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
Email
Phone
(867) 767-9143
Extension
12195
Constituency Office

198 Mackenzie Rd
Unit 123
Inuvik NT X0E 0T0
Canada

P.O. Box
3130
Constituency Phone
867-678-2429
Minister
Email
Email
Minister of Health and Social Services

Statements in Debates

Committee Motion 277-19(2): Tabled Document 528-19(2): Report on the 2021 Review of Members’ Compensation and Benefits – Northwest Territories – Top-ups, Defeated
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 122)

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Abstentions? Motion is defeated.

Defeated

Member for Hay River South.

Motion to Amend Committee Motion 283-19(2), Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 122)

Thank you, Member. Just to clarify the out of Members who have offices outside of Yellowknife, it comes out of the ledge, it's not out of the constituency budget. So it's added to the legislative budget. So I'll come back to you. To the amendment. Member for Yellowknife South.

Committee Motion 290-19(2): Tabled Document 528-19(2): Report on the 2021 Review of Members’ Compensation and Benefits – Northwest Territories – Timing of Materials for Future Independent Commissions, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 122)

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Abstentions? Motion is carried.

Carried

Members, that concludes our consideration of recommendations of the 2021 Independent Commission to review all MLA compensation and benefits. On behalf of all the Members, I'd like to thank the commission for their hard work and thoughtful recommendations. It is an important principle that we rely on the advice of independent outside experts when we make changes to our compensation and benefits, and that any changes we make do not take effect until the new Assembly is elected.

We are now less...

Committee Motion 295-19(2): Tabled Document 654-19(2): 2021-2022 Northwest Territories Electoral Boundaries Commission Final Report – Correct Spelling of Deh Cho Electoral District, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 122)

Thank you, Member. To the motion.

Committee Motion 264-19(2): Tabled Document 528-19(2): Report on the 2021 Review of Members’ Compensation and Benefits – Northwest Territories – Updated Members’ Handbook, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 122)

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Abstentions? Motion is carried.

Carried

Member for Hay River South.

Committee Motion 274-19(2): Tabled Document 528-19(2): Report on the 2021 Review of Members’ Compensation and Benefits – Northwest Territories – Members with Dependent Children, Defeated
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 122)

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion. Member for Hay River South.

Committee Motion 281-19(2): Tabled Document 528-19(2): Report on the 2021 Review of Members’ Compensation and Benefits – Northwest Territories – Constituency Assistant Salaries, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 122)

Thank you. To the motion.

Committee Motion 286-19(2): Tabled Document 528-19(2): Report on the 2021 Review of Members’ Compensation and Benefits – Northwest Territories – ‘A Day in the Life of an MLA’ Video, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 122)

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion. Member for Hay River South.

Committee Motion 291-19(2): Tabled Document 654-19(2): 2021-2022 Northwest Territories Electoral Boundaries Commission Final Report - Maintenance of Existing Electoral Boundaries, Defeated
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 122)

Question has been called. Raise your arms high because I am going to have to count this one out. All those in favour?

Again, raise your arms high so we can count. All those in favour? So I need all those in favour. Member for Hay River North.

Question 1186-19(2): Dempster Highway Maintenance
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 122)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like I said before, squeaky wheel gets the grease so I'm going to keep up this until I hear some good answers, if it takes me, I don't know, how long. If I have to keep running.

What is the Minister doing to raise the issue of such a rough terrible I guess I could say horrible Yukon section of the Dempster Highway to the Yukon government? I did raise this in May, and I know she mentioned that she was going to have talks with them. So I'm just wondering where we are with those talks. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.