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

Committee Motion 331-19(2): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 747-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2022-2023, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 130)

No, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 322-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2020-2021 Public Accounts – Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 130)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, if I could just confirm first, so we're doing infrastructure expenditures. I have it as 74719(2)?

Committee Motion 331-19(2): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 747-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2022-2023, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 130)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, the current agreement is in effect, as I said or this portion here, now we do have until 2023. There's an agreement that I believe has been reached up to March 31st of 2032, and it will then be built in for the Department of Justice in their main estimates so that in future years it will be reflected through the usual appropriations process. Thank you.

Committee Motion 331-19(2): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 747-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2022-2023, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 130)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Back again for a second time I have deputy minister of finance Bill MacKay, and the assistant deputy minister Terence Courtoreille.

Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 130)

Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that Bill 60, An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act be read for the second time.

The bill amends the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act to update the carbon tax rates set out in the schedule. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Committee Motion 331-19(2): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 747-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2022-2023, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 130)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is for 20222023 or this current fiscal year only. And I don't have detail as to what may or may not be happening with respect to retroactive pay that flows from the collective agreement, the newly agreedto collective agreement. Thank you.

Committee Motion 331-19(2): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 747-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2022-2023, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 130)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am happy to present the Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 20222023. These supplementary estimates propose a total increase of $80.684 million of which $27.7 million will be offset by revenues from the Government of Canada.

Included in this amount is $22.4 million in changes in accounting treatment that was previously reported as work on behalf of others. These agreements include the following agreements:

$8 million to provide support for RCMP facilities, including maintenance, utilities, janitorial services, and minor capital repairs;

$4.6 million...

Tabled Document 767-19(2): NWT Business Development and Investment Corporation Annual Report 2021-2022
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 130)

Like déjà vu, Madam Speaker. Thank you. Madam Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents: The Plain Language Summary for Bill 60, An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act; and, Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation 20212022 Annual Report. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Committee Motion 331-19(2): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 747-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2022-2023, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 130)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I was listening earlier during question period when those questions were put to the Minister of Health and Social Services. I am in no better position to answer them than what she was at that time. So I think I'll just defer to another round of questioning at another time perhaps. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 322-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2020-2021 Public Accounts – Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 130)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I guess I don't have any other comments to make. I know the departments are working all the departments are working together on that right now, and I don't know the current state of the matter that's before the board. But again, as I have said, I think we're all quite hopeful that subject to how that unfolds, which is out of the GNWT's hands, that it will ultimately be for the benefit of that region. Thank you, Mr. Chair.