Yukon News Releases
Government of Yukon donates to support Afghanistan humanitarian relief
Today, the Government of Yukon announced a $25,000 donation to help with relief efforts in response to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. The donation was provided to the Canadian Red Cross to support their work with the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement in Afghanistan and around the region.
Yukoners asked to be aware of Grizzly bear in Ibex Valley
Residents and motorists travelling through the Ibex Valley area are asked to remain cautious and be on the lookout for a Grizzly bear following a human-wildlife conflict on October 18, 2021. The individual is receiving medical attention and the extent of the injuries are unknown at this time.
Conservation officers are on scene and monitoring the area. A number of “Bear in area” signs have also been posted and residents are asked to avoid the Wanners Way Trails.
More information will be released once conservation officers have concluded their investigation.
October 18, 2021: COVID-19 case update
The Yukon’s acting Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Catherine Elliott reports 24 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 from noon Friday, October 15, to noon Monday, October 18. The number of active cases is currently at 66.
Total number of confirmed cases in Yukon residents since March 2020: 858. Individuals who are diagnosed in the Yukon are counted in the active case count but not in the Yukon total case count as they are counted in their home jurisdiction. Since March 2020, 797 individuals have recovered. There has been a total of 10 deaths.
Amendment to Cannabis Control and Regulation Act tabled
Today, Minister Ranj Pillai tabled an amendment to the Cannabis Control and Regulation Act that would enable private cannabis retailers in the Yukon to begin e-commerce and home delivery to Yukoners over the age of 19.
Currently, online purchase and home delivery of cannabis is restricted to the Yukon government’s e-commerce site, Cannabis Yukon. The proposed amendment would allow for private online retail sales and home delivery directly from the retailer once regulations under the Cannabis Control and Regulation Act are finalized.
Amendments to Territorial Court Judiciary Pension Plan Act tabled in the Yukon Legislative Assembly
Today, Justice Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee tabled Bill No. 10, which proposes amendments to the Territorial Court Judiciary Pension Plan Act (2021). These proposed amendments are being introduced in accordance with recommendations of the Judicial Compensation Commission.
The amendments to the Territorial Court Judiciary Pension Plan Act (2021) will include:
October 17, 2021: public exposure notifications
The Yukon’s acting Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Catherine Elliott has issued COVID-19 public exposure notices for the following:
Burnt Toast Cafe, Whitehorse- Thursday, October 7, and Friday, October 8, 2021
Between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Anyone at this location on either of these dates is asked to self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days, through to October 21 or 22.
October 15, 2021: COVID-19 case update
The Yukon’s acting Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Catherine Elliott reports 10 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 from noon Wednesday, October 13, to noon Friday, October 15. The number of active cases is currently at 63. Two people with COVID-19 are in the hospital.
In addition, she has declared an outbreak in the Grade 4 class at Elijah Smith Elementary School. This is the third school outbreak to be declared in the past month. Specific information to parents has been provided to parents and staff by Yukon Communicable Disease Control through the Department of Education.
Government of Yukon to require public servants and health care workers be fully vaccinated and proof of vaccination to access non-essential services
The Government of Yukon will soon require all Yukon government employees and all frontline health care workers in the territory to be fully vaccinated.
Mandatory vaccination will apply to all public servants, including teachers, as well as those who work in hospitals, long-term care homes, medical clinics and allied health care settings.
Youth Panel on Climate Change presents recommendations to Government of Yukon to advance climate action
Please note that this news release has been updated to indicate there are 11 panel members instead of 13 and to reflect additional meetings.
Premier Sandy Silver, Minister John Streicker and Minister Nils Clarke met with the Youth Panel on Climate Change earlier today to receive their recommendations on climate action in the Yukon. Officials from BYTE - Empowering Youth Society, the Climate Change Secretariat and the Yukon First Nations Climate Fellows also attended the meeting.
Cystic fibrosis drug Trikafta to be added to the Yukon Drug Formulary
The Government of Yukon is now in the process of adding the new, triple-combination medication, Trikafta, to its Yukon Drug Formulary. The territory will be joining six other Canadian jurisdictions that have confirmed they will fund this drug for patients with cystic fibrosis. This process is expected to be completed within the next two months.
The Government of Yukon releases new quartz mining guide to help protect water in the Yukon
The Government of Yukon released guidelines to help the quartz mining industry address and reduce its impacts on water in the Yukon. The Yukon Guide for Developing Water Quality Objectives and Effluent Quality Standards provides quartz mining proponents with methods for determining water quality objectives and effluent quality standards for projects.
Quartz mining proponents are now expected to use these guidelines to support their environmental assessment and water licence applications.
Amendments to the Assessment and Taxation Act and the Municipal Act tabled in the Legislative Assembly
Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn tabled Bill No. 3, the Act to amend the Assessment and Taxation Act and the Municipal Act today.
The Government of Yukon is proposing to develop the Better Buildings Program to enable ultra-low interest loans so residential and commercial property owners can improve the energy efficiency of their buildings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Motor Vehicles Act amendments will strengthen impaired and dangerous driving laws
Highways and Public Works Minister Nils Clarke tabled amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act today to align it with updates to the Criminal Code of Canada. These amendments would help to strengthen impaired and dangerous driving laws in the Yukon.
The proposed amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act include aligning the language with the updated Criminal Code of Canada, providing the Yukon’s enforcement officers with better tools to impose penalties for impaired driving, expanding the ability to impound vehicles and updating the ignition interlock device program.
October 13, 2021: COVID-19 case update
The Yukon’s acting Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Catherine Elliott reports six new confirmed cases of COVID-19, from noon Tuesday, October 12, to noon Wednesday, October 13. The number of active cases is currently at 60. All new cases were at Victoria Gold, where an outbreak was declared on October 8.
New Workers’ Safety and Compensation Act tabled in the Yukon Legislative Assembly
Today, Minister Richard Mostyn tabled Bill No. 8, the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Act, which would modernize and amalgamate the Workers’ Compensation Act and Occupational Health and Safety Act.
A simple, clean and effective Workers’ Safety and Compensation Act will ensure that worker safety and caring for injured workers is always kept at the forefront, in step with changing workplace conditions.
Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health recommends wearing masks in indoor public spaces
Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Catherine Elliott is issuing a strong recommendation for the consistent use of masks in all indoor public spaces. Her recommendation comes with the announcement of 36 new cases over the past 96 hours, from noon Friday, October 8, to noon Tuesday, October 12. The current active case count is 58.
This number includes 28 Yukon residents and eight out of territory residents diagnosed in the Yukon.
October 12, 2021: public exposure notifications
The Yukon’s acting Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Catherine Elliott has issued COVID-19 public exposure notices for the following locations:
Sanchez Cantina, 211 Hanson Street, Whitehorse- Thursday, October 7, 2021
Between 4:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. - Friday, October 8, 2021
Between 4:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
If you were at this location on either of these dates, self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days through October 21 or 22 inclusive.
Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act amendment tabled in the Yukon Legislative Assembly
Minister of Justice Tracy-Anne McPhee tabled Bill No. 6 today, proposing amendments to the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) Act.
The SCAN Act enables the SCAN Unit to investigate complaints received from the public and take action when illegal or dangerous activity is occurring on a property that negatively affects the neighbourhood. Each activity the SCAN Unit can investigate is identified in the Act as a “specified use”, which currently includes illegal drug and alcohol activities and prostitution.
The Commissioner of Yukon launches a Reference Library at Taylor House
Today, the Commissioner of Yukon is launching a Reference Library available to the public. More than 200 books and documents dating from 1894 to newly released books are available for research or personal interest. There is a space on the second floor of Taylor House for people to sit and read.
The public is also invited to visit Taylor House to see the updated exhibition on former Commissioner James Smith, and the exhibition on the Discovery of Gold on Bonanza Creek is continuing until the end of the year.
