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 24)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, this is not -- the overages and cost escalations we're seeing on a number of key projects here in the last couple of years really are not typical and shouldn't be considered as typical. There are a number of examples to point to of projects that come in on budget and on time. And even right now, for example, the Inuvik airport project is on schedule. It has certainly caught itself back up notwithstanding challenges that initially may have occurred immediately post-COVID and then of course in the course of inflation. So I'm certainly wanting to just note that...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 24)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is an overall good news story here, so I appreciate the questions. I know there are residents and businesses in Inuvik who are really leading the charge in terms of what's happening in our advanced technology industry here in the Northwest Territories, with the satellite array and providing servicing to them. The agreement we have the Yukon ensures that their traffic can use the Mackenzie Valley fibre line in case of need and that our traffic could use the line that comes down the -- or in case of need. I think there is some additional work that's...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 24)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Let me just double check, Mr. Chair. My list also says three, Mr. Chair. So I believe three is the number. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 24)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the proposed warehouse is related, really, to the research efforts and research work that is done with and through Aurora College. And more specifically, this will enlarge our total research support capacity space by 70 percent. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 24)

Mr. Chair, thank you. And, yes, to be clear, the single biggest difference is on this item, and why it is back before the Assembly for supplementary appropriation, is, indeed, the side preparation, contract and tender, which was significantly higher than originally estimated, that as well as the costs of having a crane there to place units, again, in the community, and last, there are, again, some ongoing quality controls elements to the site preparation. So, really, it is all related to ensuring that the community of Colville Lake is ready to receive those units when they arrive. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 24)

Yes, I would.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 24)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, this is a matter of timing of why it comes before the House. So the modular units were in Yellowknife and were due to be dismantled and then find their new home. And so that work was already underway, and so part of the costs here actually have already been incurred. And then they were to be moved -- then meanwhile, also there was site preparation underway up in Tuktoyaktuk to receive the modulars when they arrived there. And a fair bit of the cost actually was related to demobilizing and deconstructing and then preparing the site. The transportation costs...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 24)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 55-19(2), Report on Bill 85: United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 24)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am not. I suspect the Member might be.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 24)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, the Public Utilities Board is an independent body, so it is to them that we would be submitting this for their review by technical experts who are independent from NTPC. In addition to which, Mr. Chair, the NTPC is also audited by the Office of the Auditor General and so, again, any expenses incurred and costs incurred, etcetera, will go through that process as well. Thank you.