The Government of Yukon will receive up to $4.16 million from the Government of Canada’s new Safe Return to Class Fund to help further the safety of students and staff members throughout the school year.
The federal government will provide the funding in two phases: 50 per cent now and 50 per cent in early 2021.
The Government of Yukon will have the flexibility to spend the funding according to its educational needs and could use it in a range of ways to protect students and staff during the pandemic, including adapting learning spaces, providing more custodial staff, supplying additional buses and providing mental health supports, health and safety training and more support for students and school communities.
This funding is very much appreciated. In my conversations with the Prime Minister and our federal colleagues, they continue to be very responsive to the needs of this territory as we manage the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic. This support will offset the costs incurred as we make sure schools are safe and adaptable to the needs of Yukon students.
Premier Sandy Silver
Yukon school communities have gone to great lengths to safely reopen schools and we are very proud of all of the work that has been done. There are costs to the adaptations that schools have made and this support will help offset these costs. We appreciate support from our federal government and look forward using these funds to the benefit of Yukon students and schools.
Minister of Education Tracy-Anne McPhee
The federal government has committed to provide provinces and territories with $2 billion in new federal funding to support the adaptation of the education sector to ensure a safe return to class in the fall.
Funding will be allocated on an equal per capita basis across the country to support students ages four to 18, with a $2 million base amount provided to each jurisdiction.
This funding is in addition to the $13.5 million allocated to the Government of Yukon through the Safe Restart Agreement completed earlier this month with the Government of Canada.
Janine Workman
Cabinet Communications
867-332-0480
janine.workman@gov.yk.ca
Kyle Nightingale
Communications, Education
867-336-0653
kyle.nightingale@gov.yk.ca