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 161)

I'd just like you to keep the comments focused on the $75 million for the wildfire suppression in general comments, and then thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 161)

Ms. Martselos.

Committee Motion 467-19(2): Concurrence Motion – Tabled Document 967-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2. 2023-2024, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 161)

Question has been called. All those Members, we will conduct are we having let's just have a recorded vote. It's just easier since everybody's virtual. We'll conduct a recorded vote for the motion. When the clerk calls you, please state if you're in favour, opposed, or abstaining. Mr. Clerk, give us one minute.

Question 1564-19(2): Housing Stability Worker
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 160)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you for that, Minister. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell us if there's any plans to expand the housing stability worker into other communities and regions beyond Behchoko. As in my Member's statement, you know, this is something that's happening in a lot of our especially in our regional centres, and I'm sure it's happening here in Yellowknife too, so. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Member’s Statement 1572-19(2): Housing Stability Worker
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 160)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in 2018, Housing NWT had conducted a pilot project to help provide better wraparound supports for tenants living in public housing. That pilot project was conducted in Behchoko, and it created a new position within housing titled "housing stability worker" who's job was to work with housing tenants to support them in various ways to keep their housing and stabilize their living situation.

Mr. Speaker, according to the NWT Housing Corporation's annual report for 2019, 2022, it's the job of the housing stability worker to work with vulnerable tenants to...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 160)

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 23, Bill 29, Committee Report 5219(2), Minister's Statement 26419(2), and Tabled Document 68119(2) and would like to report progress. And, Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 160)

I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Member for Frame Lake.

Question 1564-19(2): Housing Stability Worker
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 160)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, talking about this pilot project, it was a pilot project so it was scheduled for two years. The funding, I guess, was for two years. So is there still funding for this position for Tlicho and it's not been filled, or is there something that has to come back? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 1564-19(2): Housing Stability Worker
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 160)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of Housing NT explain what the housing stability worker position is and tell us whether the pilot project in Behchoko was successful. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 160)

There's a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is in order and nondebatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

Carried

I will now rise and report progress.