Vince McKay

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
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 45)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not -- the Department of MACA is not the department for land transfers. But we do part of the work with the communities -- or community governments for their community planning and stuff like that. So might be for another Minister. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 44)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just about had me confused too with Minister of education here, but.

Our community learning development centre specializes in a lot of municipal community government training. We specialize in -- the department specializes in the water treatment plant operating certificate, community government learning. So that's, you know, basically all we do within the community governance side so I'm interested in, you know, potentially sitting down with either departments and trying to figure out an opportunity to expand these and maybe working together with ECE to figure out how we...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 44)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Having just received this report that was given to me by the Member, you know, it's an interesting concept. What I can say right now is no departments have communicated in regard to his Member's statement. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 44)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think this is an interesting concept. I think there's an opportunity, and there's been a few brought up over the last little while, but I think there's opportunities to use these community learning centres, and I think it's also an opportunity for my department to sit down with ECE and discuss other opportunities and maybe something comes along the lines as what the Minister's statement was getting at and the document that he provided me with earlier. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 44)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can't see anybody back there, but I heard we have a resident from Hay River up there, Sherri Tambour, so I'd like to acknowledge her. And also acknowledge once again and say thanks to our pages, acknowledge Adele Russell and Molly Campbell for being here. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 42)

That is a very easy commitment for me, and I will say yes. But I would also add that there is some issues with just throwing out civic addressing. We do have other agencies we have to work with. And I know there's potentially some solutions out there so it's something we could probably, you know, have worked on pretty soon. So thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 42)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Honoured to be here. I just wanted to say so with the incorporated areas that we have within the territories, of course it's hard to apply civic addresses. We are working with communities to do civic addresses; however, with the unincorporated areas there are some struggles, and there's some discussions happening amongst agencies. I know some of the addressing that's being used right now currently is kilometer markings on the highway system, and that's pretty common throughout the Northwest Territories. So currently, we don't have anything set for the area that the...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 42)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So we all know how we don't like commitments but I will work with the Member to see how we can -- to pursue with this. And I think it is an important issue, especially when you're dealing with emergency services. So I know there is conversations happening in the background; however, I don't know exactly where those are at. But I am willing to work with the Member and see what we can do for areas like those on the Ingraham Trail. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 41)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents: Plain Language Summary for Bill 17, Municipal and Community Affairs Statutes Amendment Act; and Statement of Consistency for Bill 17, Municipal and Community Affairs Statutes Amendment Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 41)

Drin Gwiinzii, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize the establishment of the hamlet of Tsiigehtchic. The new hamlet’s first mayor and council were sworn in on January 15, 2025, marking a significant milestone for the community of Tsiigehtchic and the Northwest Territories.

Tsiigehtchic is a community with rich cultural heritage, deeply connected to the Gwich’in people and their traditional lands. The journey to become a hamlet has been a long one, beginning in 2019 when the residents initiated a petition seeking a change from a chartered community status. This led to the consultation with...