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

Oral Question 308-20(1): Fire Towers
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 28)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Member for the question.

Currently, we have 11 fire towers across the Northwest Territories. Nine of those are camera-based towers. One of the towers is -- two of the towers are located in the Nahendeh riding, one in Fort Liard, and one in Somba K'e. The Fort Liard tower is person operated as well as the one in Somba K'e. It is a unique situation. It also has cameras attached to it primarily for this season in that the person that holds that position was on leave for the 2024 season. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Member’s Statement 317-20(1): Congratulations to Fort Smith Graduates
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 27)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to honour the class of 2024 from the Paul William Kaeser High School in Fort Smith. This year, I am proud to announce there were 24 graduates from the regular school program and the Phoenix program. I would like to thank all of the teachers, the staff at PWK, and the South Slave Divisional Education Council, the parents, guardians, and all of those who have supported their success.

To the students, as you navigate through the existing journey ahead, Mr. Speaker, passion will fuel their pursuits, integrity will guide their decisions, and resilience will help...

Question 295-20(1): Lands Staff in Sahtu
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 27)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we pursue filling these vacant positions, we have been using the staff from -- the regional staff from the -- my apologies, sorry. There are ECC staff in the region that have the capacity to assist with the work on the lands files. As well as the staff are getting support from regional staff in other locations to assist with that work. Some of the work is also being supported by staff from headquarters in Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 295-20(1): Lands Staff in Sahtu
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 27)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there have been a high rate of turnover in staff in the Sahtu over the last year post merger. Currently, there are six vacancies within the department, and one that will be filled shortly with a casual in the short term. And there's active recruiting going on to fill the other positions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Tabled Document 130-20(1): NWT Surface Rights Board Operating Budget
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 27)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents: Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee report 62-19(2), Report on the Review of Bill 74: Forest Act; and, NWT Surface Rights Board 2024-2025 Operating Budget. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 295-20(1): Lands Staff in Sahtu
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 27)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, there's been high turnover and the department is actively recruiting staff for these positions. Part of that has been advertising the positions multiple times in some instances and working to ensure that we are trying to engage with people within the area, the local area, to attempt to fill those positions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 292-20(1): Transboundary Water Pollution and Testing
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 26)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, that work is currently underway both at the federal level as well as within the province of Alberta. There were questions that were raised by the Government of the Northwest Territories through Environment and Climate Change to which we've had responses from the Alberta government in relation to release of water from the tailings ponds. We're currently evaluating some of the responses and will be continuing that conversation on those proposed changes to legislation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 292-20(1): Transboundary Water Pollution and Testing
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 26)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on June 9th, Suncor was notified that a routine preliminary lab test results on one of the discharge ponds was outside the company approval parameters. As a result of this, there was a notification that was identified through our transboundary water agreement. And the current situation as we are -- additional testing is underway to validate the original test results, and we anticipate that we should receive those slowly and they will be shared once available. And at this time, no additional action is required from residents downstream of the release. Thank...

Question 292-20(1): Transboundary Water Pollution and Testing
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 26)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, we don't have control over activities that happen within Alberta. I'm very pleased to stand up and say that the transboundary water agreement that Alberta and the Northwest Territories have was activated, as outlined within that agreement, so the notification was timely. In response to that notification by the Department of Environment and Climate Change, we responded quickly to get that information out to the Indigenous governments as well as the communities across the Northwest Territories, and we will continue to relay that information as...

Question 292-20(1): Transboundary Water Pollution and Testing
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 26)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is currently work being done within Alberta and with the federal minister from ECCC in regards to guiding regulations around release of tailings waters from the oil sands projects, and the Department of Environment and Climate Change is engaged in those discussions at this time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.