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. Yes, all positions that were reduced within the Department of Infrastructure were in Yellowknife with one exception. There was an airport manager position in Hay River that had been vacant for several years, and that has also been eliminated for these main estimates. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So I'm expecting there may be some. I can't necessarily say with certainty at this moment, and the reason being that the energy strategy update is still being drafted. It is an item that I believe we will have something forward for within this fiscal year, and once we have the new updated strategy that outlines a bit more, that certainly puts us in a better position to be specific as to what areas of net zero will require funding. I mean, there's certainly with respect to any significant energy infrastructure changes, whether it's the Taltson Expansion, if that is an area...

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. No, at this point, these -- the changes in the winter road budget at this point in time related to the Mackenzie Valley winter road stretch and the Tlicho winter roads. In no small part, the Tlicho winter road, for example, that contract was for three years and came due for its renewal. And so with that, that new process of contractual review and engagement, that would then lead to the change here. There is, if I'm not mistaken, a contract in place right now for the winter roads within the Beaufort Delta regions, broadly, so when that does come up, it may well be, and...

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do have a bit of information with respect to some of the work that was underway in Norman Wells. I don't know that we have a full evaluation done or an analysis done, which would certainly be helpful in order to determine what that might look like for others. But there was a program that was undertaken with Arctic Energy Alliance staff for a winterization walkthrough. It really is an opportunity to help, particularly folks from low or medium-income households, understand some simple solutions. So examples in that regard would just be even insulating window plastic...

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, happy to answer it, Mr. Chair. I realize that the question will come, so we will just keep things moving. The Tlicho winter road contract has seen increases in the last couple of years, and I think the Member was already getting to the situation which is to say ongoing climate change conditions, ongoing supply chain challenges, ongoing labour force challenges, all of which are leading to increase in the costs of building the winter roads. We do rely on the contractor which does exist under the Tlicho Infrastructure Cooperation Agreement, and we do work with the...

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

Thank, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I'm happy to turn to the deputy one more time. I know we do have a bit of detail here that we could provide. Let me start there, and perhaps we'll also bring Amy into the question -- Amy Burt into the answer before we are done. Thanks.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we -- I mean, the money -- I'd have to take that away in order to ensure that I'm breaking it down by the right dollar values. I'm not sure if anyone would have that available here. The change -- sorry, let me start by actually answering the question.

The change in budget, again, is related to the change in the collective agreement. So it's increased through forced growth because the collective agreement went up and, predominantly, that is the main source of change here. And then I'd be more than happy to provide the specifics of -- and sorry, I'm trying to find...

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we were quite disappointed to see the federal cuts to the low carbon economy funding that had a significant impact on the Department of Infrastructure and on our energy programs and particularly with respect to the funding that's provided to Arctic Energy Alliance. So it was a significant impact on our budget. We have not -- we don't have other or additional independent funds necessarily to come up with in areas where we could realign. Obviously the department's budgets are under review right now, and certainly I would look forward to answering some...

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, there certainly are staff within the division that are working on this from the assistant deputy minister through to folks who -- the director of energy, director of strategic energy initiatives -- I'll probably get his title wrong -- but folks have travelled recently with me to Lutselk'e to attend a steering committee. There -- I mean, when we see under the energy and strategic initiatives conversation benefits, those folks are working on the Taltson initiative.

With respect to money that is used to support the Indigenous governments from the watershed...

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On my left, Steve Loutitt, deputy minister of infrastructure. And on my right, Amy Burt, the director of corporate services.