Deputy Premier Minister of Finance Minister of Infrastructure Minister Responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation
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, Minster 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.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, happy I mean, the ideas, I couldn't agree more with. Happy to have the ideas. Exactly who the champion might be and then connecting the champions to the funding is, I suppose, the more challenging side. That said, I would note that there is now funding for interpretive programming within parks, which is new. That is an asset I have heard here. And there's now $50,000 per year proposed to support interpretive programming which hopefully would I mean, I'd love to see that be fully expended this year. It certainly would give that valueadd about the...
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 141)
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, look, I can convey just briefly a conversation I had actually with the executive director at that same conference which is which some of the products that they are putting out and looking at the entire food value chain from growing to production. You know, I actually asked, why are we not having more foodie tours? I had much the same reaction to be quite honest, given the wealth and the variety of things available in the North, a lot of them very unique and gourmet forging. So I completely agree. NWT Tourism was represented at the agrigrow conference that...
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 141)
Thank you, Madam Chair. So, Madam Chair, this is another area that I think what I may have to do is put this one on my list for our shared multidepartment sit down between the LNR departments. ENR does play, I believe, a lead role or a significant role in terms of accessing hides. There have been some pilot programs, I believe, over the last year or so, in terms of finding different ways to provide access to hides, and I have heard the different views from members of the community as to whether or not those were appropriate and culturally relevant. So as I say, I will put that on my list for a...
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 141)
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, it's certainly an excellent question. It's one I'm familiar with, really, as happening to be also a Yellowknife MLA. What I'd suggest at this point given that there's some city bylaw challenges potentially and obviously just the overall housing spectrum that is at issue in terms of understanding different needs. ITI can go back and have a conversation with NWT Tourism and the city, and I can certainly commit we'll make a point of doing that with a focus on increasing the availability of appropriate accommodation. Thank you.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 141)
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, if the communities one of the communities in the Tlicho region are interested to work on some form of visitors centre or facility and, again, happy to receive that kind of a request. There's been a lot of work gone in to Whati to try to work with the community and decide what they may want in terms of tourism product or tourism opportunities. And my understanding is the Tlicho government has been taking the lead on these issues, quite rightfully, and happy to work with them on that. There's been a lot of money that has gone to the North Arm Park camping...
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 141)
Deputy minister.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 141)
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I have 20212022 actuals here, and I can provide that as a onepage summary to the Member. Perhaps that might be the easiest. Right now the breakdown that I have is by the administrative regions of the Government of the Northwest Territories and not necessarily relating to individual Members' ridings. So as I say, I can provide a twopage summary here to Members and then we'll try and see if we can provide that in more greater detail at the same time. Thank you.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 141)
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I certainly could provide a list. There's the DempsterDelta Visitor Centre, Western Arctic Regional Visitors Centre, village of Fort Simpson, Yellowknife, Norman Wells, and in the South Slave is 60th Parallel and I can certainly provide more detail perhaps by breakdown in writing. That might be easier. Thank you.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I think the Premier's given oh no, hang on, Madam Chair, I may actually have it here handy. If I don't, I can certainly provide it. But the Premier is correct, it is going to be coming in the life of this Assembly. I think this session, Madam Chair.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 141)
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the deputy minister was actually quite recently in Fort Smith and perhaps I'll just, rather than me speak for her, have her speak to just whatever conversations briefly she might have had. I don't know that there is a specific ask from the town to us just yet. But I'll turn it to her for just some different detail. Thank you.
