Caroline Wawzonek

Députée de Yellowknife Sud

Première ministre adjointe
Ministre des Finances
Ministre responsable de la Société d’énergie des Territoires du Nord-Ouest
Ministre responsable de l’infrastructure stratégique, de l’énergie et des chaînes d’approvisionnement

Caroline Wawzonek a été élue pour la première fois à la 19e Assemblée législative en 2019, comme représentante de Yellowknife Sud. Elle a été ministre de la Justice, ministre des Finances, ministre responsable de la condition de la femme, et ministre de l’Industrie, du Tourisme et de l’Investissement. En 2023, Mme Wawzonek a été élue par acclamation à la 20e Assemblée législative et a réintégré le Conseil exécutif en tant que première ministre adjointe, ministre des Finances, ministre de l’Infrastructure et ministre responsable de la Société d’énergie des TNO.

Mme Wawzonek a obtenu un baccalauréat ès arts de l’Université de Calgary en 2000 et un diplôme en droit de la faculté de droit de l’Université de Toronto en 2005. Son parcours universitaire comprend des études de langues en Chine et à Taïwan, ainsi que des stages de droit aux Philippines et en Angleterre. Mme Wawzonek est née à Calgary (Alberta) et habite Yellowknife depuis 2007.

Une fois admise au Barreau des TNO, Mme Wawzonek a mis sur pied sa propre pratique du droit pénal et a plaidé à tous les échelons du système judiciaire des Territoires du Nord-Ouest, et s’est souvent déplacée dans les collectivités ténoises à cet effet. Elle a ensuite intégré le cabinet d’avocats Dragon Toner, élargissant sa pratique au litige général et au droit administratif jusqu’à ce qu’elle devienne députée de la 19e Assemblée.

Depuis 2007, Mme Wawzonek a assumé de nombreux rôles de leadership au sein de la communauté juridique : elle a notamment été présidente du Barreau des Territoires du Nord-Ouest et présidente de section pour la division des Territoires du Nord-Ouest de l’Association du Barreau canadien, et a participé à divers groupes de travail. Son engagement envers la collectivité l’a amenée à œuvrer dans de multiples organisations de Yellowknife et, en 2017, elle a reçu un prix national soulignant le travail de femmes canadiennes œuvrant dans le domaine du droit.

Mère de deux enfants, Caroline Wawzonek aime courir, faire de la planche à pagaie et passer du temps à l’extérieur.

Committees

Caroline Wawzonek
Yellowknife Sud
Bureau

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Boîte
1320
Extension
12177
Vice-premier ministre, Ministère des finances, Ministre de l'Infrastructure, Ministre responsable de la Société d'énergie des Territoires du Nord-Ouest

Déclarations dans les débats

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 49)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, at this point in time I'm going to have that take that one away and just commit to getting back to the Member. But it may not be me. It might actually be as this -- as the governance changeover takes place, our hope is that as that unfolds, part of that will look at what makes the operations more efficient and, really, that might be an opportunity to do some downsizing or to change assets. But, Mr. Chair, part of the governance review is to question whether or how to have the right people there making those decisions. And I -- you know, I'm not trying to be...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 49)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I'm going to send that one to Ms. Burt, please.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 49)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, some of my colleagues have already taken my thunder away here a little bit, but I did want to point out that I have had the pleasure of working with deputy minister Loutitt for some time and he has, for the last several days or weeks, been counting down his very favourite time of the year, which is session, but unfortunately this year he's counting it down because after 29 years of public service, Mr. Loutitt is retiring next Friday.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 49)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that's the first specific comment I've received on signage placement. I'm very happy to take that away. I'm familiar with this particular incident of this tanker. I've heard some other reasons as to what the potential cause of that might have been, but I'm also fairly aware that there's likely to be some investigation of the matter. So just want to temper that it may not have been the speed, it may not have been conditions. But absolutely, with signage, I will certainly take that away, and let's work with those who are on that stretch of highway and the...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 49)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, happy to do so. Again, that work was -- is due back this spring, and it would normally follow the process of going to committee. I'm happy to ensure that we are there as early as possible. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 49)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, none of -- these are broad funding agreements and some of them -- well, obviously, some that were -- are already have sunsetted with -- they were in the 2023-2024 line or 2024-2025. But for other areas, they are -- other grants and contributions, there's none that are necessarily specific to the Deline micro project. Now, that said, I know I have had outreach from Ek’Wahtide Gaudet in Roundup on this. We're certainly keen to examine and explore the possibility of micro hydro. I'm certainly very keen on it. So some of that is work that can be done within our...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 49)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll perhaps turn to the deputy minister in just a moment, but let me at least give a bit of introduction that the two for this year, for this fiscal, are the deferred maintenance programs. So that is where we undertake ongoing repairs to GNWT assets over the life of that particular asset or building. It's more under our capital estimates program, but we want to ensure that, of course, we are maintaining those assets on an adequate life cycle. Right now they tend to be between somewhere 30 and 50-year life cycle, depending on the type of building or type of asset. So...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 49)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, how about if I commit to having a plan for a plan? I don't have a final date at this moment in time, but I certainly have asked that we, as the 20th Assembly, walk out of here with that in place. So that certainly is my goal at this time. Our next step is for the working group to put forward their recommendations of what it will look like and with that, I expect we'll have a more firm timeline. But, again, it's certainly my hope for this at this moment that we are walking out of the 20th Assembly with this in place. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 49)

I suppose someone has to ask it, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the issues surrounding there -- yes, with respect to more ensuring that we have staff available to undertake that request, and I can take it back away and look again at what some of those challenges at staffing were. What we have done and continue to do, Mr. Chair, is that there are more and more services coming available for E-services. I recognize before I even turn this back over that some folks will not be able to access E-services or won't be comfortable with E-services, but that certainly is an area that is taking a lot of the...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 49)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So we already do provide certainly some information with respect to the amount of change or expected change that you would see in the capital planning process. The macroeconomic policy that we are looking to bring forward and to put -- apply a lens to will also include a consideration since there's obviously -- again, I shouldn't say obviously. Nothing's -- there's always open questions. But not having access to energy efficiency does, indeed, create risk of increased costs over time. So that would be part of that lens, and that is something that is coming through and...