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 716-19(2): COVID-19 Restrictions and Yukon-Northwest Territories Border
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 75)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, I mean, we've been travelling all over the world before COVID, and there are vaccinations that we need to have in order to enter some countries. And we as a past public health nurse, I've provided these vaccines and given them their records, and they've been able to enter these countries. I don't understand why we can't go from Yukon to the Northwest Territories or vice versa.

So I'm just going to move on. And what you know, has there been any discussion about a temporary absence right now that could provide Beaufort Delta residents to go into the Yukon for at...

Oral Question 716-19(2): COVID-19 Restrictions and Yukon-Northwest Territories Border
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 75)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. As I mentioned in my statement, the importance of the Beaufort DeltaYukon connection and that we want clear answers, not statistics. I would like to ask the Minister what risk measurements are being used to make decisions around border restrictions and movement of people of the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral Question 716-19(2): COVID-19 Restrictions and Yukon-Northwest Territories Border
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 75)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The only reason I'm asking for the time limit is there's ongoing work and if maybe if this discussion could happen that some of our residents could travel and get what they need to do, pick up vehicles that have been there since November, months ago, because, like I said, it's our lifeline. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral Question 716-19(2): COVID-19 Restrictions and Yukon-Northwest Territories Border
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 75)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just, maybe a offer some advice. Would it be easier for the person who's travelling in to have a copy of their record and would that be sufficient, as right now if we don't have an agreement? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral Question 707-19(2): Closure of the Inuvik Homeless Shelter
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 74)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When you live in a small community, when we live outside of Yellowknife, there's not a lot of people that can do the job as ED. The job is a difficult job in the homeless shelter, and if the person is qualified to do it, a government job comes up, they're gone. This is a position that is vital for ensuring funding is coming in, ensuring that staffing is being taken of.

This manager position, you know, this is where these kind of positions should be put in. We should start looking at this homelessness strategy and having a good plan to have if we have to...

Oral Question 707-19(2): Closure of the Inuvik Homeless Shelter
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 74)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The emergency warming shelter in Inuvik is vital to our home residents. You know, in my opinion, it saved many lives over the years. This government has put millions into COVID restrictions to save lives. When are we going to do that, the same for addictions and homelessness?

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister, in Inuvik, is her department continuing to help to ensure that the homeless in Inuvik are being looked after, if there's things for them in place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral Question 707-19(2): Closure of the Inuvik Homeless Shelter
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 74)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my final supplementary, I just want to know will the Minister commit to making sure that there's something in place for our homeless in Inuvik right now so that they have a place to wash, so they have a place to use the washroom, where they can try and get a meal. Like, we need to have something for our homeless right now. With this board, we don't even know if they're meeting right now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral Question 707-19(2): Closure of the Inuvik Homeless Shelter
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 74)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This challenge isn't from March or February. This challenge has been ongoing. I raised it in the fall session. They've been struggling. This is volunteer board of caring people that just keep trying to keep this open. Will the Minister can she commit that this manager or person is somebody who's in Inuvik and maybe where all of our shelters are to have somebody directly working in that community from her department in the community of Inuvik to ensure that this board has support. Thank you.

Member's Statement on Closure of the Inuvik Homeless Shelter
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 74)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In a previous members statement, I stated that housing is a basic necessity that everyone needs, especially here in the North where the temperatures swing dramatically. And at home right now, currently, it's snowing.

Mr. Speaker, I raised the issue on October 28th, 2020, regarding the struggles that the Inuvik Emergency Warming Shelters was having. At that time, the Minister stated her department was working on a homelessness strategy but the draft was still not complete.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister also committed to sending in staff to assist with the operations and staff...

Recorded Vote
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 70)

All those opposed, please stand.