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.

Immediately 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 prior, 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 parents and extended family, her husband, her two sons, and her two grandchildren. She says she owes much of her success to her family, the Elders, and 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
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

Member’s Statement 302-20(1): Message of Congratulations to Nunakput Graduates
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 26)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 2024 high school graduates of the Nunakput riding. These young people graduating from high school are an inspiration. The work to completing a high school education in a small community is a community effort, a family's effort, the school's effort, and the student's determination. A shout out to the students in Paulatuk, Ulukhaktok, and Tuktoyaktuk as we all see you, and we're all so proud of you.

Angik School in Paulatuk is:

Julian Green,

Nikki Ruben,

Billy Ruben,

Joel Thrasher, and

Katelinne Ruben.

Helen Kalvak Elihhakvik in...

Question 293-20(1): Opportunities for Community-led Construction and Maintenance of Housing
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 26)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Housing NWT, with our results, is approximately 95 percent of all contracting opportunities go to local or NWT businesses. We follow the GNWT procurement policy, and we also follow the business incentive policy. Housing NWT has local housing organizations in 23 communities which each have their own local staff leading maintenance and repair work on housing assets. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 293-20(1): Opportunities for Community-led Construction and Maintenance of Housing
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 26)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Housing NWT sees many opportunities with Fort Good Hope, with the K’asho Got’ine Housing Society. We're happy to report that Housing NWT has a really good working relationship with the housing societies and has had multiple contracts in place for the delivery of maintenance and repair programs for private homes in the most recent years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Committee Motion 31-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Industry, Tourism and Investment – Deferral of Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 25)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Member's comment, I understand that the work that Housing NWT has to do over the next year, especially in carrying out much of this capital and MMI projects, it's going to be a lot of hard work over the next year, especially with the timelines and the deliverables. But I'll ask President Eleanor Young to comment as well and just to give some more information if you don't mind, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 31-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Industry, Tourism and Investment – Deferral of Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 25)

Yes, that is correct, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

Committee Motion 31-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Industry, Tourism and Investment – Deferral of Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 25)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I understand, and I've heard of the many concerns around the Housing First program and the implementation of the program within the city of Yellowknife. Perhaps I can allow the president of Housing NWT to talk more about the Housing First program. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 31-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Industry, Tourism and Investment – Deferral of Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 25)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, this is what the program would be eligible for, is for privately owned units, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

Committee Motion 31-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Industry, Tourism and Investment – Deferral of Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 25)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. One of the things that Housing NWT is finding with much of our capital projects and our MMI projects is either cost. We put it out for tender, and it just the costs come back and they're way too high. Maybe because it's government, they think they can bid a higher rate. Sometimes we're having resupply issues. We're having capacity issues. There's many issues that we're having with Housing NWT with our capital and MMI projects that have deterred us from completing those over the last couple years. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 31-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Industry, Tourism and Investment – Deferral of Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 25)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 31-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates – Industry, Tourism and Investment – Deferral of Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 25)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In speaking to Housing NWT, I have encouraged that we get the housing needs assessment done sooner rather than later, and we're hoping to have something done for winter 2024. Thank you, Mr. Chair.