Jay Macdonald

Member Thebacha

Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Minister of Justice
Government House Leader

Jay Macdonald was elected to the 20th Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly to represent the constituency of Thebacha. Mr. Macdonald was elected to the Executive Council of the 20th Assembly.

Mr. Macdonald was born on June 26, 1964, in the town of Hay River, Northwest Territories. As an Indigenous Métis, Jay's roots run deep in the Northern Canadian landscape, and his journey has been marked by diverse experiences that have enriched both his personal and professional life.

Mr. Macdonald’s family relocated to Fort Smith in 1970. Mr. Macdonald successfully managed his small engine repair shop, providing essential services to the community and establishing himself as a reliable entrepreneur. Simultaneously, he delved into the intricacies of recreation facility management, overseeing operations at the local arena and golf course.

In his 13-year tenure as the Manager of Forest Management Services with the Environment and Conservation Division of the Government of the Northwest Territories, Mr. Macdonald demonstrated an unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship.

Mr. Macdonald’s dedication to youth development is evident in his 12-year role as the House Parent Program Coordinator for the Western Arctic Leadership Program. For five years, he served as a house parent, providing a nurturing environment for students from Lutsel Ke attending PWK High School. This experience not only showcased his compassion but also contributed significantly to the academic and personal growth of the students under his care.

Drawing on his expertise as a Journey Person Small Equipment Technician, Mr. Macdonald spent 13 years managing a Polaris dealership and served as an Instructor for Small Equipment Maintenance, Aviation Fuel Management, and Logistics disciplines under the Incident Command System.

Mr. Macdonald’s commitment to community extends beyond his professional roles. As a dedicated volunteer, he served as President and Coach of Fort Smith Minor Hockey, nurturing young talent and instilling the values of teamwork and sportsmanship. His coaching prowess extended to the national stage as he led Team NWT at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships.

In his role as a representative of the Fort Smith Métis Nation on the local District Education Association Board, Mr. Macdonald contributed to shaping educational policies that reflect the unique needs of the community. Additionally, he served as a Board Member and Chair of the Northwest Territories Apprenticeship and Occupational Certification Board, advocating for the recognition and advancement of skilled trades.

Mr. Macdonald’s commitment to community welfare is further evidenced by his involvement in various local activities and events. Whether coaching minor sports or contributing to volunteer initiatives, he has consistently worked towards creating a vibrant and cohesive community fabric.

Outside of his professional and community engagements, Mr. Macdonald has a full family life. He is married to Karen, is a proud father to three children, and a doting grandfather to three grandchildren.

In his leisure time, Jay indulges in hobbies that reflect his love for the outdoors. Golfing, fishing, gardening, and enjoying the vast Northern landscapes are among his favorite pastimes.

Thebacha Electoral District:

Committees

Jay Macdonald
Thebacha
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Jay_Macdonald@ntassembly.ca
Phone
(867) 767-9143 (link is a phone number)
Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Minister
Email
Jay_Macdonald@gov.nt.ca

Statements in Debates

Question 372-20(1): Funding for Youth Climate Change Advocacy
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 33)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you very much for the question. Certainly do welcome the input and respect the input from that group and all of the other groups that participate in the climate file. I think this is certainly a very challenging space right now in that we look at our rapid rate of climate change in the Northwest Territories and certainly having their input, especially of the youth, in that forum is very important. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Committee Motion 45-20(1): Tabled Document 193-20(1): 2025-2026 Capital Estimates – Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 33)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Planning and material, I believe.

Committee Motion 45-20(1): Tabled Document 193-20(1): 2025-2026 Capital Estimates – Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 33)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And thank you for question. Yes, I'd love the opportunity to explain this one. So the territorial infrastructure is infrastructure that supports the territory as a whole. So I can go here and look at the lightning detection system, which is a piece of territorial infrastructure. So there's a network of detection sites across the NWT that provide lightning data to all of the NWT, to all of the bases in all of the regions, as well as to the territorial fire centre. This type of infrastructure supports all of the firefighting activity. So it's not necessarily assigned to a...

Committee Motion 45-20(1): Tabled Document 193-20(1): 2025-2026 Capital Estimates – Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 33)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The total budget for the project is $32 million.

Committee Motion 45-20(1): Tabled Document 193-20(1): 2025-2026 Capital Estimates – Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 33)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, some of the -- so I don't have the specific number, but I can give you a pretty good ballpark number.

So within the Department of Environment and Climate Change, there's approximately between, I'd say, 120 and 140 trucks that are used across all of the departments and divisions and many of those, depending on location within NWT, if you're driving constantly up and down the Dempster Highway or if you're driving on winter roads or, you know, Whati, for example, right where the -- so part of the plan here and how these are disbursed throughout the capital plan for...

Committee Motion 45-20(1): Tabled Document 193-20(1): 2025-2026 Capital Estimates – Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 33)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That level of detail would be really hard to calculate. We take a much broader approach to how we do the calculations on the greenhouse gas emissions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 45-20(1): Tabled Document 193-20(1): 2025-2026 Capital Estimates – Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 33)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, Mr. Chair, the FMD is a headquarter function. So it is part -- forest management division is considered part of headquarters but it's based out of Fort Smith. So that's one of the large key employers for the community. The program has been there since devolution -- before devolution, it's been based out of Fort Smith. If I was to try and go back in time, I would say since the '60s. And so over time, it has evolved into the location that it is at now, has a significant number of deficiencies that I identified earlier which is certainly part of the driving force behind...

Committee Motion 45-20(1): Tabled Document 193-20(1): 2025-2026 Capital Estimates – Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 33)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, I do agree with that statement. It certainly does have an impact. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Committee Motion 45-20(1): Tabled Document 193-20(1): 2025-2026 Capital Estimates – Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 33)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Certainly, I think the territorial fire centre is a key piece in our ability to respond in a timely manner and an effective manner. It will be a facility that allows for our territorial -- I lost my train of thought there, sorry.

It allows for our territorial leadership, so our territorial duty officer and support staff, to have a facility that has all of the necessary tools to support the regional operations. It allows our team that is looking after equipment, warehousing, resupply, communications, detection, to have a facility that's all in one that allows for the work...

Committee Motion 45-20(1): Tabled Document 193-20(1): 2025-2026 Capital Estimates – Infrastructure - Deferral of Department, Carried
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 33)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And thank you for the question. I think that some of the challenges, especially in the Northwest Territories and certainly based on location, is having adequate infrastructure based on the resources that are available within that area. So in the Beaufort Delta, for example, the boats that are used to deliver the programming there need to be of a certain size and ability to deliver the programs to ensure that our staff are safe as they're doing that work. And there's not really anything currently on the market that would be able to enhance the goals in the way of not using...