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 , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on March 28 of this year, I made a motion on Territorial Land Lease Only Policy in relation to Indigenous people having cabins for the rightsbased purposes and how they should be exempt from lease payments for those rightsbased cabins and camps, especially when the ones that have land claims.

Mr. Speaker, I know the GNWT has 120 days to respond to this motion, and I may not get a response this week but, Mr. Speaker, we still have Indigenous people who have leases and I would like to remind again, the government, that they raised these leases over 600 percent...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Thank you. Minister.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Clauses 11 to 13, does committee agree?

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Thank you. Minister of Justice.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Thank you. I will now open the floor to general comments on Bill 72. Member for Great Slave.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Committee, we will defer the bill number and title until after consideration of the clauses. Please turn to page 1 of the bill.

Clauses 1 to 5, does committee agree?

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Thank you. Minister.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Thank you, Madam Chair. On my left is Maren Zimmer, legal counsel for the Department of Justice. And on my right is Laura Jeffrey, legislative counsel with the Department of Justice. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 159)

Thank you. Is there any further questions from any Members that haven't spoken to Bill 72? Seeing none, is committee agreed that there are no further general comments?