Yukon News Releases
Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health provides update on COVID-19
Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Brendan Hanley has the following updates on measures being taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 cases
As of today, March 22, at 7 p.m. there are two cases of COVID-19 in Yukon.
COVID-19 test results
Yukon is now seeing a faster turnaround time on COVID-19 test results. By early this coming week, the number of completed tests on Yukon.ca will be updated three times a week.
Non-essential travel outside of territory and into rural Yukon
COVID-19 confirmed in Yukon
Dr. Brendan Hanley, Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH), has confirmed the first two cases of COVID-19 in the territory.
The two cases were confirmed Sunday morning.
The two Whitehorse residents are from the same household. They returned from the United States last week and went into self-isolation. When symptoms presented, they contacted Yukon Communicable Disease for testing. They have mild illness and are continuing to self-isolate at home.
Information for Yukoners on Canada-US border restrictions
Canada and the United States are temporarily restricting all non-essential travel across its borders to limit the spread of COVID-19. This is a precautionary measure, in line with the directions on social distancing that are being given by health officials across the country.
Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health provides update on COVID-19
Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Brendan Hanley has the following updates for the Yukon public on measures being taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 cases
As of today, March 20, at 9:30 a.m. there are no cases of COVID-19 in Yukon.
COVID-19 test results
2020–2021 Budget passes and spring sitting of Yukon Legislative Assembly concludes
The spring sitting of the Legislative Assembly ended early in light of the COVID-19 public health emergency, with key budget and income tax Bills receiving assent.
The Honourable Angélique Bernard, Commissioner of Yukon, assented to the following bills:
Bill 203, the First Appropriations Act 2020–21, which is the main Government of Yukon budget for 2020-2021. It includes approximately $1.62 billion. Of that $369.7 million is designated as capital spending and $1.25 billion is designated for operations and maintenance.
New Yukon Tourism Advisory Board appointed
A new Yukon Tourism Advisory Board has been appointed to provide advice to the Minister of Tourism and Culture on strategic tourism issues affecting the industry as industry and government work to implement the Yukon Tourism Development Strategy.
The eight new board members bring a diversity of experience and a broad range of tourism sector expertise: Denny Kobayashi (Chair); Maxime Gouyou-Beauchamps; Denise McHale; June Hampton; Neil Hartling; Lisa Dewhurst; Teena Dickson; and Jackie Olson.
Respiratory assessment centre to open at Yukon Convention Centre
A respiratory assessment centre is being set up at the Yukon Convention Centre in Whitehorse as part of Yukon’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yukoners who need medical help will be directed to the centre’s services through telephone advice from healthcare professionals. It will not be a drop-in centre.
Online self-assessment tool for COVID-19 now available
An online self-assessment tool to help Yukoners determine if they need to be tested for COVID-19 is now available. The screening tool asks a series of questions and takes users through steps to help determine whether they should call the HealthLine at 811 or take other actions.
Chief Medical Officer of Health declares public health emergency
This news release has been updated, a fourth bullet has been added to reflect library closures.
Dr. Brendan Hanley, Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, today declared a public health emergency under section 4.3 of the Public Health and Safety Act.
This declaration enables the Chief Medical Officer of Health to respond more quickly to the rapidly changing situation and to ensure the health and safety of Yukoners. The public health emergency will be in effect until further notice.
Premier Silver announces a stimulus package to support businesses and workers
Premier Silver has announced an economic stimulus package to support local workers and businesses impacted by COVID-19. This money is being made available to help offset the negative impacts of the evolving global situation.
The stimulus package will:
Chief Medical Officer of Health recommends broad new measures for Yukon
Corrected to clarify who should not visit hospitals and long-term care facilities.
Yukoners recommended to cancel or postpone all international non-essential travel
On the advice of the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Brendan Hanley, is advising all Yukoners to cancel or postpone all non-essential travel outside of Canada, including the United States.
As of today, there are still no cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Yukon. If Yukoners avoid non-essential international travel this may help slow the introduction of the virus to Yukon.
Legislation to ban conversion therapy tabled
Today, Minister responsible for the Women’s Directorate Jeanie Dendys tabled legislation to ban conversion therapy in Yukon.
Bill No. 9 would ban the practice of conversion therapy on minors or adults that have a court appointed guardian or substitute decision-maker and also clarify that conversion therapy is not an insured service. It would also introduce penalties for practicing conversion therapy in Yukon.
Premier Sandy Silver has issued the following statement regarding the First Ministers' Meeting
After careful consideration and out of an abundance of caution, I will not be attending the First Ministers’ Meeting this week. Prior to making this decision I took into account the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) and my attendance at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) annual conference earlier this month.
The risk for COVID-19 in Yukon and Canada remains low and Yukon’s medical system is well prepared for this situation.
Cutting taxes proposed to support Yukon businesses
Today, Premier and Finance Minister Sandy Silver tabled the Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2020 to ensure Yukon’s private sector can continue to flourish.
Bill No. 8 proposes to reduce the small business tax rate from two per cent to zero. The rate change is expected to save Yukon businesses approximately $2 million per year.
The Bill also expands the eligibility for the Business Investment Tax Credit to encourage additional investment in Yukon businesses.
New Tobacco and Vaping Products Control and Regulation Act in force
The Tobacco and Vaping Products Control and Regulation Act has been proclaimed by the Government of Yukon and is now in force. This new Act replaces the Smoke-Free Places Act and regulates the use, sale, display and promotion of tobacco and vaping products in Yukon.
A number of changes will immediately take effect, including the following:
Leave provisions for domestic and sexualized violence proposed
Community Services Minister John Streicker tabled Bill No. 10, which proposes to amend the Employment Standards Act to provide access to paid and unpaid leave for victims of domestic or sexualized violence working in territorially regulated industries and professions.
This leave would be available to victims of domestic violence perpetrated by intimate partners or family members and to victims of sexualized violence. The proposed leave provisions would also apply to employees if their child or person they care for is a victim of domestic or sexualized violence.
Government of Yukon tables amendments to the Wills Act
Justice Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee tabled Bill No. 12 today, proposing amendments to the Wills Act to better reflect the realities of modern society, including provisions to address marriage, divorce, separation and common law relationships.
Proposed amendments to the act clarify the technical requirements for validating a will, provide powers for courts to correct common errors and enable the creation of a registry of wills in the regulations.
Amendments to the Land Titles Act tabled
Today, Minister of Justice Tracy-Anne McPhee tabled Bill No. 11, proposing amendments that are intended to provide greater certainty to Yukon First Nations governments for the registration of Category A and B Settlement Land in the Yukon Land Titles Office.
Amendments to the Land Titles Act will expand the definitions of subsidiary certificate of title and development agreement, and recognize the authority of Yukon First Nations governments in respect of development agreements, plans of subdivision and approvals of air space plans.
Whitehorse 2020 Arctic Winter Games Cancelled
Joint release from the Whitehorse 2020 Arctic Winter Games Host Society, Government of Yukon, City of Whitehorse, and Chief Medical Officer of Health.
Today the Arctic Winter Games Host Society, with the support of the Yukon government and the City of Whitehorse, announced that the Whitehorse 2020 Arctic Winter Games have been cancelled following a recommendation from Yukon’s acting Chief Medical Officer of Health.
