Vince McKay

Member Hay River South

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

Member Vince McKay
Hay River South
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Minister
Email
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 33)

I do, please.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 33)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That there would be a lot of detail behind how a community operates their emergency services, if they had one. Depending on the type of service they would have in their community, you know, basically as even as a first-aider, even as a lay responder you would be eligible or trained -- eligible to be trained to use naloxone kits. So depending on the services, depending on accessibility, but just the old quick search of the interweb here I was able to find out that in the Tlicho region there are four spots where you could get naloxone kits through using our wonderful GNWT...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 33)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't know the actual amount, and I can get that for the Member. But we do have a fund available for first responder training that is eligible for communities that apply for it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 33)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To my left is Gary Brennan, deputy minister, and to my right is Grace Lau-a, a director of community operations.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 33)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I've had the honour of working with the sergeant-at-arms, Mr. Floyd Powder, in his role and capacity with the veterans' programs, and he's done some amazing work with that, and I hope -- like I tell people, when you retire it's not really retire; it's a change of careers and you can do whatever you want on our own time. And I hope he continues to do that. I want to thank him for his work here in the Legislative Assembly, and I want to wish him well in his future endeavorers.

I also want to congratulate a good friend of mine, somebody I grew up with in Hay River. When he...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 33)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would suggest that the community checks with their local fire department to see if it's required or if they want it, and then that their community government reaches out to the regional superintendent in order to get the process going to see if we can get the training or the funds to them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 32)

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has committed to making programs and services more accessible to residents and do better to streamline administrative processes. Today, I am pleased to announce a new initiative that will change the way businesses in the territory obtain their business licenses.

The launch of our new eService program for business licenses is a major step in promoting a business-friendly environment that demonstrates our commitment to supporting the economic growth across the territory. This new eService program is designed to streamline the licensing...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 32)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Municipal and Community Affairs, unfortunately, does not have a lot of staff. And I know that we do have staff available that could potentially assist with the community, so I think it's best if the community reaches out to the regional superintendent so that maybe resources could be found if we have them available. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 32)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The territorial government supplies -- or sorry, funds communities through our community funding. It's up to the communities whether or not they want to utilize some of that funding for things like the pools -- or for, like, pools. However, the government doesn't build pools or operate pools for communities so it's up -- at the end of the day, it's up to the community whether or not they want to use their own revenues or go out to other sources of funding for building such facilities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 32)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish I had all those employees. At the end of the day, I think we have to realize not all these employees are indeterminate full-time employees that are working -- you know, they're term employees. There's relief workers. So at the end of the day, we don't have those employees to assist with the community right now. Any other questions like that, I guess would have to go to the Minister of Finance. Thank you.