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. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was also going to acknowledge Angela and Clay Balsillie who were here to hear the obituary for Rosa Kisoun. They're residents of Yellowknife South.
Mr. Speaker, and while we're on the topic of many old friends, it sounds like I have three new friends I also wanted to recognize. I have guests here today from PNWER. That is the Pacific Northwest Economic Region. And with me today in the House, we have president of the organization Chuck Winder who is also the president of the Idaho State Senate; vicepresident of PNWER, Rick Glumac who is the British Columbia...
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 158)
That's fine, Madam Chair.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 158)
Thank you, Madam Chair. So this is one where this is - it's termed as a recash flowing of the project. So the project is still moving forward. It did see some delays, but that money is moving into future years, and we are anticipating there's going to be spend in 20222023 so starting but starting this summer I'm sorry, yeah. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 158)
Thank you, Madam Chair. No, the Member has spoken to myself and Minister Simpson as well just yesterday so I will prepare to discuss that further next week. Thank you.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 158)
Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm not an accountant either. Let me take one run at it and if - but if not, I can certainly ask one of the folks with me to do so. But the money only needs to come in as a carryover if that amount is required in the upcoming year. So if the amount for 20222023 wasn't spent and was required in 20232024, it would be a carryover. For a multiyear project, if there's going to be future asks coming in for 2024-2025 in our capital plan, then you'll see it in the capital plan. But in a multiyear project, it may well be that they don't need to carry over an amount from 20232024...
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 158)
Thank you, Madam Chair, Madam Chair, all I am able to say is to confirm that indeed that does seem like a very good idea, that there is something being worked on, and hopefully it will be in place - well, I can't give a timeline for it to be in place. It's not an initiative necessarily of the Department of Finance but I can commit to getting a timeline to committee. Thank you.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 158)
Thank you, Madam Chair. So all of the project that is under the North Arm Park theme within the Tlicho region, that is part of - you might recall we have the Tlicho Infrastructure Cooperation Agreement, and so moving this project forward has been subject to that agreement and operating under that agreement has proven - or has resulted in some delay in terms of being able to establish contracts and to have it procured through that process. I think there's a path forward now, and so the carry over here now should hopefully see more of that money spent this fiscal year. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 158)
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I would certainly put the hat on as being Minister responsible for the Public Service to say that I know many, many public servants in all departments have faced a great deal of challenges over the last few years and, frankly, have, you know, performed, I would argue, very admirably well under those circumstances nonetheless.
Out of the projects here, there's 20 that are complete or over 50 percent completion, another 31 that are underway and moving forward. There are others that have not started, or we aren't quite sure where they are in process. So it's...
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 158)
The full work is not done, Madam Chair. There is - it's expected to have - to see further work this summer, 20242025, and 20252026. Thank you.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 158)
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, we spent $285 million in 20222023, which actually is a pretty significant amount when you compare it to what was being spent over ten years before that. And particularly considering those are postCOVID years that a lot of challenges were being faced, both private sector and public sector.
Madam Chair, at this point we would reconcile we reconcile the Fiscal Responsibility Policy in the fall. I have - and we do track it over time, and we'll be seeing the most recent up to date numbers when we come forward with the capital budget in August.
