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.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. There are well-established processes within all of the public service that allow people to report wrongdoing to their supervisors and managers. There are also processes in place that allow for whistleblowing through an agreement that we have so far. There are different ways that people can go about reporting what they perceive to be wrongdoing, and certainly, Mr. Speaker, all unionized employees are encouraged to engage in their unions, specifically to corrections.
Mr. Speaker, this is a challenging work environment, which is why already, earlier in January, we...
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 29)
Thank you, Madam Chair. Just recently, the GNWT did respond to a third information request from the Gwich'in Land and Water Review Board. With that process still actively underway, that's the stage of things, but it is hoped, as I understand, that permits are going to be issued, and that that process is reaching a point of completion such that it could still be en route to getting started or actually completed by the fall of 2021. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 29)
Madam Chair, I think, and I feel like there is a crowd of people around me who will correct me if I'm wrong, but it's essentially that the base buildings, that's the preparatory work so that the renovations can then be done, in simple terms. No, I'm still wrong. I'm going to try. Madam Chair, if I could send it over to director, Terence Courtoreille, please.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 29)
Yes, Madam Chair. I am here to present Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2020-2021. This supplementary estimates document proposes a total increase of $162.3 million, comprised of the following items:
$166.3 million for infrastructure expenditures funding for projects that were not completed in 2019-2020. This amount is fully offset by lapses and appropriations in 2019-2020.
Negative $4.4 million for adjustments to the timing of expenditures related to five infrastructure projects under the federal Investing in Canada infrastructure plan agreement. This decrease is...
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 29)
Thank you, Madam Chair. There is no specific limit in terms of years. Carry-overs have to meet the requirements of the Financial Administration Act and the Financial Administration Manual, which requires that either the project is under way in some fashion -- I'm actually drawing a blank as to the criteria, but there has to be some action being taken. Money doesn't just get to sit around when there is not something to show for it. So, in that sense, although it can continue to carry over, it wouldn't be carrying over in the absence of some steps being taken or some movements being made. Again...
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 29)
Thank you, Madam Chair. It is a YK1 asset, as I understand, but obviously, they are in fairly close contact with the Minister of ECE. I don't think it's quite so simple of an answer as that. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 29)
Thank you, Madam Chair. There is an ongoing project to renovate the Stanton legacy building, and right now, there is a $9,782,000 carry-over that is being requested, because that is an amount that was cash flow last year that wasn't used up in that period. The Department of Health and Social Services is asking to carry it forward to continue the project that is under way. Right now, that is what I have in front of me. I don't have all of the project specifics in front of me, because that would be part of the capital planning project that would have been approved, as I have said, under the 18th...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 7, Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 2020-2021, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 29)
Thank you, Madam Chair. I actually had the opportunity to speak with Northwestel just today. There are quite a number of projects that I think they are looking to advance. There are projects that they are looking to advance on their own, and some that they are looking to partner with various levels of government on, so, while I can't sit here right now and promise that all of Tuktoyaktuk housing and facilities will be linked to high-speed fibre in the immediate future, I can certainly say that this project will get a long way in terms of figuring out exactly what is required. It would...
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 29)
Thank you, Madam Chair. Again, I am a bit conscious that the detailed specifics should be directed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, but I think it is safe to say, really, something that is being experienced and seen across all of the infrastructure projects and a lot of the infrastructure projects that are coming through Finance right now are experiencing some delays as a result of COVID-19, whether it's because of procurement slowdowns, whether it's because of slowdowns on the private sector side, in terms of the ability to have uptake. That is not to say that projects...
