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 332-19(2): Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on Seniors
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 31)

Thank you to the Minister for that. I always want to protect the elders because we know that they're vulnerable, and they're immunocompromised, and they're our elders. We were raised to protect them once we got older. That was what we do. I understand the reason behind closing the visiting to long-term care area like when there is an outbreak of flu, and now with the pandemic, but a lot of our elders don't have long to live in some of our long-term care facilities. Can the Minister explain if there is a process for immediate family that can visit their loved ones now during this pandemic? If...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 31)

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Committee, we have agreed to forego general comments on the report and proceed directly to the recommendations. Member for Nunakput.

Committee MOTION 26-19(2): Committee Report 3-19(2) – Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Long-Term Recovery: Recommendations to the GNWT – Education Supports, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 31)

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. The motion is in order. To the motion. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Committee Motion 32-19(2): Committee Report 2-19(2) – Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Long-Term Recovery: Recommendations to the GNWT – Digital Communications Plan and Internet Access, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 31)

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. To the motion.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 31)

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Reddy.

Committee Motion 21-19(2): Committee Report 1-19(2) – Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on Long-Term Recovery: Recommendations to the GNWT – Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 31)

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Does committee agree that this concludes consideration of Committee Report 1-19(2)?

Committee Motion 29-19(2): Committee Report 2-19(2) – Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Long-Term Recovery: Recommendations to the GNWT – Emergency Response Legislative Framework, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 31)

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. To the motion.

Question 332-19(2): Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on Seniors
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 31)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of health. I know that we have some great homecare and home support staff, and I'm sure they're providing as much information to the seniors and elders in my community that are on their homecare list, but not all seniors in my community are on that list. I want to know if the department can make sure that, if, or when, we have this second wave, some information packages can be put together so that we can have them in the public, even for constituency office, so we can deliver this information out to seniors to help them what they need...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 31)

Thank you, committee. Bill 10, Temporary Variation of Statutory Time Periods (COVID-19 Pandemic Measures) Act, is now ready for third reading. Does committee agree that this concludes our consideration of Bill 10, Temporary Variation of Statutory Time Periods (COVID-19 Pandemic Measures) Act?

Committee MOTION 25-19(2): Committee Report 3-19(2) – Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Long-Term Recovery: Recommendations to the GNWT – Advancing Universal Child Care, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 31)

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife Centre. To the motion.