our residents are Indigenous. Languages are vital to our Indigenous groups, and they signify identity and pride of our Indigenous people here in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, we know our Indigenous public service numbers remain low and have been that way for 30-plus years. We continue to struggle in increasing those numbers for a variety of reasons. One reason, I believe, is because of GNWT policies that do not have any teeth, and we lack the will to create policies...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 43)

We will now turn to forest management on page 21 with information items on page 22. Are there any comments? Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 43)

Committee, we will defer the departmental totals and review the estimates by activity summary, beginning at page 16, with information items on page 17. Members, do we have any comments? Seeing no comments, I will call the activity. Environment and Natural Resources, corporate management, infrastructure investments, $399,000. Does committee agree?

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 43)

Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses to the Chamber. Would the Minister please introduce his witnesses?