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
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 , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 32)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, within the NTHSSA, the primary care sits within NTHSSA and the doctors work within the NTHSSA. And so the doctors have -- you know, they have the medical director. They have the territorial medical director, they have the COO, they have the CEO, and they have the governing council. So they have very many levels that if they're not being heard, you know, they have very many levels. And if the -- you know, and if they're still not being heard after they've gone all the way up to the governing council, then that's when -- then, you know, the discussions...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 31)

thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, yes, to the Member, I do have a list, and I don't want to read out a whole page of things, so I will promise to give that list to the Member.

When it comes to overnight respite, the resources that would be required to provide overnight respite services will be explored; however -- as part of this work, but they will require new resources and dollars to do that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 31)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't have a timeline as to when this will be completed or operational. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 31)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned, you know, today we might be able to come up with a number and that would meet today, and then we get something else that happens and the numbers change. You know, if we are -- like, I look at our priorities in this government and working on our accessing health care doesn't just mean fixing the issues that we have at our territorial hospital and our -- you know, and in our capital. They mean fixing some of our issues in our regional centres. You know, we have our own issues in the regional centres as MLAs from those communities are fully aware. And then...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 31)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, and I do recall the plan that was presented -- I think it was even presented to the community. At the time, the numbers of the day, the beds that were needed for long-term care placement in the Northwest Territories were very high, and then they relooked at it because of the cry for many residents outside in the small communities wanting care closer to home, and it made a priority of the last two governments is to being able to, you know, age in place gracefully. And I mean, that was a priority of the 19th Assembly. And so there was much more work done on...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 31)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the health sustainability unit falls under the executive office under the Premier. What I can say is there is work being done within that unit to be able to look at what the core services are that we are funded for and are we adequately funded for those services through all the funding that we get. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 31)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the team consists -- when investigations happen, they are done by social workers. Social workers' experience -- are experienced in conducting investigations of this nature and once the investigation steps are completed, you know, they will do the process that they have to do. If there's a criminal process that they have to report, they have a duty to report then they will do that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 31)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, even as the Minister, if there is an investigation going on I get notified that the matter is concluded. And so if that's what the Member is wanting to know, if the matter is concluded, when it's concluded, that will be as much information that would be available to share. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 31)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, within investigations when child and family services is involved, if there are any legal implications within the investigation then they will, you know, report to RCMP or to whomever that needs to happen. And sometimes RCMP are part of investigations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 31)

Mr. Speaker, you know, if this is a CFS -- if there are any CFS investigations, those are children that we are talking about. Those are highly confidential, sensitive investigations. If there are criminal -- you know, things that go forward, then they go to the RCMP and criminal charges would be filed, and those would be in the courts. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.