Lucy Kuptana

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

Public Accounts
Lucy Kuptana
Nunakput
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Email
Phone
(867) 767-9143
Minister
Email
Email
Minister Responsible for Housing Northwest Territories, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women

Statements in Debates

Minister’s Statement 91-20(1): NWT Housing Symposium 2025
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 42)

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the recent Housing Symposium that was hosted by the NWT Housing Forum on January 22nd and 23rd in Yellowknife. This year's symposium marked the first in-person gathering since the forum began in 2023. Over the course of two days, we engaged in important discussions, shared innovative ideas, and strengthened our partnerships.

I want to extend my gratitude to over 85 representatives from Indigenous governments, bands, non-governmental organizations, municipal and community governments, industry, and the federal and territorial governments who participated...

Question 476-20(1): Private Partnership to Support the Rockhill Property Development
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 42)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And as noted, meeting with the MLA last August, I believe, of 2024, we did discuss cancellation provisions. So the local NGO does have to come up with funding for their program or their proposal, and they have until the end of March 2025 to provide that and then the clause in terms of cancellation provisions will be in effect. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 476-20(1): Private Partnership to Support the Rockhill Property Development
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 42)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Rockhill properties, we do have an agreement with a local NGO to develop Rockhill properties. The agreement is in force until the end of March 2025, so we still have a bit of time with the local NGO. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 468-20(1): Housing Northwest Territories New Housing Builds in Inuvik
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 41)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the current fiscal year, we have a duplex that was completed in Inuvik and also 34 units that are under the modernization and improvement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 468-20(1): Housing Northwest Territories New Housing Builds in Inuvik
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 41)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In terms of a timeline for the M and I projects, we're looking at spring of 2025 to complete most. We are waiting on approval for the biomass project for the 17-unit apartment in Inuvik to transfer that over to a biomass energy. So waiting on approval on further funding for that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 448-20(1): Impacts of Illicit Drug Activity on Housing Units and Tenants in Inuvik
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 40)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with the president, Housing NWT, visiting the building, what she's proposed to do is meet with the landlords, the leaseholders, and have a discussion about safety and security in the building, amping that up because of all the illegal activities happening within the unit and the concerns from the tenants. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 448-20(1): Impacts of Illicit Drug Activity on Housing Units and Tenants in Inuvik
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 40)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With the urgency of this concern and considering the activities within the housing -- or the building itself, I've asked the president of Housing NWT to have a discussion over the next month. So hopefully we'll hear something within the next few weeks. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 448-20(1): Impacts of Illicit Drug Activity on Housing Units and Tenants in Inuvik
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 40)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, Mr. Speaker, I've been in the building. I've had a number of family members live in the building. I understand the concerns coming from the MLA. Good thing to know, though, in the past week we've had the president for Housing NWT visit the building to look at it for herself. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabled Document 277-20(1): Status of Women Council of the Northwest Territories 2023-2024 Annual Report
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 39)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Status of Women Council of the Northwest Territories 2023-2024 Annual Report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 435-20(1): Aspen Building Project Update
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 38)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm a little distracted here as well. But, yes, there's processes. If I'm the Minister of processes, that's fine. But, again, we have to follow process. We are government. We're a public government. So, again, Aspen Apartments, it's gone through a number of things. We have awarded a contract. The work is ongoing. The site is secure. There was an encampment issue. There's a number of things that happened. So thank you, Mr. Speaker.