Yukon News Releases
Statement from Premier Sandy Silver to the community of Portapique and the province of Nova Scotia
Premier Sandy Silver released the following statement:
April 17, 2020: Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health provides update on COVID-19
Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Brendan Hanley has the following updates for the Yukon public on measures being taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 cases and recoveries
As of today, April 17, at 3 p.m. there is one new case of COVID-19 in the territory, bringing the total number of cases to nine. The new case is in Whitehorse and related to international travel. Contact tracing is underway.
Seven of the nine people who have contracted COVID-19 in Yukon have recovered and no one has had to go to a hospital.
New border control measures come into force
A new Border Control Measures Order to strengthen enforcement at all Yukon borders during the COVID-19 emergency is now in force.
Minister of Community Services John Streicker signed the Ministerial Order under the Civil Emergency Measures Act as a means to ensure that enforcement officers stationed at Yukon’s borders have the legal authority and tools needed to deny entry to non-essential travellers while still permitting essential and critical services and people to return home.
Licensed child care spaces available for critical and essential services workers
To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health has directed that the Government of Yukon reduce the number of children in licensed child care spaces while ensuring that those child care services are available to critical or essential workers who are currently performing vital services.
National Advance Care Planning Day a reminder to plan ahead
April 16 marks National Advance Care Planning Day. Health and Social Services Minister Pauline Frost and Yukon’s palliative care physicians, Dr. Danusia Kanachowski and Dr. Alex Kmet, would like to remind people of the importance of having a care plan in place and talking to loved ones and health care providers about their personal care preferences and wishes.
Important information about the 2020 hunting season
Please note that the subzones in this news release have been updated.
As the 2020 hunting season approaches, hunters are encouraged to stay informed about important information and reminders as part of their preparations.
The Permit Hunt Authorization lottery application period will open on April 23. The deadline is May 21, 2020 at 4 p.m.
Changes to the Permit Hunt Authorization include the following.
April 14, 2020: Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health provides update on COVID-19
Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Brendan Hanley has the following updates for the Yukon public on measures being taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 cases and recoveries
As of today, April 14, at 3 p.m. the number of cases of COVID-19 in Yukon remains at eight with seven cases in Whitehorse and one in a community.
Six of the eight people who have contracted COVID-19 in Yukon have recovered and no one has had to go to a hospital.
Mineral Development Guidelines in Peel Region Updated According to Regional Land Use Plan
The Government of Yukon has approved an Order In Council to apply new direction for mineral claim staking in the Peel watershed. This Order represents the first implementation action of the approved Peel Watershed Regional Land Use Plan, developed and approved in partnership with the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun, Vuntut Gwitchin Government, Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, and Gwich’in Tribal Council.
Yukon businesses to receive relief funding
Yukon businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic will receive funding from the Government of Yukon to cover fixed business costs, including rent, utilities and business insurance.
The Yukon Business Relief Program will help Yukon businesses that have experienced a 30 per cent reduction in revenue and require immediate relief. Eligible businesses can apply for a grant of up to $30,000 per month to cover fixed costs from March 23 to May 22, 2020.
The program is in line with the recommendation from the recently established Business Advisory Council.
April 8, 2020: Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health provides update on COVID-19
Please note that the Playgrounds section has been updated.
Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Brendan Hanley has the following updates for the Yukon public on measures being taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 cases and recoveries
Government of Yukon signs three-year agreement with Association franco-yukonnaise
The Government of Yukon and the Association franco-yukonnaise (l’AFY) have signed an agreement for three years valued at $360,000 to support the delivery of French-language training programs.
The agreement supports l’AFY in meeting the growing demand for French-as-a-second-language training. It also supports the creation and delivery of professional development opportunities tailored to the needs of French-speaking Yukoners.
New eProcurement system to reduce red tape
A new tendering system will make procurement easier, faster and more reliable for Yukon businesses.
The Government of Yukon has signed a contract with eSolutions Group to develop an online eProcurement system that will decrease paper bids, flag compliance errors for bidders, and improve spending analysis across government.
The new online system will streamline the procurement process with features including:
Face-to-face classes suspended for remainder of 2019–20 school year
The Government of Yukon’s Minister of Education, Tracy-Anne McPhee, has suspended face-to-face classes for the remainder of the 2019–20 school year, on the recommendation of Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health.
Parks and campgrounds opening delayed until June
The Government of Yukon is delaying the opening of territorial parks and campgrounds and sale of camping permits until June to protect the public, staff and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
All campgrounds and facilities that were open, but un-serviced, are now closed until further notice.
The Government of Yukon will continue to work with the office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health and reassess the situation in May to determine if opening parks and campgrounds is in the best interest of Yukoners’ health and safety.
Government of Yukon provides more details about enforcement at Yukon borders
The hours for the border crossings have been updated in this news release.
As of 8 a.m. on Monday, April 6, Civil Emergency Measures Act (CEMA) Enforcement Officers have been placed at Yukon borders and at the Whitehorse airport as a measure to ensure that all travellers have the information they need to keep themselves and Yukoners safe from the spread of COVID-19.
April 6, 2020: Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health provides update on COVID-19
Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Brendan Hanley has the following updates for the Yukon public on measures being taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 cases and recoveries
As of today, April 6, at 3 p.m. the number of cases of COVID-19 in Yukon is seven.
Four of the seven people who have contracted COVID-19 have now recovered and all others are isolating and doing well at home. No Yukon cases have required medical treatment.
Child care operators receive additional funding
Yukon’s licensed child care centres and family day homes will receive additional funding to provide care to children during the COVID-19 response and beyond it. The Government of Yukon will cover staff wages as well as eligible building expenses, including rent, utilities and cleaning costs. The funding will support child care operators and enable them to avoid charging parent fees as Yukon responds to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Government of Yukon provides phones to vulnerable women during COVID-19 pandemic
The Government of Yukon is partnering with the Yukon Status of Women Council and Northwestel to ensure that women vulnerable to violence in Yukon have safe access to cell phones and the internet during COVID-19.
The Government of Yukon will provide 325 phones with capability for voice and internet access to vulnerable women for the next four months. This will give women options to safely access the support they need.
COVID-19 updates for April 3, 2020, with Dr. Brendan Hanley and Premier Silver
Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Brendan Hanley and Premier Silver have the following updates for the Yukon public on measures being taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 cases and recoveries
As of today, April 3, at 3 p.m. the number of cases of COVID-19 in Yukon remains at six.
Four of the six people who contracted COVID-19 have now recovered and all others are isolating and doing well at home. No Yukon cases have required medical treatment.
Government of Yukon and Commission scolaire francophone du Yukon reach a settlement
The Government of Yukon and Commission scolaire francophone du Yukon (CSFY) have reached a settlement agreement to address and resolve all issues from the 2009 lawsuit. They have been negotiating through a joint settlement committee since August 2015.
The two parties worked collaboratively through this committee to resolve issues that were raised during the court case about French First Language education in Yukon. The settlement committee was composed of six members, three nominated by each party.
