Member Nunakput

Minister Responsible for Housing Northwest Territories
Minister Responsible for the Status of Women

Lucy Kuptana was elected to the 20th Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in November 2023 to represent the constituency of Nunakput, which includes the communities of Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour, Tuktoyaktuk, and Ulukhaktok. A member of the Executive Council, she is the Minister Responsible for Housing Northwest Territories and the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women.

Prior to her election, Mrs. Kuptana was the Senior Administrative Officer for the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk. She was also a director with the Tuktoyaktuk District Education Authority.

For 22 years previous, Mrs. Kuptana was the Director of Operations, Communications, and Culture with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC). In a volunteer capacity, she has served as a director of the Inuvik Homeless Shelter Society, trustee of the Arctic Inspiration Prize, president of the Inuvialuit Communications Society, director of the Inuvialuit Investment Corporation, director of the Tuktoyaktuk and Inuvik Community Corporations, and a committee member for the 2023 Northern Youth Games “Inuvialuit Piuyausiat” in Tuktoyaktuk.

Originally from Aklavik and raised at her family’s bush camp in the Mackenzie Delta, Mrs. Kuptana obtained a Level II and Level III Certificate in Community Administration from Aurora College in the early 1990s and returned to graduate with a Diploma in Business Administration and Management in 2013. Mrs. Kuptana is currently enrolled with Yukon University, where she is working towards accreditation in the school’s First Nations Governance and Public Administration program.

Despite a successful career spanning decades, Mrs. Kuptana credits her husband and family in supporting her. She says she owes much of her success to those who have fought – and continue to fight – for Indigenous and Inuvialuit rights.

Mrs. Kuptana’s guiding principle is to lead with respect, empathy, knowledge, and the willingness to work hard for the constituents she represents and all residents of the Northwest Territories.

Nunakput Electoral District

Committees

Lucy Kuptana
Nunakput
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Minister
Minister Responsible for Housing Northwest Territories, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 46)

Thank you, Madam Chair. For that detail, I'll ask vice-president Mr. Jim Martin. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 46)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. Martin here will provide you more information related to the commitments with the hundred-unit build. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 46)

Thank you, Madam Chair. President Kelly will provide more information with that.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 46)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Talking to committee last fall about the notional plan, it was $150 million notional plan over a three-year period, and there was discussion back and forth with committee about how housing would -- how they would design this, what the priorities would be, and there was discussion on that plan itself. Today that plan is with Housing NWT. They have presented that plan to a committee of Cabinet. There's still further discussion with that plan. It's now called an incremental plan. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 46)

Thank you, Madam Chair. As outlined to committee in December, we did have an internal resources document that indicated where all surplus funds would go. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 46)

Okay, thank you, Madam Chair. We do lease a number of properties with Northview here in Yellowknife, and we also lease a number of units in Inuvik with Northview. With the leases here in Yellowknife, there is security provisions for those leases. In terms of the detail of those leases, I will defer that to the vice-president here, Mr. Jim Martin.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 46)

Thank you, Madam Chair. We do have an estimated capital carry forward projects at year end, and it just outlines the different builds that are happening throughout the territory, but it also outlines the major retrofits. And we can provide this to the Member if he's interested in the information. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 46)

Thank you, Madam Chair. The question around security measures with the Yellowknife public housing buildings, there's a number of buildings that are owned by Housing NWT but there's a number of buildings also leased, apartments leased by Housing NWT. So what I suggest is that I would defer this over to the president of Housing NWT, Erin Kelly.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 46)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Understandably that, especially in small communities, remote communities, housing costs and looking at something that's agreeable both for the client and Housing NWT, we work with the client and try to get the -- try to provide them the best counsel. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 46)

Thank you, Madam Chair. The operating costs for public housing units or housing units in the Northwest Territories is $21,000 a year. Housing NWT spends approximately $30 million a year just in utilities alone. Thank you, Madam Chair.