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 , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 12)

I will certainly be keeping the Member up to date as I have conversations with the RCMP. I also believe that the RCMP would be themselves happy to engage directly with some of the committees of this House and to have that relationship about their operations, which is not within my area of responsibility. As for community safety going forward, that is a concern to the Department of Justice. There are a lot of different tools that can be used to increase and enhance community safety and community participation in the justice system, and I will continue to work towards those goals over the course...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 12)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I can say that all 33 communities are engaged by the Department of Justice towards developing their community justice committees, but that not all communities have the same level of participation amongst their actual committees. There are a handful of communities that, although there has been outreach, are still working to have greater development of their community justice programs. I can tell you, from 2019-2020, that 30 of the 33 did access funding for community justice programs, so those other three, we certainly, as I say, continue to be engaged with them, but there...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 12)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The actual numbers in 2018-2019 were just simply significantly higher than what had been budgeted. That can occur. It varies easily. One coroner's inquest can lead to much higher expenditures than usual. The forced growth that we are requesting here in terms of the main estimates, both in terms of the collective agreement but then also in terms of the general increase to the budget, it's one of the first times there has been an increase in some time. It hopefully will be a more accurate projection of what is expected to be the final estimates for 2020-2021. Thank you, Mr...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 12)

Nothing, thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 12)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Human resources happen to fall within the purviews of the Department of Finance. I happen to know, whether wearing either one of my hats, that the Department of Justice and supported by the Department of Finance, do have robust policies in place that they follow whenever there is a question of needing to terminate an individual. Individuals who work within the corrections service, by necessity, have to meet a very high standard of conduct, given the position of trust that they're in and that, if there are concerns with their performance, that those processes are the...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 12)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. When an individual is arrested and charged, it is within the decision-making of the RCMP whether or not to release the name. I can't take a role in terms of making a choice or directing their operations, although I am confident that, when appropriate, when there are no other factors of safety or other ongoing investigations, they do generally release those names by way of a media release quite promptly. When an individual is detained by the RCMP in the course of a program or in the course of another investigation, if they are detained but released without charge, that...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 12)

Mr. Chair, the cost of a new detachment is approximately $7 to $10 million simply to build it. That is notwithstanding the several millions of dollars of continuing maintenance thereafter, so that is not in the immediate capital plan. I am happy to answer that question. I am just not sure if there are more detailed questions about policing services as opposed to community policing. I guess I am a bit in the chair's hands, as well. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 12)

Mr. Chair, thank you. Only again that, obviously, there is a variety of people from the Department of Justice watching today's proceedings closely, and we will take the comments from the Members back to the RCMP when we meet with them regularly. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 12)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, I do have a breakdown by community that we can provide to the Member. Money that flows through the Victim Services does go direct to the individual communities via community partners, whether it's community governments or organizations such as the Native Women's Association. Subject to what the Member might say, I would suggest a commitment to providing the allocation by community after, as part of our response, but I certainly can read the numbers out if that's preferred. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 12)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. There is a brand now complex in Fort Smith, which is obviously there, but it's not the therapeutic community. The therapeutic community is the one that is actually in Hay River. The idea there is that there are four phases that are going to be provided to individuals who come into contact with the system. From the very earliest integration into the facility, rather than being in a position where they are sort of told how to manage their lives and controlled, they are given increasing ability and opportunities to take responsibility for their own actions, and as they do...