Jay Macdonald

Member Thebacha

Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Minister of Justice
Government House Leader

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

Jay 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

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 50)

Thank you, Madam Chair. On my left, I have deputy minister Robert Jenkins. And on my right, I have Jessica St. Arnaud, the director of finance. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 50)

No further comment. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 50)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, so a couple of points. Certainly, one I think is that, you know, there is a section 35 component to this process that needs to be recognized, and there's a couple of other challenges as well in that under the Act there's requirements for surveys as part of the one of the challenges, and that's part of the conversation that we've been having with the city of Yellowknife and trying to scale back to something that's certainly more manageable from the financial and capacity perspective of surveys. There's also zoning bylaws that come into place. So part of that...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 50)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I'll pass to director St. Arnaud.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 50)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, Madam Chair, I think this is a very good question. And currently we are signatories to 40 federal funding agreements in a variety of areas across the department. And certainly, it's top of mind from the department to explore every opportunity with the federal government to access any potential funding pots available. And I'd also just like to add that they've done a really good job of, you know, working with the federal government to try and reduce the amount of contribution -- or forms of contribution that the GNWT has to make to these agreements. Thank you, Madam...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 50)

Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. And, Madam Chair, certainly implementing, you know, the 25 recommendations is certainly top of mind for me as the Minister, and the department has really taken a proactive approach in prioritizing the recommendations that can be accomplished rather rapidly. It's quite an undertaking overall so, you know, I think they've done a good job of implementing everything that could be very quickly implemented and have taken a very proactive approach to implementing the remaining recommendations. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Question 585-20(1): Land Leases in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 50)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And apologies to the Member for my little stumble there. Currently we are working on reducing -- potentially reducing rents for Indigenous leaseholders that have traditional harvesting rights to potentially a dollar. Unfortunately, under the current legislation we're unable to go to zero. Certainly, we have the program in place, which came into force in 2023 which we've extended now, to pause collection on outstanding lease arrears. And we're certainly, you know, want to do everything we can as a department to work with all of the Indigenous governments across the NWT...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 50)

Thank you, Madam Chair. No, Madam Chair, there's accumulative impacts monitoring money in there for $3.65 million. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 50)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll pass to deputy minister Jenkins.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 50)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll pass that to the deputy minister. Thank you.