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 163)

Thank you, Madam Chair. It's an extension of the Mackenzie Valley fibre line. So it will be a GNWT asset. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 163)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Well, that is not part of the current capital plan that's in front of committee. At this point, these are meant to ensure that we are, of course, protecting what are critical cultural assets. But, Madam Chair, at this point, it would be whether where it would fall in a future capital plan. There certainly is the five and 20year plans that do exist. They are ranked based on, you know, considerations you know, the preservation of life and safety of individuals and people first, for example, and then a ranking list thereafter. So I also am certainly sympathetic and live...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 163)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the parties did begin the negotiations in March of 2023. Again, this summer season has brought quite a number of unexpected challenges and emergencies to everyone's feet. But, again, I do want to assure that the GNWT and the union do continue to have discussions. They've been in contact even throughout the evacuations. I know the department has appreciated the opportunity to be engaged, not necessarily about negotiations, but even just as a resource to be able to maintain the contact and the line of communications. All that said, though, I don't expect an...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 163)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, Madam Chair, the federal government is a fairly significant partner in this project. I believe that we are still sitting at approximately 75/25 percent on this, but let me just pause to the deputy minister to see if I'm correct. I'm correct with that.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 163)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the facilities that are currently being used to house all of the territorial archives are not at national standards. This is meant to be, at this point, just a temporary stop gap measure in advance of a full standalone archives being a project that can be contemplated. But at this point, we do need to protect those cultural materials. So this is meant to be that work to get that process underway. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 163)

Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to update the Legislative Assembly on the Government of the Northwest Territories' fiscal situation since the tabling of the 20232024 Budget. It goes without saying this has been an extraordinarily difficult financial year not only for the government but for many Northwest Territories' residents and businesses. Despite the challenges, our actions to address fiscal pressures, combined with federal disaster assistance, means that our fiscal outlook remains stable over the medium term.

We will end 20222023 with an operating surplus, despite last year's...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 163)

The short answer is yes, Madam Chair. I think there's a fairly good network around Canada between different jurisdictions, depending on the needs of any particular wildfire season or at any particular point within the wildfire season. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 163)

Yes, please, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 163)

Madam Chair, I'm going to go on a limb here based on all of the information I've seen over the last few weeks is that we're not ready to necessarily make concrete plans in response to the current wildfire season and that the afteraction reviews that have been spoken about already in the House are, you know, underway but certainly far from complete. So that question will have to probably wait until that process is complete. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 163)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following four documents: What We Heard Affirmative Action Policy Review; Public Service Annual Report 2022/2023; 69th Annual Report 20222023 Northwest Territories Liquor Licensing Board; and, the 69th Annual Report 20222023 Northwest Territories Liquor and Cannabis Commission. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.