Yukon News Releases
Modernized Liquor Act tabled in Legislative Assembly
Today John Streicker, Minister responsible for the Yukon Liquor Corporation, tabled Bill No. 5, a new and modernized Liquor Act, in the Yukon Legislative Assembly.
The Bill aims to balance social responsibility with economic opportunity, while improving transparency around governance and clarifying roles and responsibilities for enforcement. The proposed legislation reflects feedback received through extensive public engagement.
Amendments to Elections Act tabled
Today Premier Sandy Silver tabled proposed amendments to the Elections Act that would expand access to voting by special ballot, and allow for greater flexibility and more convenient registration and voting options.
Community Development Fund awards more than $70,000 to seven projects
Seven community projects were awarded $70,866 from the Government of Yukon’s Community Development Fund for the Tier 1 July 2019 intake.
The project recipients include the Village of Teslin, Association of Yukon Communities, Watson Lake Daycare Centre Society, Yukon Film Society, Golden Age Society, Signpost Seniors Association and Ross River Recreation Society.
To date in the 2019–20 fiscal year, the Community Development Fund has approved $1,919,837 for 46 projects.
Yukon University Act tabled in the Legislative Assembly
Bill No. 2, the Yukon University Act, was tabled in the Legislative Assembly today. It would set the legal framework for Yukon’s first university, allowing Yukon College to become Yukon University.
The proposed legislation includes provisions to ensure Yukon University remains a hybrid institution that offers university-level programs and college-level programs such as trades and apprenticeship, adult basic education and academic upgrading. This Act would clarify the responsibility of Yukon University to honour and support reconciliation with Yukon First Nations.
New Technical Amendments Act tabled
Bill No. 7 was tabled in the Legislative Assembly today. The Bill includes amendments to three different pieces of legislation: the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act; the Jury Act; and the Crime Prevention and Victim Services Trust Act.
LGBTQ2S+ engagement informs action plan
Results from latest LGBTQ2S+ engagement have been released, representing the final stage of a public engagement designed to inform the development of an action plan to increase inclusiveness for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, Two-Spirit, plus (LGBTQ2S+) Yukoners in government legislation, policies, programs and services.
Supplementary Estimates reflect economic growth
Premier and Finance Minister Sandy Silver tabled the 2019–20 First Supplementary Estimates in the Legislative Assembly today. It includes an increase of $43.3 million in gross capital and an increase of $20.5 million in operations and maintenance, for a total of $63.8 million. Recoveries in capital are expected to increase by $26.3 million.
Amendments to Corrections Act tabled
Bill No. 6 was tabled in the Legislative Assembly today. It proposes amendments to the Corrections Act that address segregation within Yukon’s corrections system.
The proposed amendments focus on the use of segregation and restrictive confinement and would align correctional services in Yukon with the universally accepted Mandela Rules regarding solitary confinement.
Government of Yukon tables Bill to address vaping in Yukon
Health and Social Services Minister Pauline Frost tabled Bill No. 3, the Tobacco and Vaping Products Control and Regulation Act, in the Legislative Assembly today.
The proposed legislation would replace the Smoke-Free Places Act with a modernized act that also addresses vaping and focuses on protecting public health, especially youth. Updates include increasing the minimum legal age for access to tobacco and vapour products to 19 years old from 18 and directing how vapour products must be sold, used and promoted.
Yukoners are invited to learn about Dementia
The Continuing Care team at Health and Social Services is offering two free Dementia 101 presentations at the Whistle Bend Place Multipurpose Room, located at 90 Olive May Way. Presentations are happening on the following two days:
Saturday, October 19 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Tuesday, October 22 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Dementia is used to describe a set of symptoms affecting brain function that are caused by neurodegenerative and vascular diseases or injuries. The cognitive abilities that can be impacted include memory, language and judgement.
Yukon communities benefit from FireSmart project funding
More than 35 FireSmart projects across the territory are underway this year thanks to $850,000 in annual funding to reduce the risk of wildfire in and around the communities of Yukon.
New partnership supports positive youth development in Yukon
In partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Yukon, the Government of Yukon is delivering workshops on the territory’s new youth-focused 40 Developmental Assets Model in eight communities this October.
The two-hour workshops focus on 40 "assets," which are factors deemed essential to young people’s success. The assets model was created by the Minneapolis-based Search Institute, while a “Yukonized” version incorporates wisdom and experiences of Yukon Elders and rural First Nations communities, such as the importance of spending time on the land.
Yukon tourism governance model to now include an advisory body
The Government of Yukon has endorsed the recommendations from the Yukon Tourism Development Strategy Governance Task Force.
The task force presented their report to government on August 29. In the report they make three recommendations:
Third Session of Legislative Assembly begins
The Third Session of the 34th Yukon Legislative Assembly began today with a Speech from the Throne. The Commissioner of Yukon, the Honourable Angélique Bernard, delivered the speech.
The Speech from the Throne reflected on the work of government to date and the plans going forward. It identified key priorities of the government, which include:
Whistle Bend elementary school planning underway
The owner’s advisor tender for the new Whistle Bend elementary school has been issued. This marks the first major step towards the construction of the first elementary school in Whitehorse in over 25 years. The owner’s advisor is a consultant group that provides early planning, estimates and technical oversight on behalf of the owner for the duration of a project.
Yukon’s first Aviation Advisory Committee appointed
Yukon’s Aviation Advisory Committee is set to welcome its first appointees. The committee is composed of 10 individuals from a variety of backgrounds including aviation, tourism, mining and the business community.
The appointees are David Sharp (Chair), Ron Limoges, Michael Templeton, Glen McHale, Delmar Washington, Craig Unterschute, Joe Sparling, Christoph Altherr, James Clark and Clarence Timmons.
Second phase of comprehensive health review begins
Updated on October 3, 2019, with a correction to the number of survey participants and responses.
Yukoners are invited to share their experiences, ideas and thoughts on the territory’s health and social services systems at open houses in Yukon communities over the coming weeks.
Yukon Corporate Online Registry delivers next phase of e-service
The Government of Yukon is reducing red tape and moving to a faster, electronic environment for Yukon businesses with the launch of the next phase of the Yukon Corporate Online Registry (YCOR).
In addition to the current online services on YCOR, such as being able to apply to reserve business names, clients can now also submit periodic reports such as annual returns, changes of directors and registered addresses regarding local and extra-territorial business corporations.
Yukon educators to field test new Grade 5 materials about Indian Residential Schools
Starting this fall, nine educators will be field testing new materials for Grade 5 students to learn about the Indian Residential School system and its continued impacts, as part of a unit addressing Indian Residential Schools.
A comprehensive teacher’s guide called “Our Voices, Our Stories: Yukon Indian Residential Schools and Reconciliation” was developed to help educators in their approach to teaching this unit.
Yukon University legislation feedback released
This summer, Yukoners shared their thoughts on new legislation that will support transitioning Yukon College to become Yukon University. The Government of Yukon asked the public for feedback on key aspects of the legislation, including the mandate for Yukon University, accountability indicators, government oversight of the university, the governance model for the university and program delivery in the communities. More than 350 participants completed the public survey.
