Caroline Wawzonek

Member Yellowknife South

Deputy Premier
Minister of Finance
Minister Responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation
Minister Responsible for Strategic Infrastructure, Energy and Supply Chains

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,  Minister 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

Board of Management
Caroline Wawzonek
Yellowknife South
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Email
Office
(867) 767-9143
Extension
12177
Deputy Premier, Minister of Finance, Minister of Infrastructure, and Minister Responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation
Mobile
867-445-7437
Minister's Office
Email
Email

Statements in Debates

Minister's Statement 182-20(1): Health Recruitment Unit
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 83)

Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to recognize the accomplishments of the health recruitment unit and to highlight the progress being made to strengthen staffing in nursing, social work, and allied health professionals across the Northwest Territories.

The health recruitment unit was established within the management and recruitment services division of the human resources branch of the Department of Finance, in partnership with the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority and the Tlicho Community Services Agency. The purpose of this unit is to coordinate and streamline...

Bill 44: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization), No. 3, 20252026, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 82)

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that Bill 44, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization), No. 3, 2025-2026, be read for the third time.

Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 44: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations, Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 82)

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that Bill 44, Supplementary Appropriations Act (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization), No. 3, 2025-2026, be read for the second time.

This bill makes supplementary appropriations for operations expenditures and borrowing authorization for the Government of the Northwest Territories for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 44: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations, Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization), No. 3, 2025-2026, Deem Read
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 82)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to present to the House Bill 44, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations, Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization), No. 3, 2025-2026, to be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabled Document 471-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 25-20(1): Report on the Review of Bill 26: An Act to Amend the Public Service Act
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 82)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to table some documents today. Mr. Speaker, I would like to table the following document: The Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 25-20(1), Report on the Review of Bill 26, An Act to Amend the Public Service Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 1061-20(1): Mackenzie Valley Highway Economic Development
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 82)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there's different pots of money that may all be available and, firstly, any and everyone interested in opening a business or expanding a business along the Mackenzie Valley Highway can and should be reaching out to their regional ITI department. That is an opportunity to create businesses and to expand businesses, build businesses, as we anticipate work on this project to move forward quickly in the next little while.

There's also funding that is managed through strategic infrastructure with respect to the capacity and work readiness. So just last week, as...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 82)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased today to have a page from Yellowknife South. She also happens to be someone I know very well. This is Ms. Savannah Gostlin who is paging for us here today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 43: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 20252026, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 82)

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Bill 43, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, be read for the third time.

Mr. Speaker, I would request a recorded vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 43: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 82)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Bill 43, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, be read for the second time.

This bill makes supplementary appropriations for infrastructure expenditures of the Government of the Northwest Territories for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 43: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Deem Read
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 82)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present to the House Bill 43, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, to be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.