Yukon News Releases
Updated: 6 hours 39 min ago
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.
Emergency measures and guidance to protect Yukoners from the spread of COVID-19 announced today
The Government of Yukon is protecting Yukoners from the spread of COVID-19 by introducing Civil Emergency Measures Health Protection (COVID-19) Orders. This now ensures that orders given by the Chief Medical Officer of Health are enforceable under the Civil Emergency Measures Act. Today’s action also defines critical and essential services in a new set of guidelines. The guidelines will provide Yukoners and critical service providers the clarity needed to determine who can safely travel and work throughout the territory.
April 1, 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 1, at 3 p.m. there are six cases of COVID-19 in Yukon. The new case is linked to international travel. The individual followed all proper protocols, self-isolated and is recovering at home.
Three of the six people who contracted COVID-19 have now recovered and all others are doing well on home isolation.
Yukon businesses to benefit from funding for cancelled events
The Government of Yukon today announced details of supports available to address the economic impacts of event cancellations related to COVID-19.
Comprehensive Review of Health and Social Services report receives 30 day extension
Following a request from the Independent Expert Panel, the deadline for the submission of the Panel’s final report has been granted a 30 day extension. The Independent Expert Panel requested this extension, citing circumstantial challenges due to COVID-19 as the reason for this request. Most members of the comprehensive review secretariat, including the director, have been called to work on a response to COVID-19 by various agencies including the Government of Yukon.
March 30, 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 test results
As of today, March 30, at 3 p.m. there are five cases of COVID-19 in Yukon. All five people are doing well at home.
Information about COVID-19 tests is published regularly on Yukon.ca. This includes how many confirmed cases there are in Yukon, how many tests have been negative, how many results are pending and the total number of tests.
Recycling services, tipping fees temporarily suspended in light of COVID-19 pandemic
In order to protect users and workers at waste facilities from the spread of COVID-19, the Government of Yukon has requested that during the COVID-19 public health emergency all free stores and recycling depots close on or before April 1, 2020.
Where possible, we are asking the public to clean and store recycling until services resume. Alternatively, put your recycling in your household waste. E-waste drop-offs at Raven Recycling and rural recycling depots will remain open during this time.
Commissioner launches the Daisy Mason Wellness Fund
The Commissioner of Yukon, the Bishop of the Anglican Church and the Skookum Jim Indian Trust Fund are working together to launch the Daisy Mason Wellness Fund. It will provide financial assistance to First Nations residents behind initiatives that help people in their community through well-being, healing and personal development training and activities.
March 27, 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 test results
As of today, March 27, at 3 p.m. there are four cases of COVID-19 in Yukon. All four people are doing well at home.
Information about COVID-19 tests is published regularly on Yukon.ca. This includes how many confirmed cases there are in Yukon, how many tests have been negative, how many results are pending and the total number of tests.
