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

Oral Question 1096-19(2): Procurement
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 113)

Thank you. And one last request. I would ask that the same penalties be put in place if they don't follow obligations. Would the Minister be considering that as well or bring that to her board when they put it under consideration? Thank you.

Oral Question 1096-19(2): Procurement
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 113)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's great news. And I'd also like to ask the Minister if within the discussion that they bring up with the board, you know, making sure that when they do it that the same things are put in place, the review, the followup, is put in place so that way they can ensure that any contracts that are given to corporations that they're following through with the commitments that they make. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral Question 1093-19(2): Procurement
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 113)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So my last supplementary, will the Minister commit if obligations aren't met, that there are penalties going to be put in place so we can ensure that Northerners and northern companies benefit fully in the future? Thank you.

Oral Question 1093-19(2): Procurement
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 113)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister also ensure that all Crown corporations that receive public dollars that we sit in this House do approve must comply to ensuring that they are following the same mechanisms? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Member’s Statement 1089-19(2): Contract Work in the North
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 113)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my statement today was going to be on homelessness but I have decided at the last minute that I'm going to talk about one of our mandate priorities is, you know, in this House when the 19 Members came together, one of the biggest issues that we talked about was contracting and keeping the work in the North, you know. And, you know, we've had lots of talks about this, you know, we've talked about revamping our procurement, our Indigenous procurement policies. So when I look back and thank the Minister for her statement because you know what, I'd really...

Oral Question 1085-19(2): Dempster Highway
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 112)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if possible, will the Minister within these talks with the Yukon possibly do a joint submission to Canada for dollars to improve the Yukon section of the Dempster Highway.

As I mentioned, it's an awful highway when you have to use it for transportation out of our region. We've got the MacKenzie Delta, the Nunakput, both Inuvik constituencies. They continuously travel out that road. That's the only road out of the Beaufort Delta. It brings in all of our food, our fuel, our supplies. That is a lifeline for us.

I drive I drove into Yellowknife. All the...

Member’s Statement 1080-19(2): Dempster Highway
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 112)

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to say I am glad to be back in the House to be able to represent the constituents of Inuvik. I also want to give my condolences and my thoughts and prayers to all of those who are affected by the floods and, you know, thinking of the families in Aklavik that are watching the water now, as well.

As a resident of Inuvik for pretty much my entire life, the only way out by road is the Dempster Highway. This 740kilometer gravel highway from Inuvik to Dawson Corner is our lifeline for our basic needs like food, heating fuel, and building supplies. When the residents...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 112)

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been reviewing Bill 23, Bill 29, Committee Report 2719(2), and would like to report progress. And Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 112)

I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Member for Frame Lake.

Oral Question 1085-19(2): Dempster Highway
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 112)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll correct myself. Maybe they're not that wonderful. But like I said, if you drive the Dempster Highway, even that section from Behchoko to Yellowknife is a lot nicer than the section from the corner to the border.

Will the Minister also mention that when in these discussions to include improvements being made to these bridges.

As I mentioned in my member's statement, the bridge that you first cross when you hit the Dempster Highway is a single lane wooden bridge. And this limits what can go up and down that highway. And if we were able to get the federal dollars to...