Yukon News Releases
Resource released for Yukoners living with post COVID-19 condition
Post COVID-19 condition, also known as long COVID, is rapidly evolving and continues to be researched in Canada and across the world. The Post COVID-19 Working Group has now released an online resource for Yukoners, an important and necessary step forward in understanding the condition and supporting Yukoners along the way.
2022 fall sitting of the Yukon Legislative Assembly concludes
The 2022 fall sitting of the Yukon Legislative Assembly concluded today.
The 2022–23 First Supplementary Estimates received assent. The supplementary budget includes additional spending of $26.2 million in operations and maintenance and no changes in capital funding. Spending increases are largely due to an unprecedented 2022 fire season as well as mitigation and clean-up work required in response to extensive flooding throughout the territory. Funding associated with these items make up approximately $20.2 million of total new spending.
Long-term care beds coming to Watson Lake
Two long-term care beds are being integrated within the Watson Lake Community Hospital, with 4.5 full-time equivalent Licensed Practical Nurses to provide 24-hour support, seven days a week.
The beds will open following staff recruitment and community input to ensure the appropriate programming. Community feedback will inform the development of living spaces, including furnishings and decor, to ensure they are welcoming and culturally appropriate.
Bursaries support 13 Yukoners’ education in health care
The Government of Yukon has awarded bursaries to 13 Yukon students to support their post-secondary education in health-related fields.
The nursing education bursary was awarded to five Yukoners, including Emerald Gilespie, who will receive $1,500, Alissa Russell and Eleanor Low, who will each receive $2,500 per year, and Sophie Senecal, who will receive $5,000 per year.
The medical education bursary was awarded to four Yukoners, including Logan Godin and Jamila McLeish who will each receive $5,000 per year and Zain Syed, who will receive $7,500 per year.
Monkeypox vaccine available for eligible Yukoners
The Monkeypox (MPOX) vaccine, Imvamune®, is now available for eligible Yukoners at the Whitehorse, Dawson City and Watson Lake Health Centres.
When used before exposure, Imvamune® has the potential to reduce the severity of MPOX infection by helping the body build immunity without getting very sick.
The Government of Yukon and Yukon Communicable Disease Control continue to work closely with health system and community partners on a focused vaccine campaign for eligible Yukoners through a combination of outreach and appointments booked by phone.
Yukoners 12+ now eligible for another COVID-19 booster
To increase the territory’s immunity during the respiratory season, Yukoners who are 12 years of age and older are now eligible for another COVID-19 booster regardless of how many previous boosters they have had.
Putting People First annual report released
The Government of Yukon has released the first Putting People First annual report, providing an update on the work being done to implement the report’s 76 recommendations.
The Government of Yukon recognizes excellence in mining practices
The winners of the 2022 Robert E. Leckie Awards were announced at the 50th Annual Geoscience Forum & Trade Show banquet last evening. This year’s recipients are Parker Schnabel and Guy and Lisa Favron.
The Award for Excellence in Environmental Stewardship was presented to Parker Schnabel for the reclamation work at the Little Flake placer mine and legacy areas mined by previous generations. The operation stands as a prime example of how a placer mine can be progressively reclaimed or cleaned up as work is underway.
The Yukon’s 2022 State of the Environment interim report released
Today, Minister of Environment Nils Clarke tabled the Yukon State of the Environment interim report for 2022 in the Yukon Legislative Assembly. This report brings together scientific and technical data from across government organizations and helps identify trends about the health of the Yukon’s environment.
Statement from Minister responsible for the French Language Services Directorate John Streicker on the next strategic framework for French-language services
Minister responsible for the French Language Services Directorate John Streicker has issued the following statement:
“Our government is dedicated to increasing access to French-language services and information. Today we launched a public engagement to inform our next strategic framework for French-language services, which will help prioritize our actions for the next two years. It will build on the successes of the previous framework and guide our investments to best serve the growing Yukon Francophone community.
Government of Yukon and Queer Yukon Society create new health care navigator position
The Yukon government will be providing funding to Queer Yukon Society to create a new health care navigator position that will help 2SLGBTQIA+ Yukoners access safe, equitable and timely health care services.
Nelchina caribou herd hunting opportunity opening
The Government of Yukon is offering a threshold hunt for Nelchina caribou that opens on December 1, 2022, in Game Management Subzones 5-04, 5-05 and a portion of 5-06.
The hunt will close on March 31, 2023, or when the threshold limit of 25 caribou is met – whichever happens first. If the Chisana caribou herd enters the Nelchina threshold hunt subzones, the hunt will be closed to conserve and protect the Chisana caribou herd. Caribou herd locations are monitored through GPS collars which transmit data in real-time to biologists.
Government of Yukon hosts Youth Roots: a gathering to promote strategies for substance use prevention among Yukon youth
The Government of Yukon hosted Youth Roots: A Substance Use Prevention Gathering to discuss and promote approaches to prevent youth substance use by emphasizing long-term, upstream solutions.
The two-day educational forum occurred in person and virtually November 16 and 17 at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre. It welcomed subject matter experts and health promotion practitioners, educators, researchers and community members from across the territory working in substance use prevention.
Yukon Permanent Art Collection exhibits new acquisitions
An exhibition featuring the 16 new works added to the Yukon Permanent Art Collection opened today in the main foyer of the Jim Smith Building in Whitehorse.
Entitled Dis Orientation, the show explores the points of connection between artist, artwork, and viewer and features a wide range of media including stained glass, illustration, carving, painting, textile and digital collage. The artists featured are Claire Falkenberg, Jared Kane, Annie Kierans, Rebecca Manias, Calvin Morberg, Cole Pauls, Krystle Silverfox and Amy Tessaro.
Clean Energy Act receives assent in the Yukon Legislative Assembly
The Clean Energy Act, which legislates the Yukon’s targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and ensures long-term climate change accountability, received assent today.
Animal Protection and Control Act receives assent
The new Animal Protection and Control Act received assent today.
The new Act will provide a comprehensive, enforceable legal framework for managing all aspects of animal protection and control in the Yukon and establishes higher standards of care than what previously existed. The Act includes permits and inspections of animal-related businesses, expands enforcement tools to address high-risk and feral animals and empowers local officers to take action.
Amendments to the Legal Profession Act and the Technical Amendments Act receive assent in the Yukon Legislative Assembly
Bill No. 16, which amends the Legal Profession Act, 2017, and Bill No. 19, the Technical Amendments Act (2022), received assent today in the Yukon Legislative Assembly.
Yukoners can expect an emergency alert test on their cell phones, TVs and radios on November 16
The Yukon is participating in a national test of the AlertReady system this week. A test alert will be sent to radio, TV and cell phones on Wednesday, November 16, at approximately 1:55 pm.
The message will clearly state that it is a test. These types of alerts are designed to deliver critical and potentially life-saving information about emergencies including floods, landslides, wildfires and Amber Alerts.
Support for affordable housing projects in the Yukon available through sixth intake of the Housing Initiatives Fund
The sixth intake of the Housing Initiatives Fund launched today to support the construction of affordable housing for Yukoners across the territory.
This call for projects includes three streams:
Statement from the Minister responsible for the Women and Gender Equity Directorate Jeanie McLean on Canada’s National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence
Minister responsible for the Women and Gender Equity Directorate Jeanie McLean has issued the following statement:
“The Government of Yukon is proud to endorse Canada’s first-ever National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.
“Our government has long recognized and worked towards addressing the high rates of gender-based violence in the North. This historic national plan lays out a broad framework for how we can work together to ensure that no matter where anyone lives in Canada, we all have timely and reliable access to necessary services and protections.
