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
Extension
12195
Constituency Office

198 Mackenzie Rd
Unit 123
Inuvik NT X0E 0T0
Canada

P.O. Box
3130
Constituency Phone
Minister
Email
Minister of Health and Social Services

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 23)

Thank you, Mr. Cooper. Member for Thebacha.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 23)

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

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 23)

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 23)

One final question: under specialty services, it hasn't gone up very much, but, when I look under the category for specialty services, my colleague says we have wait lists, we have extensive wait lists in certain areas. Without increasing this budget and without increasing the specialist numbers that we are going to have and the hard time getting these specialists, do we feel that, this budget that we have here, is this number going to increase because it costs us so much more to get extra stuff? Are we going to be able to meet the needs of our wait list with this budget this year? Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 23)

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Minister.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 23)

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 23)

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 23)

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 23)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just under Purchased Services, from the last year's budget, it's gone up from $486,000 to $1.2 million. Can the Minister just explain what is the big jump in the increase there?

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 23)

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Cooper.