Caroline Wawzonek

Députée de Yellowknife Sud

Première ministre adjointe
Ministre des Finances
Ministre responsable de la Société d’énergie des Territoires du Nord-Ouest
Ministre responsable de l’infrastructure stratégique, de l’énergie et des chaînes d’approvisionnement

Caroline Wawzonek a été élue pour la première fois à la 19e Assemblée législative en 2019, comme représentante de Yellowknife Sud. Elle a été ministre de la Justice, ministre des Finances, ministre responsable de la condition de la femme, et ministre de l’Industrie, du Tourisme et de l’Investissement. En 2023, Mme Wawzonek a été élue par acclamation à la 20e Assemblée législative et a réintégré le Conseil exécutif en tant que première ministre adjointe, ministre des Finances, ministre de l’Infrastructure et ministre responsable de la Société d’énergie des TNO.

Mme Wawzonek a obtenu un baccalauréat ès arts de l’Université de Calgary en 2000 et un diplôme en droit de la faculté de droit de l’Université de Toronto en 2005. Son parcours universitaire comprend des études de langues en Chine et à Taïwan, ainsi que des stages de droit aux Philippines et en Angleterre. Mme Wawzonek est née à Calgary (Alberta) et habite Yellowknife depuis 2007.

Une fois admise au Barreau des TNO, Mme Wawzonek a mis sur pied sa propre pratique du droit pénal et a plaidé à tous les échelons du système judiciaire des Territoires du Nord-Ouest, et s’est souvent déplacée dans les collectivités ténoises à cet effet. Elle a ensuite intégré le cabinet d’avocats Dragon Toner, élargissant sa pratique au litige général et au droit administratif jusqu’à ce qu’elle devienne députée de la 19e Assemblée.

Depuis 2007, Mme Wawzonek a assumé de nombreux rôles de leadership au sein de la communauté juridique : elle a notamment été présidente du Barreau des Territoires du Nord-Ouest et présidente de section pour la division des Territoires du Nord-Ouest de l’Association du Barreau canadien, et a participé à divers groupes de travail. Son engagement envers la collectivité l’a amenée à œuvrer dans de multiples organisations de Yellowknife et, en 2017, elle a reçu un prix national soulignant le travail de femmes canadiennes œuvrant dans le domaine du droit.

Mère de deux enfants, Caroline Wawzonek aime courir, faire de la planche à pagaie et passer du temps à l’extérieur.

Committees

Caroline Wawzonek
Yellowknife Sud
Bureau

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Boîte
1320
Extension
12177
Vice-premier ministre, Ministère des finances, Ministre de l'Infrastructure, Ministre responsable de la Société d'énergie des Territoires du Nord-Ouest
Mobile
Ministre

Déclarations dans les débats

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 65)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, there have been a number of requests received, but my understanding is that they're not necessarily fully allocated yet. And so I don't have a final number in terms of the allocation. There is still some funding available even with the applications that have been received, but a good portion of it has already been applied for. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 65)

Thank you, Madam Chair. So, again, one of the stipulated requirements was to provide the application that went to the federal government for Jordan's Principal. So, you know, again, that is bound up within the application process here. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 65)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I mean, it would be sort of upwards of 170 is the best estimate I can have right now. I mean, and again, that would depend on the final applications. But the projection of the $14 million is that it should cover 172 based on average costs. But, again, my hesitancy just being depending on whether or not school boards are able to help support this gap from the exercise, that may fund more positions. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 65)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, so that would depend, I think, on the individual education bodies. I was -- let me see if -- yes, I mean, it's certainly -- there's an understanding of -- my understanding -- sorry, is that there is work being done with each applicant to determine, firstly, if they have some surplus funding available to them but then also what their own expenditure plans may be. And certainly not wanting to -- certainly by no means a matching criteria, like a one-for-one, but I don't know that there's a specific -- or there is not a specific number that I can provide. Thank...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 65)

Thank you, Madam Chair. So, Madam Chair, there are -- there's a cost associated to when someone is on medical travel as opposed to when someone may be already down south for some other reason or, you know, students for instance, who are down on SFA but who are still considered Northwest Territories residents. You know, there's a number of people who may be down south for one reason or another. And some of this may be the medical travel that I gather maybe is what the MLA is getting at, but not necessarily all of it. So I can say that out of territory services broadly is, indeed, an area that...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 65)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I mean, I appreciate the question. I do think that's an important question to ask. It's probably a question to ask to the federal minister. So, I mean, we were just there, all of Cabinet, Council of Leaders met with Minister Gull-Masty, met with Minister Chartrand and, you know, the indications seemed to be that they've heard us because it's certainly not by any stretch the first time that they've heard any one of a number of Ministers saying, you know, this was a legislated program that the federal government came and brought about. No indication that when...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 65)

No, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 65)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Right now, this is a one-time funding situation. And I realize I failed to ask one of the other questions on the last round as to where it's coming from. This is being debt funded. We are not in a position where we have excess money in the education system. We are looking for, and we've made that very clear to the federal government. So there already have been, I understand, some changes and some modifications where they will accept individual applications that come through a school board but, again, this is their program, and I'm hesitant to say what changes they have...