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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don't I don't have the level of detail of what the services are being provided in all of the Dehcho communities, but we can look at what services aren't provided right now and get back to the Member. And if there are concerns or, you know, as we're rolling out more and more communities that have the needs and if there is a needs assessment that needs to be done in those communities, you know, I like I said, I don't have that kind of level of detail here. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will pass that over to the ADM.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, one of the things that I I guess, becoming in this role is that and I've been saying it on the floor of the House, is that we can't really forecast some areas in health and, you know, right now, there's been a bigger uptake in addictions program in the last fiscal year, and, you know, if we hope, you know, that this is the path that our residents are wanting to go, we will support them, and then we would have to go back for a supplementary appropriation or else to be able to try and fund that within. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm not sure where in the budget and if it's just the overall question on the entire budget, then I mean the budget that I have, I know that we have a business plan. We will be working within that to come up with, you know to, you know we're getting we've got the mandate now. You know, the mandate letters will come to the Ministers. We'll be looking into with our departments to look at where and how we move the business plan and the priorities of this government along. As to what you know, what those estimates might be, this budget here is you know, it's got some...

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I mentioned, this extended health policy has been reviewed. I know that there was in the last government, it went back out to review because of a lot of the concerns. There was recommendations to make changes. Those changes were made. How we use this you know, what tool we use to measure low income, you know, there is a jurisdictional scan across Canada on how other jurisdictions provide any type of support to low income, and you know, and some of the you know, and I know we provided information to committee on this. There's been many presentations. There's you...

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Last year we had to go for a supp with the increase in number of people that were accessing and the cost that it the increased cost to travel, like the air costs and stuff to send people out. This time we didn't put those costs we didn't bill that into the budget this year because we were able to get an agreement with NIHB that their NNADAP programs that they have in Canada, they will approve the funding if any Indigenous people that are status or Inuit that fall under their program can access those programs, that through NIHB, the travel will be also included. So that...

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess where I'm my I'm it's not for me to ask you questions. But for the concerns that I've heard are not on the low income side I guess. They're people having anybody who's under that threshold or has never had any services before, you know, I mean, this is where they're actually going to have an extended health benefit whereas they've never had it before. You know, if you're living in a house and you own your home and you're paying high utility costs, you know, I mean, this is where income testing is coming in and other insurances so, like, your employer...

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. There was a lot of numbers. There was a lot of calculations in that. I am not a mathematician, and I could not keep up with where we were at. What I can say with that, you know, is I understand that there's people out there that are not getting any services. There are people that are getting you know, and the majority of people already that may be working in positions, they may have some type of insurances. This doesn't inhibit them from applying on this program as well. So this is the payer of last resort, but it can be in combinations with other. It's not going to...

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

Yes, I do, Mr. Chair.

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

Sorry, Member. Can you just repeat what your question was so that I can make sure I'm answering the right...