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

Question 1479-19(2): Population Growth
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 151)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as it is, there's actually a requirement or an expectation for the Department of Finance for GNWT employees to institute an exit interview process. That's part of the Indigenous Recruitment and Retention Framework. We are expected to undertake that work and to have that ready to go in 20232024. So in that sense, that much of a commitment I can certainly make. And, Mr. Speaker, I know when there was some of these news articles came out the other day, I had an opportunity to speak with the other department, ITI that I'm responsible for. And looking there too...

Committee Motion 405-19(2): Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax – Delete and Replace the Appendix. Defeated
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 151)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I don't want to speak at length. I know it's been a long day for everyone but just in light of the comments made, Madam Chair, I do think it appropriate if I just address at least briefly some of what was said. I don't rehash the proposals in Bill 60 that are connected to Bill 60.

Fundamentally, Madam Chair, I want my colleagues on the other side to know that I've heard them and, frankly, I'm sorry that we are where we are. I'm live to the role of accountability of a Minister and I'm live to the fact that folks are very frustrated with where we are, so. I...

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.

Committee Motion 383-19(2): Committee Report 43-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 63: An Act to Amend the Official Languages Act – Indigenous Languages Legislative Changes, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 150)

Thank you, Madam Chair. There was quite a number of comments made, Madam Chair. I was hoping I might have an opportunity to respond to some of them?

Committee Motion 385-19(2): Concurrence Motion – Tabled Document 881-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2022-2023, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 150)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Not as of yet. This is only the first sort of well, this will be the first full Assembly where ISSS has been in existence. So I don't know that and with the two years that were somewhat lost to COVID, I don't know that we would have been in a position at this point. But certainly the Department of Finance, including ISSS, has been part of the government renewal process and is live to the fact that we're shifting towards a more evaluative process. So I'll certainly take note of the Member's comments and can report back to the department and see where and when we would...

Committee Motion 383-19(2): Committee Report 43-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 63: An Act to Amend the Official Languages Act – Indigenous Languages Legislative Changes, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 150)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am here to present Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 20222023. These supplementary estimates propose a total increase of $24.044 million, comprised of the following items:

$27.75 million to provide funding for the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link Project;

$205,000 to increase the total project budget for the Land Tenure Optimization System; and,

A decrease of $4.886 million to adjust infrastructure project cash flows to realign the appropriations with the anticipated project schedules.

These estimates also propose the supplementary appropriations...