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

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 163)

Committee, the Legislative Assembly begins on page 14. We'll defer the Legislative Assembly totals and review the estimates by activity summary beginning at page 15 with Office of the Clerk with information items on page 16. Are there any questions?

Legislative Assembly, Office of the Clerk, infrastructure investments, $105,000. Does committee agree?

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 163)

Committee, we will now consider the Department of Environment and Climate Change, which begins on page 23.

Sergeantatarms. Minister, would you please introduce your witness.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 163)

Thank you. Department of Finance, Management Board Secretariat, infrastructure investments, $1 million. Does committee agree?

Question 1588-19(2): Inuvik Wind Project
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 163)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like this Minister or her staff, or whoever's listening behind that's going to be there, you know, if she's the Minister of something else next time, or you know, she's on this side or whatever the future holds for us, that this project is looked into so that way when we move on to the next project that we're doing on this energy strategy, that we don't make these same mistakes so our local contractors, if they're going to do work, they're going to get paid. You know, they can't be sitting out. So I would like this Minister to commit that she will...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 163)

Thank you. Minister of Finance.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 163)

Does committee agree that consideration of the Department of Environment and Climate Change is now complete?

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 163)

Minister, would you introduce your witnesses.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 163)

Thank you. Members, please turn now to the departmental summary found on page 17. Department of Education, Culture and Employment, 20242025 Capital Estimates, $3,590,000. Does committee agree?

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 163)

Thank you. Minister.

Question 1588-19(2): Inuvik Wind Project
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 163)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, Mr. Speaker, this is a project that has been praised and praised by this Cabinet in this House. I've raised issue after issue after issue that has been ongoing that's been brought to my attention that I've raised with the Minister multiple times, and now the contractors in my region in my community and in my region are wanting to be paid. This is a federallyfunded project so when is this Minister going to pay going to have these contractors or figure out when they're going to get paid? They're out, some of them, almost a million dollars, Mr. Speaker, and then...