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
Constituency Office

125 Mackenzie Rd
Unit 203
Inuvik NT X0E 0T0
Canada

P.O. Box
3130
Minister
Minister of Health and Social Services

Statements in Debates

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. So the changes in this line here are because of the sunset of the cost share agreements. There are the northern wellness agreement funding. So with that funding, because of the timing of the negotiating of that agreement, it wasn't done in time for these mains but there are -- there are increases in those areas. But for this budget, it shows a decrease because of the sunsetting. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. As I mentioned, I would follow up back with NTHSSA, and I will follow up to see what their engagement is with the staff and how that's taking place. And I have no problem sharing that with Members, and I think it's an important piece. Like, we've heard it many, many times on the floor of this House is that our staff need to be heard, and so we'll make sure there is some kind of documentation on how that is being done, and so we can share that with Members. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, we do provide community counsellors and wellness workers within most regions in the Northwest Territories but what we also -- you know, and I've mentioned this in this House, what we -- the direction that has come from Indigenous governments is that they want to have a fund to be able to access funds to be able to provide those types of programs in their own way in their own regions, and so what we do have is the community wellness and recovery -- or wellness and addictions recovery fund. And I know that most of the regions access this -- Indigenous...

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just wanted to add with -- just further information -- and I know that as we're live here, I'm just pulling up more information on the wastewater. There currently is new funding, third-party funding, that will be continuing parts -- I think a part of this program ongoing. Where those communities are, I'll just pass it over to the deputy minister and she can speak to the communities that that's happening in right now currently. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I wanted to also mention as part of that labour market supplement there were eligible positions that were increased for retention in that labour market supplement. But as for what the department is doing or what -- within NTHSSA is there is the recruitment strategy that the department is working along with. And I can turn that over to the deputy minister to go through some of the things that are going on. And the thing to be reminded is these are things that cannot be monetary, so in cash or the -- as the labour market supplement is, and so it's ways to try...

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll have the ADM Mathison break down where that change is. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Can I pass that on to the deputy minister, please. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, as the negotiations go through the collective agreement bargaining, we follow whatever the agreement is after that, you know -- we cannot bargain additionally outside that collective agreement. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. With that detail, I'll pass it on to the deputy minister.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 42)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, from my understanding, in those communities, that they can contact by phone, the services. I will have to get back to the Member on, you know, if there is possibility of them leaving or if there is a counsellor that travels into those communities. The level of detail that I have on hand, I don't have that information. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.