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
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 , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 51)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with vaccine rates, you know, I mean, it varies across the territory as to where to get vaccines. Most of the health centres are the venue to get childhood vaccines, any vaccines. The community health nurse can give those. In the regional centres, we usually have public health units that do the majority of those vaccines in those regions, and the appointments can be -- you know, accessing those appointments through public health. Within Yellowknife, I know that the public health unit here there were some -- you know, some staffing, and my understanding is...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 51)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there have been many other things that have been on the floor of this House that are not covered under insured services. If we start to open up every single piece that is -- you know, that is going to be an exception or made an exception. This was put through the process and the decision, again, still stands. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 51)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will have to go back to reviewing more of the documents more in detail, and I will have that information for committee when we are able to present to them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 51)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned yesterday there, I will be getting more of a briefing on the information that is -- there's lots of work going on right now and behind, and as we are ready to present to committee with a lot of this information and so when we -- once I have more of those details, I'll be able to share more of the framework and a lot of the details around this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 51)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, NTHSSA is working to secure alternative accommodations at this time, including the securing hotel rooms to hold every day for unexpected patient arrivals or discharges at the hospital. NTHSSA is also trying to use other contingency services to accommodate the overflow. There are also right now, as I was just recently briefed, so there's some work that's going on and asking for practitioners and staff to be considerate of booking nonurgent medical appointments to Yellowknife right now, working with Indigenous Service Canada to advise NIHB patients travelling...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 51)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, health and social services is here as a partner to Indigenous governments, and that's why this funding is there. We as health and social services will provide mental health supports that are in -- within health and social services. We have created this fund so that way it's external to us as we -- and I've said it many times in this House, Mr. Speaker, that you don't want GNWT involved in on the land and any traditional programming. We will make it complicated. We will put standards in place. We will make it more expensive. These dollars can be used more...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 51)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will have to take that question on notice. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 51)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, health provided zero dollars to this initiative. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 51)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are many times where there are procedures that may overlap. Those conversations usually happen between the patient and the surgeon and the health care provider. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 51)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know we have a lot of things going on in our life and -- anybody, you know, and I'll be the first to say I do not like needles, and I would try and make any reason why I don't want to get a needle. But I always make a priority to get my flu shot ever since I was young. You know, but I think the thing is is that the reason why -- and I'm going back to my public health days -- is that vaccines are -- yes, some areas, they may have released public clinics in certain areas. There were public -- you know, we start in the high-risk areas. When we look at releasing flu...