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
Lesa_semmler@ntassembly.ca
Phone
(867) 767-9143 (link is a phone number)
Constituency Office

125 Mackenzie Rd
Unit 203
Inuvik NT X0E 0T0
Canada

P.O. Box
3130
Constituency Phone
867-678-2429(link is a phone number)
Minister
Email
Lesa_semmler@gov.nt.ca
Minister of Health and Social Services

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 43)

I'll pass that to the deputy minister. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 43)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the labour market supplement that was negotiated at the time, this current negotiation that they -- there was pieces added as part of that negotiation, and that is now where 17 additional health and social services positions were added to the list of those eligible for labour market supplements along with the existing nurse practitioner, registered nurse, midwives, licensed practical nurses, and medical laboratory technologists. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 43)

Thank you, Madam Chair. So there was a pilot that did happen, and planning is underway on how to move forward to post a contract for youth land-based therapeutic programming, including aftercare services. So NTHSSA is working to propose the reallocation of monies from what was previously Trailcross Treatment to that; however, that work is ongoing and, you know, we also -- within child and family services, they do utilize other services. Sometimes they use out of territory services to support families if they need -- if they have needs immediately, individually and family, that they're...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 43)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Okay, so family violence prevention, $274,000. National action plan to end gender-based violence, $782,000. And crisis hotlines responding to gender-based violence, $125,000. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 43)

Yes, that's correct. So anything that's negotiated for the staff, if in the collective agreement, if it's in our department then that's where it would lie. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 43)

Thank you, Madam Chair. And I really appreciate that question because I think this is something that we had discussed many times in the last government, and I think that is the change that we need to look at, is family preservation workers are not a new -- like, they're new in the system that child and family services has -- you know, as Indigenous population is prominent in child and family services, there is that distrust, and so I appreciate the Member bringing this forward. But the change that is going on through the system is that the focus is on prevention. From the family preservation...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 43)

I will turn that to over to deputy minister.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 43)

Thank you, Madam Chair. As I wasn't prepared to speak to that piece, I'm going to just turn it over to the deputy minister. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 43)

I don't have that detail in front of me, but I do believe that it was in their annual -- their public annual report on child and family services, so it is a public document. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 43)

I can pass it on to the ADM.