Yukon News Releases
Updated: 10 hours 17 min ago
New deputy minister for the Department of Education
Nicole Morgan has accepted the position of deputy minister for the Department of Education. She will act in this position for 12 months.
Champagne and Aishihik First Nations and Government of Yukon sign renewed agreement on forest management priorities
Joint news release with Champagne and Aishihik First Nations
The Government of Yukon and Champagne and Aishihik First Nations have signed a renewed forest management implementation agreement. The agreement outlines the shared forest management priorities between the two governments for the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations Traditional Territory.
Kluane First Nation will receive funding for housing unit retrofits
Joint news release with Government of Canada and Kluane First Nation
The governments of Canada and Yukon are pleased to provide funding to help the Kluane First Nation (KFN) retrofit homes in Burwash Landing. The KFN will receive just over $400,000 to retrofit nine units.
This partnership will help revitalize and modernize older homes in the community. In the coming months, the Yukon Housing Corporation will continue to work with Yukon First Nations on providing funding for housing retrofits in various communities.
Spring sitting wraps up, fall 2018 sitting to begin first week of October
The spring sitting of the Yukon Legislative Assembly concluded today. The 30-day session began with the delivery of the 2018–19 Budget, which features a five-year capital plan, profiling the Government of Yukon’s priority infrastructure projects.
Final two Mental Wellness and Substance Use Services hubs opening
The Carmacks and Haines Junction hubs for Mental Wellness and Substance Use Services will officially open on April 20 and 21.
Similar to the hubs in Watson Lake and Dawson City, these hubs will provide mental wellness support for individuals who have experienced trauma, individual counselling, outreach services, community support and pre-and post-care related to substance use.
New solar energy generating projects displacing diesel in communities
The Government of Yukon, in partnerships with Yukon First Nations, installed three new solar energy generating systems in the territory. The renewable systems are installed on buildings owned by Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, White River First Nation and Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, and are capable of generating a total of over 76 kilowatts of electricity.
The federal government’s Northern Responsible Energy Approach for Community Heat and Electricity (REACHE) program provided over $169,000 in funding for the three projects.
New grader station to be built in Carmacks
The Government of Yukon is replacing the current, 50-year-old Carmacks grader station with a new, more efficient building this summer. The facility will support the highway crews who maintain the North Klondike Highway and Campbell Highway near the community. The new grader station will include four equipment bay doors, storage space and additional work space. The replacement is estimated at $9 million and is slated for completion for summer 2019.
New investment and engagement activities to improve services in Yukon parks and campgrounds
The Government of Yukon is investing $1 million to improve camping opportunities for Yukoners and visitors this year.
This funding is part of a multi-year plan to expand campground infrastructure and replace aging infrastructure in Yukon territorial parks. It will be used toward facilities such as trails, signage, playgrounds, outhouses and improving universal access.
24-hour rule to provide fair access in Yukon campgrounds
Beginning this season, occupied campsites left unattended for longer than 24 hours will be subject to a fine of $200 per offence.
This regulation change aims to address campers’ concerns about holding campsites. It will help improve availability of campsites and provide fair access at Yukon campgrounds for residents and visitors.
Park officers will work to educate campers about the rules in the 2018 camping season and enforce the new regulation as necessary.
Mental Wellness and Substance Use Services hub in Dawson City officially open
The Dawson City hub for Mental Wellness and Substance Use Services officially opened Saturday, April 14. The new hub will provide a variety of services to Dawson City residents, as well as specialist services to the neighbouring communities of Mayo and Old Crow.
Community members now have a single point-of-access to a variety of services. Similar to the hub in Watson Lake, these services include mental wellness support for individuals who have experienced trauma, individual counselling, outreach services, community support and pre-and post-care related to substance use.
Yukon Community Economic Development Conference kicks off in Watson Lake
Stakeholders and local governments interested in community economic development are coming together for a three-day conference in Watson Lake, April 17-19.
Federal, territorial, municipal and First Nations governments, businesses, entrepreneurs, development corporations and non-governmental organizations will discuss challenges, successes and opportunities around local economic development. Approximately 65 delegates are expected to attend.
Yukon Liquor Corporation signs first cannabis supply agreement
In preparation for the legalization of cannabis, the Yukon Liquor Corporation has secured its first supply agreement with licensed cannabis producer Tilray Canada Ltd.
The supply agreement will be fulfilled through Tilray’s affiliate, High Park Company, which was created to produce and distribute a broad-based portfolio of cannabis brands and products. The standing offer agreement commits to an initial purchase of inventory and includes a general commitment to supply more product dependent upon consumer demand.
Government of Yukon to complete F.H. Collins Secondary School project
The Government of Yukon is working with the F.H. Collins Secondary School community and investing $3.12 million to complete the F.H. Collins Secondary School project.
The completion work will include a community basketball court, an outdoor learning space for experiential learning activities, a new weight building for the sport program, a multi-use path between buildings, 20-30 new parking spots and a new bus loop to be shared with the French First Language high school.
New maintenance facility to be built at Dawson City airport
The Government of Yukon is starting construction on a new maintenance facility at the Dawson City airport this summer. Construction costs are estimated at $7.7 million and the facility is slated for completion in summer 2019.
Yukon Public Libraries offers new accessible service
Yukoners with print disabilities – learning, physical or visual disabilities that prevent a person from reading conventional print – can now use a new accessible service at Yukon Public Libraries, free of charge.
Through a partnership with the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA), Yukon Public Libraries now offers a broad range of reading materials in various accessible formats. The over 500,000 accessible items include books, newspapers, magazines and movies for all ages and interests in English or French, with expanding access to other languages.
Statement from Premier Silver on the passing of Joe Linklater
Premier Sandy Silver released the following statement today:
Federal, provincial and territorial ministers endorse new Housing Partnership Framework
Joint news release with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for housing met today to endorse a multilateral Housing Partnership Framework* (Partnership), further advancing the National Housing Strategy (NHS) and setting the foundation for federal, provincial and territorial governments to work together toward achieving a long-term shared vision for housing.
New loan program promotes diverse housing options in rural Yukon
The Government of Yukon will provide $2 million dollars over three years for short-term construction financing through the Developer Build Program. This will help contractors provide modest, sustainable housing options in Yukon communities.
Government of Yukon announces $241,000 in new legal aid funding
The Yukon Legal Services Society, also known as Yukon Legal Aid, is receiving $241,000 in additional funding to expand its capacity to provide professional legal services to Yukoners.
The new funding will allow the society to address an increasing volume of complex cases by hiring a senior criminal law practitioner. It will also help with increased administrative costs associated with a higher demand for the society’s services.
Government of Yukon announces funding in school technology for better student learning
The Government of Yukon will invest $1.9 million in 2018–19 to improve school-based information technology and embrace modern teaching and learning practices.
This funding will support equipping schools with more computing devices to create mobile computer labs that bring digital learning directly to the classroom. It will also support connectivity projects to increase student access to global information. These projects will support the redesigned curriculum and enable flexible, collaborative learning environments in all Yukon schools.
