Jay Macdonald

Member Thebacha

Minister of Environment and Climate Change

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

Member Jay MacDonald, Minister MacDonald
Thebacha
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Email
Phone
(867) 767-9143
Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Minister
Email
Email

Statements in Debates

Question 373-20(1): Targeted Amendments to Waters Regulations
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 34)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, the department is in the very early stages of discussions with the ICGS, and we are hoping to advance that in a timely fashion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 373-20(1): Targeted Amendments to Waters Regulations
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 34)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. The proposed approach for the waters regulation, the department has been looking at the recommendations from the chamber of mines, the land and water boards of the Mackenzie Valley, as well as some requests from Indigenous governments in how we can work together through your process with the Intergovernmental Council and through the legislative development protocol to advance the amendments to the regulations as well as some targeted amendments that have been identified by the Department of Environment and Climate Change...

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)

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, part of the -- sorry, it's not necessarily an issue of convenience as much as also an issue of safety. Currently part of the facility has a small engine shop in a building that's essentially an office building. There's also the fact that our staff have been -- the warehouse is located in the basement so there are a lot of challenges with moving equipment and supplies in and out of the basement which creates significant risk to the staff. And the warehouse at King Street is a significantly old warehouse that is very outdated, hasn't been renovated in many...

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 to the Member for the question. I'm certainly always supportive of youth participation in all of government across the whole Northwest Territories, and I would definitely go back and have a discussion with the department to see what opportunities we could look at in the future. 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. Mr. Chair, the primary criteria ranking was direct impact was a B, severity impact was an A, urgency was an A, and mitigation was an A. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Minister’s Statement 72-20(1): Collaborative Work on Land Administration and Management
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 33)

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to working collaboratively with Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations on land administration and management, specifically around traditional use cabins on public land. Our ongoing efforts reflect our shared priorities to develop respectful, transparent, and effective land use policies that support traditional land use, harvesting rights, and community wellbeing. To achieve this, the Department of Environment and Climate Change is engaging with Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations to develop a new...

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, the project is well underway. It has not reached the construction phase however $16 million has been spent to date. 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. Mr. Chair, so for 2025-2026, there's one truck for the Tlicho region; however, the capital plan for trucks is spanned out over the 20-year capital needs assessment so those trucks are constantly being replaced. So I don't have the specific detail on previous years but as things go forward, that's a constant. I'd also like to just say that so within the last -- since 2016 in Frank Channel specifically, there has been a significant investment in the base there. There was a new crew standby facility built. There was a new warehouse built. There was a new dispatch centre...

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. I am not 100 percent sure we do it to that level in-house, I'm certainly happy to get that information for the Member. 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. Mr. Chair, the territorial forest fire centre supports many regional operations. So every region has a regional fire base so in the five -- Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Smith, Norman Wells, Fort Simpson, and Inuvik, all have regional fire bases, and there are also smaller bases at other communities within all of those regions. So Fort Providence, for example, has a base and fire crews based out of there.

We certainly do attempt to work with the regions, and I've also had some conversations with the department about looking at decentralizing some positions that are able to...