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 69)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yeah, so the Department of Infrastructure has been working closely with their partners to complete this project at the Inuvik airport. This is a strategic airport, as the Member stated, for the Northwest Territories for numerous reasons, and also the interest of DND. So, yeah, we continue to work on the runway extension and work with our partners to the interests of the area, and we'll continue to work with them to complete this project as it is an important project for the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 69)

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm not entirely sure about the timeline on updating the policy or those guidelines. But what I could do is, again, reach out to the department and see what the plans are for them. However, we do follow the -- the communities do have to follow numerous guidelines when it comes to operating a landfill. Part of it is having a water license which goes through Wek'èezhìi Water Board in the Tlicho region, but in the other communities it's Northwest Territories Land and Water Board. Yeah, and the other thing to this is if there's any concerns about any spills or any...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 69)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That I wouldn't know offhand. There's a lot of detail behind that question. However, what we can do is reach out and see how the community landfills are established. I know some of them are established on a clay base, not necessarily a liner. So I can reach out -- we can get the department to reach out to the -- they might even know but I don't have that detailed answer here. One of the things that I will say is that a lot of the landfills are -- actually all of the landfills are community-base operated, so they're operated by the community governments so they would be...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 69)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yeah, so there is some delay to the previous commitment of paving. However, as the Member's probably aware, the ground in the area is built on permafrost and so is that runway. So what the department is actually waiting for is an opportunity for that ground to settle as much as it can before they start doing a lot of the paving. The problem is, is right now it's moved actually quite a bit in certain areas. In the last -- from last fall until now, there's been some area of movement of up to a foot. So in order to bring that up to grade, they would have to fill that in...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 69)

Mr. Speaker, I would like to provide an update on the 2025 marine transportation services' sailing season. After the 2024 low water challenges that made the Mackenzie River impossible to navigate and forced cancelation of the shipping season, I am happy to report that the 2025 season was a success.

Last spring, I spoke of proactive contingency plans being made in case conditions on the Mackenzie River were unnavigable again. Thanks to favourable conditions and the good work done by marine transportation services and the Department of Infrastructure's fuel services division, we were able to...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 68)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Northwest Territories 9-1-1 Service 2024-2025 Annual Report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 68)

Just waiting to see if you find it quicker than me.

This is for all of them over time here.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 68)

I'll ask the deputy minister to answer that.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 68)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the motion brought forward and the continued focus on strengthening emergency management in the Northwest Territories. Although it might be strange to have a Minister who is trained and then has the background in emergency services for over the past 30 years, but the government of the Northwest Territories remains committed to improving our emergency preparedness and response system.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by clarifying the structure and responsibilities of emergency management organizations, or EMO, as it currently operates in the NWT.

The EMO is...

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 68)

Yeah, everywhere our fuel services division operates, essentially, 13 communities. Thank you, Mr. Chair.