Yukon News Releases
Six new wildlife regulations and reallocated sheep permits for the 2022-23 hunting season
The Government of Yukon has adopted six new wildlife regulations, effective April 1, 2022.
These changes were recommended by the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management board and will help us support sustainable wildlife populations, ensure responsible wildlife management and protect critical habitats.
The six regulation changes are:
Northern Premiers meet with Prime Minister Trudeau
Premier Sandy Silver has issued the following statement:
“Today, I spoke with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and National Defence Minister Anita Anand alongside Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok and Northwest Territories Premier Caroline Cochrane. The focus of our discussion was Arctic sovereignty and security in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Indigenous hiring preference initiative extended
The Government of Yukon will continue its efforts to increase representation of Indigenous employees in the public service by extending the Indigenous hiring preference initiative until the end of 2029.
The goal of this initiative is to increase the number of Indigenous employees in the Yukon’s public service. The first 15 months of the pilot resulted in 78 successful Indigenous candidates across a total of 632 competitions. This includes new employees and existing employees moving to a new position within the Yukon government.
Candidates selected for the second Youth Panel on Climate Change
A diverse group of 10 young climate leaders have been selected to form the Government of Yukon’s second Youth Panel on Climate Change.
Panel members include:
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Keegan Newnham-Boyd
Vaccination requirement lifted for most workers
Starting today, the Yukon government is lifting the vaccination requirement for most workers. Vaccination will continue to be required for employees, contractors, and volunteers working in high-risk settings in the territory.
High-risk settings include:
Third call for COVID-19 Recovery Research Program launched
The Government of Yukon is pleased to announce its third and final call for proposals under the Yukon COVID-19 Recovery Research Program.
With support from the Government of Canada, the COVID-19 Recovery Research Program offers a total of $1 million in funding for research that increases our understanding the impacts of the pandemic in the Yukon and supports recovery and future emergency planning.
Government of Yukon seeking agriculture industry’s priorities
The Government of Yukon is seeking public input on the development of a new suite of agricultural funding programs for the Next Policy Framework, which will address the local agiculture and agri-food sector’s current priorites and future needs.
The Next Policy Framework is a national initiative where the federal, provincial and territorial governments invest in funding to support and strengthen the agriculture and agri-food industries across the country and will replace the current Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) program in 2023.
The Daisy Mason Wellness Fund is open for applications
The deadline to submit an application to the Daisy Mason Wellness Fund is Friday, May 27, 2022. The Commissioner of Yukon, the Bishop of the Anglican Church and the Daisy Mason Wellness Fund Advisory Committee launched this Fund in 2020 to help provide financial assistance to First Nations Citizens or groups organizing initiatives that help people in their community through wellbeing, healing and personal development training and activities.
The Daisy Mason Wellness Fund will be awarded on June 21, 2022, on National Indigenous Peoples day.
The Community Development Fund awards capital to support 24 projects
The Community Development Fund is being awarded to 24 community projects across the Yukon. These projects will receive a total of $621,892 in Tier 1 and Tier 2 funding.
Canadian Index of Wellbeing highlights quality of life in the Yukon
The Government of Yukon has released the final report by the Canadian Index of Wellbeing that highlights the quality of life in the Yukon following a major survey completed in summer 2020.
The survey was the largest of its kind in the territory, receiving close to 5,000 responses, and provided Yukoners with an opportunity to share feedback about community vitality, democratic engagement, education, the environment, health, leisure, living standards and time use.
Yukon Aging in Place annual report released
The Government of Yukon has released its first Aging in Place annual report. The report highlights completed and ongoing projects from September 2020 to September 2021, all of which aim to promote, enhance and protect the wellbeing of Yukon seniors and Elders.
The Yukon Aging in Place Action Plan was released in September 2020. The plan included 56 recommended actions to help older Yukoners live safely, independently and comfortably in their own home or community for as long as possible.
Outbreak at Whitehorse General Hospital declared
The Yukon’s acting Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Catherine Elliott has declared an outbreak of COVID-19 at Whitehorse General Hospital.
The outbreak was determined following the identification of several linked COVID-19 cases among staff. No transmission from staff to patients has been identified at this time. COVID-19 is widespread in the Yukon so having cases in a public place such as a hospital can be expected.
New Omicron variants of concern present in the Yukon
The Yukon’s acting Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Catherine Elliott has confirmed Omicron variants BA.1 and BA.2 are present in the Yukon. Currently the BA.1 is the dominant variant in the Yukon.
The acting Chief Medical Officer of Health is continuously assessing the risks of variants. Risk assessment includes information about circulating variants, the vaccination rate in the Yukon's population and epidemiology across Canada and internationally.
Legislative amendments pave way for new Better Building energy retrofit program
Yukoners will soon have access to low-interest loans for energy retrofits following legislative amendments to the Assessment and Taxation Act and the Municipal Act.
Bill No. 3, Act to Amend the Assessment and Taxation Act and the Municipal Act (2021), received assent today in the Legislative Assembly. The amendments enable the creation of the Better Building Program, which can provide loans up to $50,000 for home energy retrofits and up to $100,000 for business energy retrofits. Loans will be offered at the lowest interest rates in the country.
Several bills receive assent in the Yukon Legislative Assembly
Today, Commissioner of Yukon Angélique Bernard granted assent to a number of bills in the Yukon Legislative Assembly.
New COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund available for non-profits and non-governmental organizations
In partnership with Volunteer Bénévoles Yukon, the Government of Yukon is launching a short-term COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund for non-profits and non-governmental organizations.
Funding announced for the redesign of Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre
This is a joint news release with the Government of Canada, the Government of Yukon and the City of Whitehorse
Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre is home to the Whitehorse Cross-Country Club, the Whitehorse Curling Club and Tennis Yukon and will soon be getting a complete redesign.
Statement from Minister of Tourism and Culture Ranj Pillai on Dawson City Music Festival’s new headquarters
Minister of Tourism and Culture and Economic Development Ranj Pillai has issued the following statement:
“On behalf of the Government of Yukon, I wish to congratulate the Dawson City Music Festival on their brand new headquarters.
“For more than 40 years, the Dawson City Music Festival has delivered a high-quality, diverse and unique experience for Yukoners and visitors from around the world, as well as offered year-round programming for Yukon performers and stage technicians.
New temporary Inflation Relief Rebate to save Yukoners and local businesses $150 on their electricity bills
The Government of Yukon has announced a new $150 Inflation Relief Rebate to reduce the impacts that rising prices are having on Yukoners. The rebate will be applied automatically to all residential and commercial ATCO Electric Yukon and Yukon Energy electricity bills in the coming months, regardless of energy usage.
Vaccination requirement continues for workers in high-risk settings in the Yukon
As of April 4, 2022, COVID-19 vaccination will continue to be required for employees, contractors and volunteers working in high-risk settings in the Yukon.
High-risk settings include:
