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

Recorded Vote
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 108)

I'm for.

Recorded Vote
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 108)

Agreed.

Recorded Vote
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 108)

In favour.

Question 1048-19(2): Mike Zubko Airport Project
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 108)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll ask one more time. Will this Minister, who this project is going to be benefit be beneficial to our region, to Canada, to North America, so we don't delay any further, request a meeting of her department and National Defence and the contractors and sit down and have a meeting? Will she? Thank you.

Question 1048-19(2): Mike Zubko Airport Project
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 108)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yeah, this is $150 million project, possibly more, in our backyard. National security, Arctic sovereignty. You know, everything that we have right now, we're we need to to this project to move forward. We cannot delay it any further. And I'm just asking the Minister, even if the meeting is on right now, will she commit to meeting with the three tripartite meeting to resolve the further issues. Thank you.

Question 1040-19(2): Mike Zubko Airport Project
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 108)

My final supplementary is this: Minister, you know, with the amount of this phase that's been allocated, it's a small amount that needs to be done before the thaw. You know, I know it's cold today but it can change next week. So what I'm asking is this Minister to direct her staff to release that $8 million to get going on this phase that we won't lose a year. The rest of the project, the you know, after the meeting today but will she commit to that today?

Question 1040-19(2): Mike Zubko Airport Project
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 108)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the Minister's department are knowingly causing a delay to a project of major national security importance. Minister, what has the government done to avoid this delay and to move this work forward on its intended timeline in the interests of national security and to assist with postpandemic economic recovery of our local businesses? Thank you.

Member’s Statement 1042-19(2): Mike Zubko Airport Project
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 108)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to speak about the government's plans to resume work on the runway extension at the Inuvik Mike Zubko Airport. This contract is funded by the Canadian Department of National Defence as the airport is a forward operating location for CF18 operations and will also expand the airport's capacity bringing great economic benefits and employment.

Mr. Speaker, the tender was awarded to a company jointly owned by Inuvialuit Development Corp, EGT Northwind, and the Gwich'in Development Corp.

Shockingly, it has come to my attention that work on this incredibly...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 103)

Thank you, Member. Minister of MACA.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 103)

Thank you. Minister of MACA.