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, Mr. Chair. That is the witness table currently speculating on the ceiling for a project of that size. Thank you.
Debates of
, 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 24)
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don't know. It may have to go to the Public Utilities Board. So it is a requirement of the Public Utilities Board process. So I'll have to just see what the requirements of that process are and whether or not we're able to split off the post-construction report separately and in advance, and if so, I would have no trouble tabling. But, again, I'll just have to double check with that process. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I bring in two more departments to my last answer of ECC or ECE and ITI, perhaps the commitment I ought to be making is to have an opportunity to sit down with the community of Tsiigehtchic and identify again exactly where it is or what it is that they are not accessing and they're having difficulty accessing. I had checked in with the department after hearing the Member's statement, and we have access to provide gravel for what is required from our end, but there's obviously a disconnect in what they need. So perhaps the commitment is to sit down with them and...
Debates of
, 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 24)
I can make an effort to do so. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, I didn't mean to get ahead of myself, or perhaps ahead of the Member, but there are different fuel service circumstances pertaining to different communities in the Sahtu obviously. Deline and Tulita, as I said, those right now are being supplied through fuel services division of the Department of Infrastructure. Norman Wells is coordinated by the private sector. So Imperial Oil, I can say early on we're wanting to put them on alert and notice that we had some concerns around the water levels. I'm not sure what strategies they may or may not be...
Debates of
, 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 24)
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the vehicle asset is already expected for delivery in if August of 2024 but is expected to be used for the transfer of female offenders, and that facility is still required. It is the only female unit we have in the Northwest Territories. And so there's really no avoiding of that.
With respect to the security upgrades broadly at the entire complex, again, that was largely already incurred, significant dollars already incurred in 2023-2024. This is just completing the last bits of that contract. So it's -- we can't -- there's no room to stop something that is...
Debates of
, 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 24)
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, there is, indeed, an overall asset management plan and capital project plan for NTPC and, you know, some of that involves studies that are being done around what alternatives and changes could move forward, what communities might see, you know, advancement of hydro projects and, in some cases, those studies can be funded elsewhere, or in other cases can be delayed, and in other cases, again, some of the future improvements projects can be pushed back or have planning done in advance hopefully to produce better estimates, although, again, in this case, it was --...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is exactly part of the conversation that's being had with officials, again both in ITI and Infrastructure right now, and the purpose of the conversation is to sort out what businesses, what entities had the opportunity to take on insurance. I know MTS was pushing the importance of having insurance to help support in the event that there was a low water level and a reduction in barge service being unfortunately the situation of having now no barge service. You know, who had that opportunity, who maybe made choices not to take on the opportunity, what...
Debates of
, 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 24)
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I believe what the Premier had talked about last week was conversations that began in part with Minister Macdonald who also happens to be the MLA from the region. And, yes, the idea of shifting from having a correctional facility to having a wellness facility at this time is uncosted and unplanned because it's part of a proposed budget. Just as one might want to see changes in upgrades or changes to different departments' budgets, which have certainly been the discussion on the floor of this House, both in COW and otherwise, increasing budgets without costing...
