Beginning in 2002, he has also published five books of non-fiction prose, mixing nature writing, thoughts on poetics, and philosophical and environmental reflections.

McKay, published since 1973, is described as ' a poet with a patient eye, an acute arresting ear, over flowing with details of ornithology, botany, weather, industry, books and music; nuanced descriptions, philosophical phrasing, folksy idiom.

[2] Others,[3] consider 'awe, astonishment and wonder to be the keynotes of McKay's poems and poetics' and that his prime subject matter to be 'the workings of the human mind'.

He was the co-founder and a manuscript reader for Brick Books ., one of Canada's leading poetry presses, and was editor of the literary journal The Fiddlehead from 1991 to 1996.

He has mentored many fellow poets, including Ken Babstock, Marlene Cookshaw, Barbara Colebrook Peace, Michael Redhill, Richard Kelly Kemick, Anne Simpson, and Sue Sinclair.