Yukon News Releases
Premier presents Yukon priorities at national meeting in Montreal
Premier Sandy Silver participated in a meeting with Prime Minister Trudeau, the federal Minister of Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs and Internal Trade, and Premiers at the annual First Ministers’ Meeting.
The meeting heard from Ambassador David MacNaughton, federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change Katherine McKenna, federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau, and federal Minister of Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs and Internal Trade Dominic LeBlanc on a range of economic and environmental issues.
Report summarizes 35 years of licensed harvest in Yukon
A new summary report provides a 35-year picture of licensed harvest for 6 key big game species in Yukon. The Licensed Harvest Trends Report 1980–2014 presents data collected by the Department of Environment from licensed hunters and brings together information previously available in various reports, including annual hunting regulations summaries. Consolidating existing harvest data in one place allows long-term patterns to be identified, and helps increase public awareness around harvest activity in the territory.
Community Development Fund updated to be more responsive to the needs of Yukoners
The Community Development Fund guidelines have been updated to make the program more responsive to the needs of Yukoners and improve the overall delivery of the fund.
The deadline for Tier 2 applications will now be April 15 (previously May 15) and September 15 in order to allow seasonally dependent projects to be approved earlier and start sooner.
Yukon First Nations and Government of Yukon meet with federal Ministers on Yukon priorities
This is a joint news release with the Council of Yukon First Nations and Yukon First Nations governments
The Yukon Premier, Ministers, the Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief and several Yukon First Nations Chiefs met with federal Ministers to jointly advocate on key issues important to Yukoners. These meetings were an opportunity to seek the federal government’s support, understanding and collaboration on a number of made-in-Yukon solutions to Yukon priorities.
Yukon priorities to be championed at national discussions
Premier Sandy Silver is raising support for Yukon priorities at meetings with federal Ministers, Canada’s Premiers and the Prime Minister in Ottawa and Montreal. The main topics of the Premier’s discussions will be investment in Yukon with a focus on housing, infrastructure and Yukon University.
Yukon’s permit hunt lottery review underway
The Government of Yukon is conducting a comprehensive review of the data, processes and policies involved in the Permit Hunt Authorization (PHA) lottery to enhance it prior to the 2019/20 lottery.
Make IT, a local business, has been contracted to conduct an independent review of all technical aspects of the lottery, including software, hardware, data and data administration, and quality controls.
Feedback sought on proposed condominium regulations
The Government of Yukon is inviting input on proposed provisions to regulate condominium developments in Yukon. The engagement period will run from November 27, 2018, to January 25, 2019.
The feedback received will help clarify key procedures and requirements such as:
Government of Yukon and Water Board sign Memorandum of Understanding
The Government of Yukon and the Yukon Water Board have signed an agreement to clarify their roles with respect to looking after the territory’s water.
The agreement supports a constructive working relationship between the Yukon Water Board and the Government of Yukon and maintains the independence of the board in dealing with water licence application decisions. It also clarifies the staffing and administrative relationship between the Yukon Water Board and the Government of Yukon.
National Take Action on Radon campaign launches
The Government of Yukon has partnered with the Yukon Lung Association to participate in Canada’s Take Action on Radon campaign. The emphasis this year is on areas where previous radon testing showed high results, including communities and Whitehorse subdivisions.
Radon is an invisible, radioactive gas that comes from the ground and can enter buildings through cracks, drains, sump pumps and gaps around pipe fittings. It can be found in any Yukon home and is the second leading cause of lung cancer.
Government of Yukon receives Tourism Development Strategy
The Yukon Tourism Development Strategy steering committee has provided the Government of Yukon with their new strategy, Sustainable Tourism. Our Path. Our Future.
Key legislation passes as fall sitting ends
Significant legislation focused on modernization, openness and inclusivity will pass as the fall sitting of the Yukon Legislative Assembly ends today.
New legislation this fall includes:
Yukon to reduce ophthalmology wait times
The Government of Yukon and the Yukon Hospital Corporation have developed a plan to reduce wait times for ophthalmology consultations and increase the number of cataract surgeries performed in Yukon.
The new plan, which comes into effect in January 2019, will reduce the wait time for ophthalmology consultation to four months before the end of the year while also maintaining wait time for surgery following consultation at four months or less. These wait times are in line with the Canadian benchmark.
Government of Yukon seeking input to improve LGBTQ2S+ inclusion
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, Two-Spirit plus (LGBTQ2S+) Yukoners and their allies are being asked to share their insights to help improve their inclusion in Government of Yukon programs and services. The government will be hosting community dialogues, in-depth focus groups and an online survey in a comprehensive, government-wide initiative to help ensure LGBTQ2S+ inclusion and non-discrimination.
New accessible seniors’ duplexes open in Carmacks
Joint news release with the Government of Canada
The governments of Yukon and Canada officially opened two new accessible duplexes in Carmacks today, the first seniors’ accessible housing project in the community. The new housing supports Aging in Place, a collaborative Yukon-wide effort that allows seniors to live in their home community as they age.
New acquisitions to the Yukon Permanent Art Collection unveiled in Carcross
Five new works selected for inclusion in Yukon’s Permanent Art Collection have been unveiled in a public exhibition at the Carcross Learning Centre.
Government of Yukon holds workshop on landfill liability
Landfill operators from across Yukon were in Whitehorse yesterday for a landfill liability workshop.
Landfills are expensive to operate and monitor. They are also very costly to close after they are filled with waste. Landfill liability is the cost associated with closing a landfill and carrying out the environmental monitoring required at the end of its life.
Workshop participants discussed managing landfill risks, regulatory requirements for landfill closure, elements of landfill closure and a new accounting standard for landfill liability.
Yukon ranked one of Canada’s top mineral exploration jurisdictions
Yukon ranks fourth in Canada for projected spending on mineral exploration and deposit evaluation for 2018, according to statistics distributed by Natural Resources Canada on November 9. The projected spending for mineral exploration and deposit evaluations is $249.4 million, made up of $142.6 million for exploration, up 32.9 per cent from 2017, and $106.8 million for deposit evaluations, up 73.9 per cent from 2017. Yukon’s share of national exploration investment has nearly doubled since 2016 and now accounts for over 10 per cent of all Canadian exploration spending.
First call for Housing Initiatives Fund projects a success
The Government of Yukon received 20 proposals during its first call for projects under the Housing Initiatives Fund.
Seven projects currently have signed transfer agreements in place and three others have received commitments for funding from the $3.6 million fund. Over the next 18 months, these projects will bring over 100 homes to Yukoners that will remain as affordable housing for 20 years.
Yukon entrepreneurs profiled in new video series
Yukon entrepreneurs are showcased in a new series of documentary-style videos commissioned by the Government of Yukon. The series profiles eight Yukon businesses on their journey through entrepreneurship. The videos highlight the territory’s growing entrepreneurial workforce as well as the opportunities and advantages available to those looking to start a business in Yukon.
The videos will premiere at an event in Whitehorse on November 14 at the North of Ordinary Experience Centre from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Government of Yukon releases action plan to tackle opioid crisis
The Government of Yukon today released its Opioid Action Plan to help tackle the growing number of drug-related overdoses and deaths in the territory.
The plan contains both short- and long-term activities to be implemented over the next two years and has four pillars: harm reduction, public awareness, surveillance, and improved addictions and pain management.
