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's Office
Email
Email

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 70)

Thank you, Madam Chair. This funding was received as part of what is called Northern Bundle 3. Madam Chair, I just want to make sure that I am properly referencing the correct long-term services. Madam Chair, perhaps I might propose that we direct this to the deputy minister, as he might have it handy, to outline that.

Question 674-19(2): Future of Tourism
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 70)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Sometimes, it does seem that there a lot of steps and processes before things get released, but there is good reason for that. Tourism 2025, I am grateful that committee had the opportunity to look at a draft, and when that step is complete, it goes through Cabinet. The reason for taking some of those steps is to ensure that everyone can speak with one voice on the Cabinet side, that communications are ready to go, and we are now at that point. I am expecting that it can be, indeed, tabled before this session is over. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Committee Motion 87-19(2): Concurrence Motion Tabled Document 349-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2021-2021, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 70)

Thank you, Madam Chair. It was a change of plans, as I understand it. Maybe I will propose that this go to the deputy minister, and then he can weave in why this matters from the accounting perspective, please. Thank you.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 70)

Thank you, Madam Chair. That's an excellent question. As we do look to expanding which communities have people potentially self-isolating, wastewater sampling certainly is one of the ways in which we are protecting citizens. Look, for the meantime, much as when this first rolled out, we were looking to GNWT funds to provide the funding. As the program expands, whether locally or to other communities, as any of the COVID-19 efforts may need to still expand or modify as the pandemic evolves, they are being funded if they need to be by GNWT dollars and we continue to go back and speak to the...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 69)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I believe the reduction is approximately $1.4 million.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 69)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, on my left is Kelly Bluck, director of fiscal policy from the Department of Finance, and on the right, Cherie Jarock, legislative counsel with the legislation division from the Department of Justice.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 69)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am here to present Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act. The main purpose of Bill 16 is to reduce the tax burden on our small businesses by reducing the small business tax rate from 4 percent down to 2 percent. With this reduction, Northwest Territories small businesses will incur a tax rate of 2 percent on taxable income under $500,000. Any taxable income over $500,000 will continue to be subject to the general corporate tax rate of 11.5 percent. This proposed measure will become effective on January 1, 2021.

We are also taking this opportunity to propose two...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 69)

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 69)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I agree, that is the kind of debate that should be happening in the House. Again, I will certainly commit to getting some of the details and financial numbers to the House so that that discussion can be brought to the floor.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 69)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I was pleased to get that suggestion last year, probably around this time, and I am happy to receive it and be reminded again. The process of going through budget dialogues and putting some of the information out was very helpful to me in this role but, I think, also to the department. We will certainly make sure that we engage in this process. I think, having adapted to COVID-19, it will be earlier this year than last year. Thank you.