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. The Yellowknife Airport revenues are expected to be down $12 million as a result of almost nine months of having fees waived over 2020-2021, a significant decrease. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, the funding was already advanced through the department for this purpose, and my understanding is that this has helped support repairs to 108 previously vacant units in 24 different communities.

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

Yes, Madam Chair. That is correct. This was a partnership with Enbridge to accelerate the construction here: a good opportunity and a good example of where government efforts were able to support a private sector project. As far as the specifics of where the actuals landed, Madam Chair, I don't have those actuals in front of me, but I do know that, as I said, the work has been done. I will simply confirm where the actuals came in. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. On the right, Sandy Kalgutkar, secretary to the Financial Management Board, and on the left, Jamie Koe, deputy secretary to the Financial Management Board.

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.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. This is not an occasion where there will be a commensurate raising of taxes or introduction of a new tax to directly offset the $1.4 million revenue loss. What is hoped, however, is that, by helping the sector become more competitive and helping small businesses be more competitive, we will see economic growth, which then can ultimately help create more taxpayers in the form of more small businesses, which can hopefully offset the revenue lost from the tax rate change. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. We are a little bit behind some of the other jurisdictions in terms of our business tax rate for small businesses. This finally is an opportunity to bring us a little bit more in line and make us more competitive with some of our colleagues across the rest of Canada. Up to this point, we were at or near, in fact, the very top of the pile. This is an opportunity to, again, make us more competitive, and it's a good time. I think one of the MLAs has already mentioned that it's an opportunity to give a bit of release at an occasion and during a context where there has been...

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

Yes, Madam Chair.