Yukon News Releases
Council of Yukon First Nations, Indigenous Services Canada and Government of Yukon working together to address menstrual equity in Yukon
Menstrual products are a basic and essential need to ensure a person’s full participation in school, work and society. As such, the Council of Yukon First Nations is working with the department to ensure menstrual equity for all Yukon First Nations women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples.
Celebrating the one-year anniversary of signing the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement with the Yukon
Child care is not just a social policy—it is also an economic policy. Access to high-quality, affordable, flexible and inclusive child care will grow the economy, allow more women to enter the workforce and give children in Canada the best start in life. That is why the Government of Canada signed agreements with each province and territory to implement a Canada-wide early learning and child care system.
Fourteen community crime prevention and victim service projects awarded funding
Fourteen community-led projects focused on crime prevention and services for victims of crime received $93,436 for the fall 2021 intake and $334,175 for the spring 2022 intake, through the Crime Prevention and Victim Services Trust (CPVST).
The fall 2021 and spring 2022 funding intakes received applications from a broad range of organizations and funded projects will be delivered in several Yukon communities across the territory.
Projects for the fall 2021 intake included:
Premier Silver attends Pacific Northwest Economic Region summit
Premier Sandy Silver attended the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) annual summit in Calgary this week. The conference brings together public and private sector leaders from 10 jurisdictions to discuss issues that are common across territorial, provincial and state boundaries in the Pacific Northwest of Canada and the United States. A number of issues were discussed, including climate change and clean energy; Arctic security; infrastructure development; economic recovery; agriculture; supply chains; and labour force challenges.
Canadian Agriculture Ministers reach an agreement in principle that will increase funding for the Yukon’s agricultural sector
Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources John Streicker joined federal, provincial and territorial Canadian Agriculture Ministers for their annual meeting held this year in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
At the meeting, Canadian Agriculture Ministers signed a national agreement in principle for the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. This new five-year agreement will provide $9.25 million in funds to support the Yukon’s growing agriculture sector. This is a 25 per cent increase from the Canadian Agricultural Partnership program currently in effect.
Joint agreements commit to better future for Äshèyi
This is a joint release with Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, the Government of Yukon and Yukon Energy Corporation.
Dakwäkäda/Haines Junction, Yukon – Champagne and Aishihik First Nations (CAFN), the Government of Yukon (Yukon), and Yukon Energy Corporation (YEC) have reached historic agreements for a better future for Äshèyi (Aishihik). The new agreements for a collaborative approach to operation of the Aishihik Generating Station (AGS or dam) were signed Thursday, July 21, during the CAFN General Assembly at Takhini River Subdivision.
Housing Action Plan progress report for 2019 to 2022 released
The Government of Yukon, in partnership with members of the Housing Action Plan Implementation Committee, has released the Housing Action Plan’s latest progress report for April 2019 to March 2022. The report is a high-level analysis of the Yukon’s housing landscape and summarizes the progress made including key achievements and milestones under three pillars that are:
Statement from Chief Medical Officer of Health on the Yukon’s first case of monkeypox
Dr. Sudit Ranade, the Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health has issued the following statement:
“On Thursday, July 21, the first case of monkeypox was confirmed in the territory.
“Yukon Communicable Disease Control (YCDC) is conducting a thorough investigation into this case and the individual is in isolation. In this case, we understand that the exposure to monkeypox occurred outside of the territory.
Leadership changes in the Yukon government public service
Premier Sandy Silver has announced senior leadership changes for the Public Service Commission, the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, the Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Highways and Public Works.
Sherri Young will move from her position as Assistant Deputy Minister for transportation with Highways and Public Works to be the new Public Service Commissioner. Current Public Service Commissioner Paul Moore is retiring. Young will start on July 25.
New hours of service at the COVID-19 Testing and Assessment Centre
As the Yukon transitions to handling COVID-19 like other respiratory illnesses, the Government of Yukon is cautiously shifting from the acute stage of the pandemic response to part of our ongoing work to support the public health of Yukoners. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and adjust based on the current risk environment.
Starting July 24, 2022, the COVID-19 Testing and Assessment Centre (CTAC) hours of operation will be:
Government shares progress update on Safer Schools Action Plan
The Government of Yukon is sharing a progress update on work completed since February 2022 as part of the Safer Schools Action Plan. This action plan was initiated in response to the Hidden Valley Elementary School Independent Review Report and will enhance safety of students across Yukon schools. The action plan was renamed at the request of the Hidden Valley school administration. The new name reflects that the policies and changes in this plan will improve safety in all Yukon schools.
Signing Ceremony Held for Tséi Zhéłe / Sinwaa Éex’i Yé / Conrad Historic Site Management Plan
On July 20, 2022, the Government of Yukon and the Carcross/Tagish First Nation signed a management plan for the Tséi Zhéłe / Sinwaa Éex’i Yé / Conrad Historic Site.
Developed with the Carcross/Tagish First Nation, and through extensive public engagement, the Tséi Zhéłe/ Sinwaa Éex’i Yé / Conrad Historic Site Management Plan will protect and conserve this heritage area through a phased implementation plan over the next 10 years. The plan will help Yukoners and visitors better enjoy the natural, historical and cultural value the historic site holds.
New wildland fire map sheds more light on Yukon’s fire situation
The recent period of unprecedented extreme wildfire activity underscored the need for public fire information that is readily accessible to Yukoners in real-time. To ensure that the best information is available to the Yukon public, the Government of Yukon is launching an expanded fire information map that helps people better understand the Yukon’s fire situation while also learning more about fire activity in a given area.
Canadian culture and heritage minister meetings wrap up
Minister of Tourism and Culture Ranj Pillai joined federal, provincial and territorial Canadian culture and heritage Ministers for their annual meeting held this year in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Ministers responsible for culture and heritage across Canada gathered July 11 to 13 for discussions on three strategic priorities: strengthening the creative economy, strengthening the resources of the culture and heritage sectors and strengthening engagement and promotion in the culture and heritage sectors.
Funding available to support First Nations’ attendance at the Papal visit to Canada
The Government of Yukon is offering $180,000 in funding to support eligible Yukon First Nations and transboundary Indigenous governments and groups who wish to send a delegation to attend the Papal visit to Canada later this month.
Pope Francis will travel to Alberta, Quebec and Nunavut from July 24 to 29, 2022. It is expected that during his visit, the Pope will expand on an apology delivered from the Vatican last spring for the role of the Roman Catholic Church in residential schools.
Yukon retains ‘AA Stable’ credit rating from S&P Global Ratings for 2022
S&P Global Ratings (S&P) has affirmed the Yukon’s strong financial position with an AA Stable credit rating and a stable outlook.
Yukon Senior Income Supplement (YSIS) payments delayed
Yukon Senior Income Supplement (YSIS) payments are delayed due to technical issues. The Government of Yukon is working to address these issues as soon as possible.
The Government of Yukon apologizes for any inconvenience this may have caused. A new internal payment delivery system is currently being developed to avoid delays in the future.
Yukoners that have been impacted by the delay and have questions can call 867-667-8772.
COVID-19 vaccines approved for children over the age of six months
Following the recommendation of the Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Government of Yukon is expanding the COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to children between the ages of six months and five years. This follows Health Canada’s approval of the Moderna Spikevax COVID-19 for children in that age group and is supported by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI).
Leadership update in the Department of Justice
Premier Sandy Silver has appointed Jeff Ford as acting Deputy Minister for the Department of Justice.
The previous Deputy Minister, John Phelps, has left the Yukon government public service following his appointment as a Judge of the Territorial Court of Yukon.
New collaborative heritage awareness campaign underway
This a joint news release with the Government of Yukon and Council of Yukon First Nations
The Government of Yukon, the Council of Yukon First Nations, the Yukon Heritage Working Group and Yukon First Nations are working together to promote the collaborative management of the Yukon’s heritage resources through a new awareness campaign.
The campaign, called Yukon’s Living Heritage, aims to educate the public about heritage resources, their value and what to do with chance finds.
