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

Minister’s Statement 260-19(2): Update on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 118)

Mr. Speaker, today is the thirdyear anniversary of the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. I wish to honour the Indigenous women and girls and genderdiverse people who have lost their lives or who have experienced or continue to experience trauma and violence.

Mr. Speaker, most people in the Northwest Territories, and certainly everyone in this room, knows someone who has attended a residential or day school, whose grandparent lost a family member during the 50s and 60s tuberculosis outbreak, or whose sibling was taken away during the 60s...

Recorded Vote
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 118)

The Member for Range Lake.

Bill 54: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 20222023, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 118)

Mr. Speaker, I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that Bill 54, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 20222023, be read for the second time.

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

Tabled Document 657-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastruture Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 117)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, let me take that one away. I will say we have changed the way we report on materials and information over the last few years, and I will go and have some conversations about what is here, what reasons there may be for and against, and get back to the House with that information.

Tabled Document 657-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastruture Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 117)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, my understanding at this point is that this is still at a strategic stage and as such, I don't expect it entirely guarantees the full delivery of the new system. That said, it is certainly an important and critical sort of step in that regard. So I do expect to hear more from this over the next year, certainly over the life of this government. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Tabled Document 657-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastruture Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 117)

Thank you, Madam Chair. So if I'm understanding correctly, just the idea of trying to show the lapsing rather than showing only the carryovers and in a different manner, or. I'm not entirely sure, Madam Chair, I apologize as to how to solve this problem for the Member.

Tabled Document 657-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastruture Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 117)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, so this is being yes, it is being transferred over to ITI because the complexity of the Mineral Resources Act regulations and what is being entailed there on the electronic side makes most sense to have the two working handinhand. So, you know, looking to have the two come together one in the same time. I'm not sure if we have a date here necessarily. If we do, I'm sure someone's going to give it to me in a moment. But my understanding is that the intention is that the two projects are working in tandem.

It's more than just online map staking, Madam Chair...

Tabled Document 657-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastruture Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 117)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, it should be $64,740,000 I believe, Madam Chair. Let me just confirm that or actually, I'll just ask the deputy minister if he has the page open in front of him.

Tabled Document 657-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastruture Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 117)

Thank you, Madam Chair. It's just delayed in some fashion and that's why it's being carried over for completion. Thank you.

Tabled Document 658-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 117)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, on my left is the deputy minister of finance, Bill MacKay, and on my right is Terence Courtoreille, deputy secretary to the financial management board.