Caroline Wawzonek

Member Yellowknife South

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.
 

Committees

Yellowknife South
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Extension
12177
Deputy Premier, Minister of Finance, Minister of Infrastructure, and Minister Responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation
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Minister
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Statements in Debates

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 116)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's Action 1.1 of the framework where it speaks to the importance of the job descriptions and, specifically, that all departments and agencies are now expected to conduct a detailed review of all job descriptions specifically with keeping in mind systemic barriers that may exist. And the point is to precisely do that, to remove those systemic barriers.

Every department and agency is responsible for their job descriptions. They certainly can seek strategic advice from human resources. But that is the individual requirements for each department, knowing...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 116)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, it does require a regulatory change and so that is being worked on at present. And we are expecting that those regulations should be implemented by August the 1st. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 116)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, at this point, having made it into the supplementary appropriation, this is really just a very initial amount. And at this point, my understanding is that the assessors of course still have to do their work in order to ascertain exactly what the damages will be and then the full damage compensation process can begin under the Disaster Assistance Policy.

You know, and again for whatever it's worth in this place, Madam Chair, I know the Minister has asked all of us to emphasize the importance of folks registering, both businesses and residential individuals...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 116)

Thank you, Madam Chair. So Madam Chair, these funds, and I take note, and I appreciate the comment here, that these are programs that really one of the reasons I think that they were chosen or targeted is that they are funds that people can apply to so that they are funds that then are the dollars go out to the communities or to individuals who can apply to the funds. So rather than relying on what is, frankly, often already stretched to capacity to deliver further capital planning programs from within GNWT departments, and particularly and including Housing, here individuals who would like...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 116)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, certainly anyone that is involved in hiring does have opportunity to access training through the Department of Finance. There are information packages online that can describe some of this, and the Department of Finance is often, if not always, involved during a recruitment and retention process so that they can also provide some strategic advice on how to do the evaluation equivalencies. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 116)

Yes, please, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 116)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, only to note some of this funding does specifically support a victim services coordinator position, which can help hopefully answer some of that concern of ensuring that there are services being provided to those communities that don't necessarily have staffing.

I can note that there is an extension now of victim services programming into Fort McPherson and Fort Providence that previously did not have staff. So incrementally there is at least some increase in the availability of staff to communities outside of regional centres. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 116)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the core programs amount there that you see for $4 million is going to be ongoing. It wouldn't necessarily be reflected here. This is a supplementary appropriation to the 20222023 Main Estimates but it should be showing up when we do the review for the 20232024 Main Estimates and through the business planning cycle. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 116)

For.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 116)

Thank you, Madam Chair. So for 20222023, anticipated total spend is $291,000. The total amount under the Active Forestry Carbon Sequestration Fund, ultimately, Madam Chair, is projected to be $1.333 million.

As for where they will go, they will be planted in the Northwest Territories, Madam Chair. I don't have that information. But I'll endeavour to get it for us. Thank you.