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 144)

Okay, thank you. Just to the last topic there, the student financial assistance. I see that we've raised it. It's consistently went up and we've raised it again just under, you know, a million dollars there. And I'm just wondering with the changes that student financial assistance has made, has that you know, with eliminating the number of semesters an Indigenous person can only go to school for, I know that was eliminated. So I'm just wondering how much of an uptake have you received or has that started or when will that start, and are we budgeted properly for in case I decide I want to go...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 144)

Thank you. Member for Kam Lake.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 144)

Thank you, Minister. Do you wish to bring witnesses into the House?

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 144)

Thank you. Minister of ECE.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 144)

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 144)

Thank you. Minister of ECE.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 144)

Thank you. Minister of ECE.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 144)

Minister of ECE.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 144)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Looking at the home senior home heating subsidy, so in 20212022, it was 2,155, and then our revised estimates for 20222023, 2,649. Main estimates 2,192. We know our fuel has gone up. We know especially in the Beaufort Delta, fuel heating home fuel has raised significantly and come April 1st we will be having to pay the carbon tax on top of that. So we know we're going to be expected to pay more throughout the territories so I'm just wondering why that number hasn't even matched last year's heating home senior home heating. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 144)

Thank you. Member for Kam Lake.