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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I appreciate that the department is taking that serious and I know that the workers in the long-term care really care for the elders. We don't want them getting sick, but it is hard to see that when they can't connect. We have to do what's right and that's the thing, the highest population in Canada that we're losing to COVID is seniors. I thank the health department for that.

What I would like to know is: what needs to happen during this pandemic or after the pandemic? Have you thought that far ahead yet on what needs to take place to start lifting these measures...

Committee Motion 17-19(2): Committee Report 1-19(2) – Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on Long-Term Recovery: Recommendations to the GNWT – Business Relief Efforts, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 31)

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. The motion is in order. To the motion.

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 Yellowknife Centre. To the motion.

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)

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

---Carried

Member for Thebacha.

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

Thank you, Mr. Reddy. Member for Frame Lake.

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)

Thank you, committee. That concludes consideration of Committee Report 1-19(2). I would like to thank the chair of the committee, the Member for Nunakput.

Members, committee has agreed to consider Committee Report 3-19(2), Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Long-term Post-pandemic Recovery: Recommendations to the GNWT. Does the chair of the Standing Committee on Social Development have any opening remarks? Ms. Cleveland.

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)

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

---Carried

Member for Thebacha.

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

Can the Minister maybe have her homecare staff or some other staff within the community that really work with a lot of the elders and boots-to-the-ground frontline staff to gather more lists of names, especially if we do go into the second wave of this pandemic? This is just to make sure there is someone checking on them, even though now they may not have that need, but during that, they may need that.

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

Thank you. Thank you, Minister, and thank you to our witness. Sergeant-at-Arms, you may escort the witness from the Chamber.

Committee, we have agreed to consider Committee Report 1-19(2), Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on Long-term Post-pandemic Recovery: Recommendations to the GNWT, and Committee Report 3-19(2), Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Long-term Post-pandemic Recovery: Recommendations to the GNWT.

We will begin with Committee Report 1-19(2), Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on Long-term Post...

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)

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

--- Carried

Member for Kam Lake.