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

Board of Management
Yellowknife South
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Email
Office
(867) 767-9143
Extension
12177
Deputy Premier, Minister of Finance, Minister of Infrastructure, and Minister Responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation
Mobile
867-445-7437
Minister
Email
Email

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

I suggest that go to, again, Minister of Justice, please.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, thank you. So Madam Chair, I'm happy to speak to that under any context here, so  and I know that this was raised originally by one of the other Members earlier with the description that sometimes the capital plan is, you know, described as unrealistic. But the reality is we are right now constrained by the fact that we have to do year over year appropriations so that for every project, no matter what size or how large, from buying of a vehicle up to the construction of a health centre, you know, we have to come back every year. These are  many of these projects...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Sorry, Madam Chair, I'm just  I'm on the wrong page but, yes, it is all indeed carryovers.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Not today.

Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 20212022. Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, capital investment expenditures, economic diversification and business support, not previously authorized, $2,494,000. Does committee agree?

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, that level of question around what ENR may have done I would say is appropriate to turn to the Minister of ENR, please.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I'm here to present Supplementary Estimates, (Infrastructure Expenditures), No 1, 20212022.

The supplementary estimates document proposes a total increase of $106.7 million comprised of the following major areas:

$99.3 million for infrastructure expenditures spending for projects that were not completed in 20202021. This amount is fully offset by lapses and appropriations in 20202021.

$2.5 million to increase the community public infrastructure funding to support communities in reducing the municipal funding gap.

That concludes my opening remarks, Madam...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the choices of where the collection stations are to go is a decision that is I think really looking to the fishers themselves to drive that decisionmaking. And that's where there is now a working group that is being set up and has begun to meet for those who are fishers, again all around the lake. So that exactly on questions like that, that consultation with them, that they are the ones that are actually driving where those sites go. You know, keeping in mind, of course, the role of DFO in that and the role of individual communities that may have may or...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I think the Minister of ENR is quite keen to speak to this one, please.

Tabled Document 425-19(2): Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation 2021-2022 Corporate Plan
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents: Plain Language Summary for Bill 32, An Act to Amend the Northern Employees Benefits Services Pension Plan Act; and, Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation 20212022 corporate plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, my understanding is there tends to be contingencies often built in, so I expect that this is no different in this particular project. Thank you, Madam Chair.