Member Hay River South

Minister of Infrastructure
Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs
Minister Responsible for Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission
Minister Responsible for the Public Utilities Board

Vince McKay was elected to the 20th Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly to represent the constituency of Hay River South. Mr. McKay was elected to the Executive Council of the 20th Assembly.

Mr. McKay was born on September 17, 1977, in the picturesque town of Hay River.

With a career spanning an impressive 26 years with the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT). Mr. McKay began his journey as a Corrections Officer, steadily climbing the ranks to become a trusted Corrections Supervisor. His leadership acumen led him to the esteemed position of Deputy Warden and eventually to the Directorship of the Investigations and Standards Office (ISO). In each role he demonstrated an unwavering commitment to justice, fairness, and the betterment of his community.

Mr. McKay’s dedication to the safety and well-being of Hay River residents extends to his 30-year tenure with the Hay River Fire Department. His legacy is further solidified by his ownership and operation of Westech Fire and Safety since 1999, showcasing his entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to the highest standards of safety.

In the realm of civic duty, Mr. McKay has been an integral part of the Hay River Town Council for an impressive 15 years. His tenure has been marked by a steadfast focus on community development, thoughtful governance, and a genuine concern for the welfare of his fellow citizens. His impact on the town council has left an indelible mark, earning him respect and admiration from colleagues and constituents alike.

Family lies at the heart of Mr. McKay’s life, with his wife, Barbara, and two children. Together, they form a united front that has weathered the challenges of a life devoted to public service.

Away from the rigors of his professional life, Mr. McKay finds solace and joy in a myriad of hobbies. An avid sports enthusiast, he can be found on the ice, or navigating the fairways with a golf club in hand. His love for the great outdoors is evident in his passion for camping, fishing, boating, and playing softball—activities that provide a well-deserved respite from the demands of his roles.

Hay River South Electoral District

Committees

Vince McKay
Hay River South
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Minister
Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Minister Responsible for Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission, Minister Responsible for the Public Utilities Board

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 58)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. With me, I have Catherine Boyd, director of corporate services. And Ryan Semak, senior legislation advisor.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 58)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm pleased to present Bill 17, Municipal and Community Affairs Statutes Amendment Act.

Bill 17 amends three Acts: The Fire Prevention Act, the NWT 9-1-1 Act, and the Western Canada Lottery Act. The purpose of the bill is to adjust the reporting timelines required under the three Acts to provide sufficient time for MACA to collect and the data from various sources to ensure accurate and comprehensive reporting.

This Bill amends the Fire Prevention Act reporting period for the fire marshal's report to the Minister to reflect the fiscal year and to have the report due to the...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 58)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The GNWT has commissioned several technical studies. The PUB has directed the use of existing studies also. We're not just putting them on the shelf. So we're using them. The PUB established its own process of implementing each directive. For example, while the GNWT has directed the PUB to establish an independent power producer policy, the exact design will be based on evidence and consultation through the PUB process. So the PUB can commission additional studies, if needed, but it's been using existing ones also. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 58)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This Saturday, tomorrow, the community of Hay River will be hosting its annual lobster do. It's a much-anticipated event in Hay River. It's an opportunity for the community to get together. After a long cold winter, it's one of our first big annual events.

I would like to take a moment to thank all the volunteers, as much of the people that are going, it takes that amount of people of volunteers in the background to host this event, preparing and cooking hundreds and hundreds of lobsters for the community that go. It is sold out, so that's a good thing. Hopefully, there...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 58)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to also recognize the grade 6 students from Hay River, Miya Taylor-Dumas, Jaxin Thompson, Bejamin Woehl, Jaxon Zdebiak, Parihaan Abrar, Scarlett Robillard, Emily Latour, Eleanor Bassett, and their chaperones Sherisse Bouchard -- chaperones and teachers, Sherisse Bouchard, Stephanie Haas, Adam Smith, Jillian Zdebiak, and their drivers taking them home safely this afternoon, Daniel Perron and Nicole Klause. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 57)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission 2025 Corporate Plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 56)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. MTS wouldn't be navigating the Mackenzie River without buoys set up by the Canadian coast guard. So that's a safety thing, and that's something that we'd -- like he said earlier in his Member's statement, we don't want to risk the environment, so we will wait for Canadian coast guard to put up the buoys in order to navigate the Mackenzie River. And from previous briefings, I know that they're really anticipating getting out there and looking at our waterways. We know some of the trouble spots of getting through, like the Fort Providence rapids -- rapid area, the Sans...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 56)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So currently, like I stated, with the new administrator put in place, you know, the assessment is developing a work plan on how we move forward with the community and the governance structure. Currently, at the time, it's all new so there is no timeline at present; however, I will say that I would rather have the residents govern their municipality than us, and the sooner we can get to that point and have a well-oiled machine of Enterprise back in order, we will have that in place and ready for them to take over. Our goal is to have some public meetings here as soon as...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 56)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First off, I would like to say that, you know, it's a last resort to put a government under public administration with the GNWT, and we've worked with the community many times throughout the last few years, including before our Assembly started, in order to maintain the government structure of Enterprise. So this isn't a new issue. This is a longstanding issue within the community.

So right now we're working with the public administrator who's in place right now to determine an action plan on what our processes are and how we're going to move through that. So one of the...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 56)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is a very good question. I don't know if I have the details handy yet. I know that they're waiting for a keep point to determine whether or not we would even be accepting freight in Hay River to put on the barges or whether or not they would hold off. So we'd have to wait to determine to see what we're getting, so I'll have to get back to the Member and let him know what freight's for the area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.