Caroline Wawzonek

Member Yellowknife South

Deputy Premier
Minister of Finance
Minister Responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation
Minister Responsible for Strategic Infrastructure, Energy and Supply Chains

Caroline Wawzonek was first elected to the 19th Legislative Assembly in 2019 as the Member for Yellowknife South. Ms. Wawzonek served as Minister of Justice,  Minister of Finance, Minister responsible for the Status of Women and the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. In 2023, Ms. Wawzonek was acclaimed to the 20th Legislative Assembly and returned to Executive Council as Deputy Premier, Minister of Finance, Minister of Infrastructure and the Minister Responsible for the NWT Power Corporation.
 
Ms. Wawzonek holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Calgary (2000) and a law degree from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law (2005). Her academic journey included language studies in China and Taiwan, as well as legal internships in the Philippines and England. Born in Calgary, AB, she has called Yellowknife home since 2007.
 
After establishing her criminal law practice post-admission to the Law Society of the NWT, Ms. Wawzonek appeared in all levels of NWT courts and engaged in circuit court travel. She later joined Dragon Toner, expanding her practice to general litigation and administrative law until becoming a member of the 19th Assembly.
 
Since 2007, she has taken on leadership roles in the legal community, including the presidency of the Law Society of the Northwest Territories (LSNT), section chair for the Canadian Bar Association Northwest Territories Branch (CBA-NT), and committee membership in various working groups. Her community involvement extends to appointments in multiple Yellowknife organizations, and she received a national award in 2017 for her contributions to Canadian Women in Law.
 
Ms. Wawzonek, a mother of two, enjoys running, paddleboarding, and time outdoors.
 

Committees

Board of Management
Caroline Wawzonek
Yellowknife South
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Caroline_wawzonek@ntassembly.ca
Office
(867) 767-9143 (link is a phone number)
Extension
12177
Deputy Premier, Minister of Finance, Minister of Infrastructure, and Minister Responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation
Mobile
867-445-7437(link is a phone number)
Minister
Email
Caroline_wawzonek@gov.nt.ca

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 164)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the Member might recall that a preliminary business case was shared with the standing committee and did have in it some initial cost estimates for both generation and transmission. More recent to that, as of May, a final business case was prepared. It does, however, first go to the MOU signatories who we are contemplating as being the partners on the project. I understand that Members may wish to have access to that. I don't have the ability right here to speak to that. So I'm not able to speak to the numbers that are in that cost estimate. But, again, I...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 164)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I did just want to note there are the promise of 100 new units in the life of this Assembly will be realized by the end of the current fiscal year of 20232024. With respect to 20242025 sorry, and I actually was I'm looking at 20232024. Let me take that to Mr. Martin to detail. Thanks.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 164)

Yes, please, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 164)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I understand there was an RV park that was privately run, and they have burnt down. But, again, I'm I wouldn't I mean, I'm not from Tuktoyaktuk, Madam Chair. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 164)

Again, ADM Brennan has probably the latest numbers on that, please.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 164)

Madam Chair, that is definitely one path. I think I'm starting to realize here where this is going. Yes, look, I think it would be wonderful news to have, again as I said, more access to the waterways, whether for tourism, for the sake of the communities, or for fisheries. So one way is for the community to reach out to ITI to be partners in that and to then take the interest to the DFO to say, look, get your officials out to the community of Fort Providence. There's an interest locally. I know there's an interest in the fishery locally there. What can be done to have better access. And if...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 164)

Thank you, Madam Chair. So the Tlicho region, or the Monfwi riding, does is I can summarize they're getting $36,615,000 this year. It is actually 10 percent of the total capital estimates. And that is not including the territorial portion which may well include some of the highway work if that is deemed as territorial. So I can provide a breakdown. I only have that number right now; I don't have a breakdown.

And as for an agreement, I mean, again, I I'm not sure I'm entirely understanding the context but the Tlicho Infrastructure Cooperation Agreement does exist between the Tlicho government...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 164)

To Mr. Martin, please.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 164)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, Madam Chair, there is an engagement process that will be undertaken. I don't have the details of it here, but certainly, I you know, I would expect that the relevant organizations of the community would be engaged. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 164)

Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, at the risk of repeating myself, I've had the opportunity to be on that highway and be in the community, and this is truly a gem for the Northwest Territories tourism industry. It should be I mean, it's a gem. And, you know, it would be such a wonderful opportunity to see it flooded with tourism but with the facilities there to properly receive the tourists and to maximize the opportunity for the community.

So my understanding is that the visitors centre, albeit small, is open. I agree there was no there wasn't quite the flash opening that any of us...