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 20)

Thank you, Minister. Are there any further comments? Seeing no further comments, we will go back to department, Environment and Natural Resources, appropriation authority required, $53,818,000. Does committee agree?

Question 213-19(2): COVID-19 Pandemic Closures
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 20)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just would like the Minister to ensure that this information is on our local radio stations and commit that paper copies are being made available to those communities and to elders and to anyone who needs them who doesn't have access. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 20)

Under schedule 2, establishing borrowing limits for the Government of the Northwest Territories, appropriation authority required, $940,471,000. Does committee agree?

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 20)

Thank you. Member for Yellowknife North.

Question 213-19(2): COVID-19 Pandemic Closures
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 20)

Another question I have is: has someone reached out to the jamboree committees in the region about going ahead with their jamborees? If so, what was the recommendation, and if not, are they going to?

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 20)

Thank you. Moving on to Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, appropriation authority required, $56,257,000. Does committee agree?

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 20)

Thank you. We will continue on. The next department is Environment and Natural Resources. Appropriation authority required, $53,818,000. Does committee agree? Member for Yellowknife North.

Member's Statement on COVID-19 and What it Means to Self-Isolate
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 20)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On Friday, I asked about what the plan is for our families and teachers returning to Inuvik after they've been out of the country, and we've gotten a lot of information over the weekend and from our Minister and from our Premier today. Thankfully, we do not have any confirmed cases in the NWT, but, like the Premier stated, it's not a matter of if it hits; it's a matter of when it hits. Already, we're starting to hear a lot of people who are nervous and scared.

One of the things that I've been wanting to talk about is what it means to self-isolate. It means to stay home...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 20)

Thank you. Moving on to Department of Justice, appropriation authority required, $54,324,000. Does committee agree?

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 20)

All right. We will go into department, Legislative Assembly. Questions? Schedule 1, operations expenditures, department, Legislative Assembly, appropriation authority required, $8,712,000. Does committee agree?