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

Lesa Semmler
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

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 45)

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 45)

Thank you, Minister. Member for Yellowknife North.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 45)

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Are there any further comments or questions to the corporate management under Infrastructure on pages 44 and 45? Seeing none, I will call the activity. Infrastructure, corporate management, infrastructure investments, $30,533,000. Does committee agree?

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 45)

Committee, we will defer the departmental totals and refer to the estimates by activity, beginning with asset management on page 41, with the information items on page 42 and 43. Are there comments or questions to the asset management? Member for Deh Cho.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 45)

Thank you, Minister. Member for Monfwi.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 45)

Thank you, Mr. Moore. Member for Yellowknife North.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 45)

Thank you, Mr. Moore. Member for Hay River South.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 45)

Thank you, Deputy Minister Loutitt. Are there any other comments, questions under the corporate management section? Member for Frame Lake.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 45)

Thank you, Member. Minister of Infrastructure.

Member's Statement on Medical Travel
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 45)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to bring up concerns about medical travel. Since being elected, I have had many complaints, not just from my constituents, but other constituents in my region. Here are just a couple of common concerns.

Elders are being sent to Inuvik, Yellowknife, or Edmonton from regional or small communities without escorts. This is unacceptable. I consider myself knowledgeable in the medical system, but I, too, have experienced some anxiety and stress, missed appointments, and even missed a surgery for my own child when I arrived at the hospital in Edmonton, trying to...