Yukon News Releases
Updated: 8 hours 7 min ago
Making medical travel easier and more affordable for Yukoners
The Government of Yukon has amended the Travel for Medical Treatment Regulations. As of January 1, 2021, the medical travel subsidy is $150 per day for multi-day travel for out-patients and for escorts accompanying in-patients. Patients and escorts will have access to a $75 per day subsidy for same day travel. Beginning in 2022, the subsidy will be indexed yearly to the Canadian Consumer Price Index.
January 13, 2021: COVID-19 update
The Government of Yukon 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, January 13, the COVID-19 case count for Yukon is 70. Sixty-three people have recovered, one person has died and there are six active cases. We have tested 6,130 people.
Vaccination rollout progress
Support provided for Haines, Alaska
The Government of Yukon has provided C$25,000 to the Salvation Army Alaska Division to support relief and recovery efforts in Haines, Alaska.
This contribution will go towards the December 2020 South East Alaska Winter Storm Response to help families who are in need of emergency support. It also builds on the Government of Yukon’s immediate efforts to clear the Alaska Highway and facilitate the movement of support from the rest of Alaska.
Possible COVID-19 case confirmed negative
Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Brendan Hanley confirms that a possible case linked to multiple contacts over the past week has tested negative for COVID-19. This person was initially tested outside of the territory using a point-of-care rapid test, which gave a positive result. To confirm the results, the Government of Yukon requested a second test using the Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test that is considered to be the gold standard in COVID-19 testing.
Work to protect Porcupine caribou will continue
Partners to the Canadian Porcupine Caribou Management Agreement came together on January 6, 2021 to respond to the recent oil and gas lease sale in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The parties are committed to advocating for protection of the Porcupine caribou herd and this vital habitat.
Together, the parties released this statement:
January 7, 2021: COVID-19 update
The Government of Yukon has the following updates for the Yukon public on measures being taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 cases and recoveriesAs of today, January 7, the COVID-19 case count for Yukon is 69. Fifty-nine people have recovered, one person has died, and there are 9 active cases. We have tested 6,057 people.
VaccinationsCOVID-19 vaccinations are underway in Yukon with 310 doses given out between January 4 and 6, 2021. Regular updates on total vaccinations will be provided every Wednesday and posted to Yukon.ca.
Vaccine rollout schedule released
The Government of Yukon’s rollout schedule for administering the COVID-19 vaccine in the territory is now available.
Two mobile teams will provide vaccinations in communities across the territory, starting the week of January 18, 2021. Each mobile team will travel with multiple immunizers providing the vaccine to as many people as possible while they are in each community. The Whitehorse vaccination clinic is scheduled to open the week of January 18, 2021.
Seeking public feedback on details of single-use shopping bag ban
The Government of Yukon wants to hear from Yukoners on how to best implement a ban on single-use shopping bags, both plastic and paper.
Provide your input on details of the ban including timing for implementation, exemptions that should be allowed and any issues or barriers related to implementing the ban.
Banning single-use shopping bags will help reduce waste in Yukon and protect the environment. This public engagement will ensure the ban is introduced in a way that works for Yukoners, businesses and municipalities.
Preliminary creative and cultural industries strategy out for public review
Today, the Government of Yukon released Creative Potential: Advancing Yukon’s Creative Economy for public comment.
This draft strategy for supporting the creative and cultural industries is the first of its kind for Yukon, presenting 22 specific actions under four strategic objectives: stimulate growth, focusing policies, developing programs and services, strengthening connections and fostering knowledge.
First Yukoners receive COVID-19 vaccine
Vaccinations started today at Whistle Bend Place in Whitehorse. This marks the start of a territory-wide immunization campaign that will be the most comprehensive vaccine program ever delivered in Yukon.
Agnes Mills, age 84, is a resident at Whistle Bend Place and was the first to receive the vaccine. Mills is a Vuntut Gwitchin Elder from Old Crow. Mills was inducted into the Order of Yukon last month for her lifelong work to advance the rights of Indigenous people.
January 1, 2021: four new COVID-19 cases confirmed
Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Brendan Hanley confirms four new cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the territory’s total to 64 cases. There are currently four active cases in Yukon.
Premier Sandy Silver congratulates former Premier Tony Penikett on his appointment to the Order of Canada
Statement from Premier Sandy Silver:
I would like to congratulate former Premier Tony Penikett on his appointment to the Order of Canada. This is a well-deserved honour for Mr. Penikett in recognition of his many contributions to Canada as a negotiator, public servant, teacher and human rights activist.
Local jerky products voluntarily recalled
Yukon residents who may have purchased beef or bison jerky, produced by a local business, Off the Hook Meatworks, are being advised to avoid eating any of these products.
Environmental Health Services, and in consultation with Off the Hook Meatworks, are issuing a recall notice for these products. The product has possibly been contaminated with a foreign material that may be a health hazard.
RCMP are investigating following complaints from several individuals who consumed the product and who felt a variety of physical and mental effects including:
Statement from Minister of Health and Social Services Pauline Frost on the arrival of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine in Yukon
Minister Pauline Frost released the following statement:
“The first shipment of the Moderna vaccine arrived safely in Whitehorse today. This is a turning point in Yukon’s fight against COVID-19 and is a positive way to end 2020.
I can assure Yukoners that we are ready to start rolling out the vaccine very soon. A team of dedicated health professionals is undergoing training on how to safely store, handle and deliver the vaccine. This training will ensure that they can safely administer the vaccine to eligible Yukoners.
Statement from Minister of Health and Social Services on the approval of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine
Minister Pauline Frost released the following statement:
We are very pleased that Health Canada has granted final regulatory approval to Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine. Approval means the vaccine meets Canada’s stringent safety, efficacy and quality requirements.
This is the exciting news Yukoners have been waiting for and our team is ready to begin vaccinating Yukoners as soon as possible. Now that the vaccine is approved, Health Canada and the manufacturer will provide training instructions for the handling and delivery of the vaccine.
Historic sitting of Yukon Legislative Assembly concludes
The 2020 fall sitting of the Yukon Legislative Assembly concluded today. The 45-day sitting was the longest sitting of the Yukon Legislative Assembly in more than 25 years, and the second longest continuous sitting in the history of the Yukon Legislative Assembly. In total, the Yukon Legislative Assembly sat for 54 days in 2020, the fourth highest number of sitting days of all provinces and territories this year.
December 22, 2020: COVID-19 update
Please note that the CTAC and drive-thru holiday hours have been updated.
The Government of Yukon has the following updates for the Yukon public on measures being taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 cases and recoveriesAs of today, December 22, the COVID-19 case count for Yukon is 59. Fifty-eight people have recovered, one person has died and there are no active cases. We have tested 5,872 people.
The life of Zhùr: a mummified ice age wolf pup from the Klondike
In 2016, an ancient, mummified wolf pup was discovered in the permafrost by Yukon miners working in the Klondike goldfields near Dawson. This tiny wolf pup, named “Zhùr”, which means “wolf” in the Hän language, is said to be from the ice age.
Baseline evaluation of Yukon’s Science Strategy complete
In January 2016, the Government of Yukon released its Science Strategy. The strategy outlines the government’s vision and goals to develop and manage scientific knowledge in Yukon while establishing a long-term approach to develop and invest in science in order to support evidence-based decision making. The goals of the strategy support best practices in:
