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

Caroline Wawzonek
Yellowknife South
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Extension
12177
Deputy Premier, Minister of Finance, Minister of Infrastructure, and Minister Responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation
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Statements in Debates

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, this is another part of, I think, a good news story with the movement on the Great Slave Lake for fishery revitalization because, yes, my understanding is that Arcand is in fact put their materials forward with a lot of local contractors all working together. So perhaps when I provide the update broadly speaking about the Great Slave Lake fishery, that I will see what we can provide on this as well. Again, I think this is actually a good news story of a company that's come together and really looked at how to use northern suppliers in their bid. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, Madam Chair. So, Madam Chair, we'll certainly see if, in fact, there's an estimate that perhaps the Department of Finance might be aware of, although I'm not sure  I mean, again, that's not necessarily the information we would have brought on the supplementary estimates for this particular sup.

The commitment that was made in the priorities is, of course, is to reduce the funding gap by $5 million so we certainly are taking a significant step towards that with this additional $2.5 million here, even in the onetime event. But, yeah, Minister  or sorry, Madam Chair, I'm going to have...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Mr. Speaker, we continue to navigate our every changing circumstances as the pandemic continues around the world. And After a long winter, I am sure we are all looking for a summer of fresh air and outdoor activities. The Northwest Territories parks are ready for visitors. We have already received a record number of registrations from residents across the territory. In 2020, registrations from Northwest Territories residents booking overnight stays in territorial parks increased by 46 percent and already this year we are see a further increase of 15 on top of 2020's already impressive numbers...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I don't have the financial details here, and I'm not sure if either of the witnesses might have it. There were original cost overages from the original time when the project was first conceived. But in terms of the wording of this contract, I mean, that, I believe, was spoken to at last year's  or at a previous occasion in reviewing the infrastructure plans. So there hasn't been any changes in the last, you know, several months as far as moving the project forward. But as far as the original costs, the changes in costs, I'll  I know there were changes to...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, Madam Chair. So again, Madam Chair, I can't speak to what may or may not have been presented by the Member back in 2019. I can say that the Tlicho Government, I understand, is in support of this transmission project and it certainly is a part of the priorities of this government to make sure we are working with Indigenous governments when  typically on projects that are on Indigenous lands. And, you know, I'm not sure where the disconnect is between the information that's available. So perhaps in those studies, it may well answer those questions. The information I have available to...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, this construction work is expected in the current fiscal year 20212022. I think with some expectation that it may, indeed, be even as early as this fall but certainly within the next  within the 20212022 fiscals, as I've said will be getting started. And it's a project that has involved the collection stations are involving some discussions with communities around the lake, including the City of Yellowknife, Fort Resolution, Fort Resolution Metis Council, the Deninu Kue First Nation, and so the last year was a bit delayed. One of the other delays  I...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, obviously if there was some carryover is required there's certainly some work yet to be done. Neither the Minister nor I were here in August of 2019, but I'd suggest, perhaps, if the Minister of Infrastructure can provide some update as to the status of the project that might be the place to go.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, you know, with respect to the specifics of this amount for Health, then that may be a question for the Minister of Health. But I think where I'm going here is in terms of just the overages  or the carryovers generally, then for that, Madam Chair, if I might turn it back over to Mr. Koe to speak to to what extent these carryover are, again, within a range of, quote unquote, "normal". Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I don't know the specifics on that. Perhaps I'll turn it over to  but the Minister of Infrastructure might.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 78)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm sure happy to have a chance to speak to vehicle replacements again. It was put to me that, in fact, there is actually quite a wide shortage of vehicles across  well, across a number of places in North America, if not around the world, because of the shortage of semiconductor chips for one and other supply chain shortages that arose earlier in the pandemic.

So it is apparently not particularly surprising that there are some challenges in getting particularly the more specialized vehicles that might have programspecific requirements for them.

So I can, again, say that...