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. On the right, Sandy Kalgutkar, secretary to the Financial Management Board, and on the left, Jamie Koe, deputy secretary to the Financial Management Board.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 70)
Thank you, Madam Chair. Far be it for me to speak for the federal government, but certainly, Madam Chair, as far as just a sense of things, there is a growing interest in LNG right now, as there is a growing interest in a lot of green energy-related minerals and metals. I think both of those are areas that there is some potential and that the federal government is well-aware of that and that there is geopolitical interest in both of those. I am hopeful that, once these studies are done, that, again, not only are we sharing them with members of the public and, more specifically, members of the...
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 70)
Thank you, Madam Chair. I am here to present Tabled Document 349-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021. The supplementary estimates propose to add $36.1 million to the 2020-2021 operating budget, of this $30.8 million will be offset by revenues from the Government of Canada. Major items included in these supplementary estimates include:
$30.8 million to fund the GNWT's continued efforts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including:
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$28.2 million for costs funded by the Government of Canada's Northern Bundle 3,
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$2.4 million for the Department of...
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 70)
Thank you, Madam Chair. I certainly want to be assuring the Member, and this would really be more broadly reassuring, that ITI has engaged with IRC and made them aware of the extent and nature of what is intended with this project. It is meant to be something that can be complementary to their work. It's not meant to be in competition at all, but really, again, complementary to the work that they are already doing to advance their potential industry in this regard. With this project here, it's looking at feasibility of one possible delivery mechanism for LNG, and the marketing analysis more...
Yes, please. Everyone, go book your staycation right now. That's great news. The strategy has four key priorities in it, and I don't want to get a jump on what I'm sure will be an exciting announcement in the next couple of weeks, but it has strategic priorities that I think do speak to precisely what the Member is looking at. Again, it's not the short-term reopening of borders. That involves the Chief Public Health Officer, as well, but it really does speak to how this industry can be ready for that reopening. In terms of looking at what infrastructure is needed, again, short-term, medium...
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 70)
Thank you, Madam Chair. What is driving the costs is twofold. Number one, certainly, is in the number of individuals who require that care, and then the second simply being the increase in costs of care. Just speaking briefly to the volume, the volume does go sort of up in increments over time. With respect to the nature, though, of care, I'm not sure if that's the direction that the Member is seeking some information on. If it's that level of departmental detail, if I could just confirm it, then I would suggest that that's actually a question for the department of health.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 69)
Thank you, Madam Chair. I was pleased to get that suggestion last year, probably around this time, and I am happy to receive it and be reminded again. The process of going through budget dialogues and putting some of the information out was very helpful to me in this role but, I think, also to the department. We will certainly make sure that we engage in this process. I think, having adapted to COVID-19, it will be earlier this year than last year. Thank you.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 69)
Thank you, Madam Chair. This is not an occasion where there will be a commensurate raising of taxes or introduction of a new tax to directly offset the $1.4 million revenue loss. What is hoped, however, is that, by helping the sector become more competitive and helping small businesses be more competitive, we will see economic growth, which then can ultimately help create more taxpayers in the form of more small businesses, which can hopefully offset the revenue lost from the tax rate change. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 69)
Thank you, Madam Chair. We are a little bit behind some of the other jurisdictions in terms of our business tax rate for small businesses. This finally is an opportunity to bring us a little bit more in line and make us more competitive with some of our colleagues across the rest of Canada. Up to this point, we were at or near, in fact, the very top of the pile. This is an opportunity to, again, make us more competitive, and it's a good time. I think one of the MLAs has already mentioned that it's an opportunity to give a bit of release at an occasion and during a context where there has been...
