Yukon News Releases
Discovery Day to display electric vehicles in Yukon
The Government of Yukon and the Yukon Transportation Museum invite the public to the first Electric Vehicle Discovery Day happening on Sunday, March 8. The event includes a zero-emission car and trade show with local dealerships and local owners putting their electric vehicles on display.
The Yukon Transportation Museum is also unveiling two new exhibits on the history and the future of electric vehicles in the North. The public can interact with zero-emission vehicles and speak to local owners about tips and tricks of owning and operating an electric vehicle in Yukon.
2020 spring sitting of the Yukon Legislative Assembly to begin
The 2020 spring sitting of the 34th Yukon Legislative Assembly will begin at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 5.
In addition to the 2020-21 Main Estimates, several pieces of legislation will be tabled during the sitting.
Please note that the house will adjourn for the week of March 15 to 21, during which time the 2020 Arctic Winter Games will take place in Whitehorse.
The Legislative Assembly will reconvene on Monday, March 23.
Feedback sought on proposed amendments to the Enduring Power of Attorney Act
The Government of Yukon is inviting input on proposed amendments to the Enduring Power of Attorney Act. An online survey is available on Engage Yukon to seek feedback on the modernization of this Act. The engagement period will run from March 4 to April 22, 2020.
An enduring power of attorney is a legal document in which a person gives one or more trusted people authority to manage their money and property if they become ill or suffer a disability at some point in the future. The “attorney” in this case does not mean the person is a lawyer.
Yukon’s mineral industry promoted on global stage
Yukon’s mineral industry potential and investment opportunities were showcased at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) annual conference in Toronto this week. Premier Sandy Silver and Energy, Mines and Resources and Economic Development Minister Ranj Pillai joined a delegation of Yukon government officials and industry leaders to promote the territory as a top-tier, investment-ready jurisdiction with significant mineral potential at what is considered the largest event of its kind worldwide.
Yukon and Quebec governments invest $100,000 to support Yukon’s Francophonie
This is a joint news release with the Government of Quebec.
The Government of Yukon and the Government of Quebec will invest $100,000 towards the Intergovernmental Cooperation Program for 2020–21. The program supports initiatives that promote the vitality of the Yukon Francophonie by strengthening ties between Quebec and Yukon’s Francophone communities.
Government of Yukon launches online water well registry
The Government of Yukon is launching a new water well registry that will allow users to search for water well records across the territory.
The online mapping application allows citizens, governments, researchers and industry to
- see where known wells are located;
- learn about aquifer and groundwater characteristics; and
- generate statistics on well depth, static water level and estimated yield.
The information available from the water well registry will support
Government of Canada supports Government of Yukon’s biomass heating system expansion
Today, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada Jonathan Wilkinson was in Whitehorse to celebrate the expansion of Whitehorse Correctional Centre’s biomass heating system with Minister of Highways and Public Works Richard Mostyn. The project draws funding from Canada’s Low Carbon Economy Fund, as biomass is a low-carbon energy source.
Housing First welcomes new residents
Residents are moving in to Yukon’s first-ever Housing First residence on Fifth Avenue as part of a staged occupancy plan that began in mid-February. The plan will see two tenants move in each week until the building is full.
The 16-unit building is the first Housing First project in the territory and signifies the Government of Yukon’s commitment to addressing homelessness and poverty in Yukon.
Government of Yukon releases 2019–20 Performance Plan update
The Government of Yukon has released its 2019–20 Performance Plan update. The report tracks progress in a number of areas such as health, housing, jobs, and reconciliation with First Nations. It provides a 2019 year in review and also a look ahead into 2020 priorities and commitments.
The report is organized into eight themes linked to each of the Government of Yukon’s priorities. It once again features a collection of Canadian Index of Wellbeing indicators for Yukon as well as a set of program and service-specific measures that are tracked across government.
Third Yukon Resource Gateway Project agreement reached
The Government of Yukon and the Ross River Dena Council (RRDC) have reached an agreement in principle for the North Canol Road and Campbell Highway components of the Yukon Resource Gateway Project.
Ross River Dena Council is collaborating with the Government of Yukon on the development, environmental and regulatory aspects of the two road component upgrades. The work will include bridge replacement and safety improvements on North Canol Road and construction and resurfacing of kilometre 354.9 to kilometre 414.4 of the Robert Campbell Highway.
Second wave of seasonal flu hits Yukon
Yukon is seeing increasing numbers of influenza, with 75 cases confirmed in Yukon so far this flu season. In the last five weeks alone, 43 cases of influenza have been confirmed. In addition to the increase in influenza activity, there is also an increase in respiratory illness caused by other viruses.
Local FireSmart Representative workshop empowers Yukoners to increase community wildfire resiliency
Forty-six community leaders from across Yukon have learned how to reduce their community’s wildfire risk at a FireSmart workshop in Whitehorse held on February 26 and 27.
Organized by the Government of Yukon Wildland Fire Management branch, the course taught community leaders how to identify potential wildfire hazards in forested areas, find and support local FireSmart champions and put wildfire hazard reduction plans into action through the government’s FireSmart funding program.
Council of Yukon First Nations and Government of Yukon collaborate on Whitehorse Correctional Centre cultural programming
The Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) and the Government of Yukon have jointly developed and implemented Yukon First Nations cultural programming at the Whitehorse Correctional Centre (WCC).
Cultural practices, such as sweat ceremonies and drumming circles, have been incorporated into the correctional centre’s regular operations, along with cultural awareness training for staff, the hiring of a full-time First Nation liaison and a contribution of 30 books with First Nations content to the facility’s library.
Government of Yukon and Corix Water Systems reach settlement agreement
Joint statement between the Government of Yukon and Corix Water Systems
The Government of Yukon and Corix Water Systems have reached an agreement regarding the Dawson City Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The two parties have agreed not to pursue any further legal action on any past, present or future matters relating to the construction contract of the wastewater treatment plant, and the contractual relationship between Corix Water Systems and the Government of Yukon is now over.
Participants build skills with tiny home construction project
The Building Stability pilot project, initiated by the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations and Yukon College, offered a skill development opportunity for five individuals from the Yukon Community Corrections program.
The project, funded by the Government of Yukon, brought participants together with an instructor at Yukon College to build a tiny home. The goal of the project was to provide participants with employable construction skills.
Dynamic Speed Display Sign Program launches in Whitehorse
The Government of Yukon, City of Whitehorse and RCMP Traffic Services have partnered together to coordinate education, build awareness and modify driver behaviour related to speeding on city roads.
The Dynamic Speed Display Sign Program will see mobile radar speed signs alongside targeted RCMP enforcement at 10 high-infraction locations in Whitehorse. The signs and RCMP enforcement will be established for up to four weeks per location.
Expansion of orthopedics program at Whitehorse General Hospital
A second surgeon has joined Yukon Hospitals’ orthopedic program at Whitehorse General Hospital. The in-territory orthopedic program brings specialized care closer to home, improving access and continuity of care for patients, and reducing travel time and costs for families. It also reduces pressures on medical travel as well as demands on visiting specialists.
With two surgeons, the program now provides emergency and on-call services and is better able to manage wait times for total knee replacements.
National summit of education leaders meeting in Whitehorse
Education leaders from across Canada are in Whitehorse for the C21 Canadians for 21st Century Learning & Innovation CEO Academy Winter Summit. This is the first time this summit has taken place in Yukon.
Whitehorse Firefighters Charitable Society and Raven Recycling unveil new textile baler
The Whitehorse Firefighters Charitable Society and Raven Recycling along with the Government of Yukon today unveiled a new textile baler. The Government of Yukon’s Community Development Fund provided funding to the Whitehorse Firefighters Charitable Society to purchase the textile baler to help recycle clothing and divert it from Yukon’s landfills. The baler has been installed on location at Raven Recycling and will be operated and maintained by Raven Recycling staff.
Midwifery model of care selected for Yukon
A midwifery model of care has been selected for Yukon. Midwives will be employees of the Government of Yukon to ensure Yukoners have access to sustainable and integrated midwifery services.
Development of a model of care was informed by extensive research, input from public engagement, the work of the Midwifery Advisory Committee, and a recommendation received from the Canadian Association of Midwives.
