Yukon News Releases
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Watson Lake residents will soon have improved street lighting and pedestrian crossings
The Government of Yukon will be installing new street lighting between kilometre one and four on the Robert Campbell Highway and will be improving road infrastructure in and around Watson Lake.
In the coming months, new signage and pavement markings will be installed at three crosswalk locations in the community that will provide advance warning to motorists of the upcoming crosswalk. The potential for other crosswalks in high-traffic areas will be considered.
Request for proposals to study mineral exploration funding models
The Government of Yukon has issued a request for proposals to study potential models for a Mineral Exploration Fund to support junior mining companies. Interested parties can bid on this project on the Yukon Government’s bids and tenders website.
Lorne Metropolit wins the Yukon’s 2022 Agriculture Award
The Government of Yukon is recognizing Lorne Metropolit, owner and operator of Yukon Gardens, as the 2022 winner of the Yukon Agriculture Award. Lorne is being celebrated for his decades of work developing agriculture and building food security in the Yukon.
COVID-19 outbreak ends at Thomson Centre long-term care home
The Yukon’s acting Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Catherine Elliott has declared the COVID-19 outbreak at the Thomson Centre long-term care home officially over.
The care home was closed on February 8, 2022, following the confirmation of several linked COVID-19 cases. Additional measures were put in place and no additional cases were identified. Staff worked diligently over the weekend to ensure all cleaning protocols were completed and the Thomson Centre could reopen for visitors today.
Government of Yukon celebrates recipients of 2021 sport awards
The Yukon government has announced the recipients of the 2021 Government of Yukon sport awards. These awards honour the accomplishments of athletes in our territory who have made exceptional achievements at the national and international level.
For 2021, the Government of Yukon is awarding the Premier’s Award of Sport Excellence to nine individuals across seven sports.
Due to COVID-19, recipients will be individually presented with their awards and are being recognized with a video message from the Minister of Community Services.
Upgrades to the elevator at Whitehorse’s Financial Plaza to begin
TK Elevator will be upgrading the elevator at the 204 Lambert Street Financial Plaza in Whitehorse, beginning Monday February 21, 2022. The elevator will be out of service for approximately five weeks while the upgrades are completed. Clients of Insured Health Services will still be able to access the fourth floor by the stairs while the elevator is being upgraded.
New COVID-19 dashboard provides Yukoners with more data
The Government of Yukon now has a new COVID-19 dashboard to provide Yukoners with important data related to the pandemic.
The new format displays data on vaccination rates, case counts, testing and hospitalizations, with the addition of interactive graphs, maps and detailed summaries of data over time. This dashboard is user-friendly and will help Yukoners stay informed on the current COVID-19 situation in the territory.
Public health measures continue to ease in the Yukon
The Government of Yukon is moving forward on the recommendations of the Yukon’s acting Chief Medical Officer of Health to ease additional public health measures.
Effective February 18, 2022, the following changes to the public health measures will take effect:
Cultural Connections Project launched to support Yukon First Nations children in care
This is a joint release with the Government of Canada, the Government of Yukon, Yukon First Nations and the Council of Yukon First Nations.
Electric vehicles can now easily travel most of the Yukon’s highways
In 2021, the Government of Yukon installed seven new electric vehicle fast chargers in communities across the Yukon, expanding the territory’s existing electric vehicle-charging network from five chargers to 12.
Electric vehicles can now be fast charged in Teslin, Whitehorse, Carmacks, Pelly Crossing, Mayo and Dawson City. The fast chargers in Stewart Crossing and Watson Lake will be available for public use in the coming weeks.
Mental Wellness Summit sparks momentum for real change
More than 550 participants from across the Yukon and Canada tuned into phase one of the Yukon government’s Mental Wellness Summit, hosted virtually on Monday, February 14, and Tuesday, February 15, 2022.
Presenters at the Summit discussed mental wellness topics such as prevention, treatment, support services and aftercare, while also sharing a variety of harm reduction models and solutions.
The most attended sessions covered Indigenous-led approaches to healing, reconciliation and cultural considerations in mental health and the impact of culture-based interventions.
Government of Yukon realigns services to better support Yukoners
As the Yukon continues to respond to impacts of COVID-19, it is important that Yukon employers and employees can access the support they need when they need it the most. To help make support for employers more accessible, the Government of Yukon is restructuring the Department of Education’s Post-Secondary and Labour Market Unit. The new structure will include a labour market component and a training component.
Carcross and Teslin health centres temporarily offer emergency-only services
Due to staffing challenges, the Department of Health and Social Services is temporarily reducing services at the Carcross Health Centre and the Teslin Health Centre.
As an update, the Carcross clinic will extend the emergency only service from Monday, February 14, through Friday, February 18, 2022.
The Teslin clinic will be open for emergencies only from Wednesday, February 16, to Friday, February 18, 2022.
COVID-19 at-home rapid testing distribution expands in Whitehorse
In order to expand public testing accessibility, the Government of Yukon will now be offering additional opportunities in Whitehorse to pick up at-home rapid COVID-19 test kits.
This week, at-home rapid tests kits can be picked up from the existing Takhini Arena distribution site and the Centennial Motors drive-thru location across from the Erik Nielsen International Airport. Rapid tests can be used at home when a person develops COVID-19 symptoms and are available to pick up by all Yukoners whether they are symptomatic or not.
Yukon motor vehicles and carrier compliance services streamlined through new online platform
On March 1, 2022, the Government of Yukon will modernize motor vehicle and commercial carrier services for Yukoners with new online services, eliminating licence plate registration decals.
This suite of new, driver-focused online services will include an improved process for online registration renewal. Yukoners will now be able to print their own registration card and, because licence plate decals no longer exist, the renewal will be effective immediately.
Other new services include:
Temporary reduction in services at the Carcross Health Centre
Due to staffing challenges, the Department of Health and Social Services is temporarily reducing services at the Carcross Health Centre. The clinic will be open for emergencies only on Monday, February 14, and Tuesday, February 15, 2022.
Clients are encouraged to call the 811 Yukon HealthLine, which is available 24/7, and get advice and support for non-emergency issues. Clients can call 867-821-4444 or 911 in the case of an emergency.
The clinic will resume regular services on Wednesday, February 16, 2022.
Government of Yukon approves condominium regulations, sets October 1, 2022, date for new legislation to come into force
The Government of Yukon has approved new regulations for the Condominium Act, 2015, setting the date for the new Act to come into force on October 1, 2022. Proclaiming these regulations in the fall will support the building season without unnecessary disruption.
Six sets of regulations under the Condominium Act, 2015 have been approved, including:
The Yukon receives most improved ranking in second annual CanAge Adult Vaccination Report
In CanAge’s second annual Adult Vaccination Report, the Yukon government received the highest grade improvement out of all Canadian jurisdictions for its adult vaccination programs.
The Government of Yukon received a C in response to significant changes in 2021 to its adult immunization program. Changes included expanding the eligibility for the publicly funded Shingrix vaccine and providing the Fluzone high dose flu vaccine for anyone 65 and older. The Government of Yukon is one of the only governments in Canada to fund the recommended shingles vaccine.
Government of Yukon temporarily expanding practice options for pharmacists
Given the Yukon’s current state of emergency, the Government of Yukon is issuing a Ministerial Order to expand practice options for pharmacists. These temporary changes mirror provisions that were in place last year. There provisions help ensure that Yukoners can continue to safely access needed prescriptions during the pandemic. The changes ultimately help to decrease pressures on the healthcare system, doctors’ offices and emergency rooms.
Under the Order, pharmacists can now at their discretion do the following:
