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
Lucy_Kuptana@ntassembly.ca
Phone
(867) 767-9143(link is a phone number)
Minister
Email
Lucy_Kuptana@gov.nt.ca
Minister Responsible for Housing Northwest Territories, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 47)

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and this is something we can discuss further. But, you know, in my FPT meeting this morning, another province was talking about the different models they have with their public housing units and that's interesting because there's about five or six different models just within that one department. So I'm interested to know what other provinces and territories are doing. But in terms of what we're doing with housing first here in the territory, Dr. Kelly will provide more information to that, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 47)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Dr. Kelly will provide more information about the changes around the legislation. Thank you.

Question 556-20(1): Homeownership Programs and Supports
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 47)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think of challenges in homeownership would include like capacity to pay the utilities. Sometimes they fall into arrears. Sometimes family situations change. And sometimes they don't want to no longer be a homeowner. So upkeep of the unit, again, this is something that homeowners face every day in the Northwest Territories. So this would be another challenge. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 47)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Jim Martin will provide information with the number of subscriptions for this current year. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 47)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Dr. Erin Kelly will provide some information around the third program. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 47)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Dr. Kelly will provide more information. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 47)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I understand that there has been a request in the past to Housing NWT for applications for aging in place, and what we can do is we could provide more -- the information to the MLA regarding this question. We can provide her something in writing. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 47)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Dr. Erin Kelly will provide us some insight to those strategies. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 47)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Currently, Housing NWT has ten apprentices on hand. We're working to 12 and hoping to increase that to 15 in the next fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 47)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. From what I understand with the shelter enhancement fund, it is an application-based with Housing NWT. It's not a lot of money. But perhaps Dr. Erin Kelly can provide more information related to that fund. Thank you, Mr. Chair.