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
Email
Email

Statements in Debates

Tabled Document 915-19(2): Diversity and Inclusion Framework Document
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 152)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following three documents: InterActivity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 from April 1st to December 31st; 2022; InterActivity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 from April 1st to September 30th, 2022; and, the Diversity and Inclusion Framework document. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 1488-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories Indigenous Languages System
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 152)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm not in disagreement and I don't think the department's in disagreement. I just want to figure out how to roll that out. As I said, I was listening, and the department was listening, I and was in conversation with them as we were listening virtually. So right now it's a $1,200 bilingual bonus paid to employees who have Indigenous language skills. But it's indelible employees, so someone who's in a position or a role where they can see some sort of benefit of speaking that official language.

Mr. Speaker, there's always a benefit in speaking that...

Question 1488-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories Indigenous Languages System
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 152)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it so happens as that report was being read in yesterday, I asked for a status report on action 2.2. I can say that the Department of Finance and ECE are working together with the Indigenous or interdepartmental Indigenous languages committee. We are on track to have that delivered sorry, to have the program ready for delivery third quarter of 20232024. So basically that would be this fall. I don't know obviously yet how many residents or how many employees would be participating in that, but would certainly be looking forward to promoting that to...

Minister’s Statement 346-19(2): Diversity and Inclusion Framework
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 152)

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to creating a public service that ensures underrepresented groups are genuinely included, celebrated, and supported to meet their full potential. It is a public service that strives to be welcoming, culturally competent, and free of discrimination; one that serves in a way that respects and includes the diverse population of this territory. Today, I am pleased to announce that the Department of Finance is launching its Diversity and Inclusion Framework to help the GNWT not only improve the diversity of the public service but...

Bill 89: Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 2023-2024, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 152)

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 89, Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 20232024, be read for the third time. And, Mr. Speaker, I would like to request a recorded vote.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 151)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I also want to extend a welcome to the Northwest Territories Seniors Society but, in particular, John Hazenberg, treasurer, is also a resident of Yellowknife South.

Committee Motion 404-19(2): Committee Report 48-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 68: An Act to Amend the Child Day Care Act –Response to Recommendations, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 151)

Yes, please, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 151)

No, Madam Chair.

Bill 88: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2023-2024, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 151)

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 88, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 20232024, be read for the second time.

This bill makes supplementary appropriations for infrastructure expenditures of the Government of the Northwest Territories for the 20232024 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 86: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2022-2023 Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 151)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Nahendeh, that Bill 86, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 20222023, be read for the second time.

This bill makes supplementary appropriations for infrastructure expenditures for the Government of the Northwest Territories for the 20222023 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.