Premier Sandy Silver has made senior leadership changes in the Department of Health and Social Services.
Current Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services Stephen Samis is leaving the Government of Yukon. On an interim basis, Premier Silver has appointed Ed van Randen as Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, focusing specifically on the delivery of social services.
Michael Hale will continue in his role as Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services focusing on the delivery of health care services and their integration into a new health authority.
These changes are effective immediately. Ed van Randen will be joining the Department of Health and Social Services on March 17.
The Government of Yukon has had the pleasure of working with Stephen Samis for nearly five years in his role as Deputy Minister. During that time, Stephen played a key role in leading the territory’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic alongside the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, and contributed to improving the health systems and policy in the territory. I thank him for his contributions and wish him the very best in his next endeavour.
Premier Sandy Silver
Ed van Randen has an impressive track record with the Government of Yukon and the Department of Health and Social Services is very pleased to have him join our senior leadership team. I look forward to working with him and welcome him to our team.
Minister of Health and Social Services Tracy-Anne McPhee
Deputy ministers, including presidents of government corporations, are the most senior public servants in the Government of Yukon. They are responsible for the department or corporation’s budget, day-to-day operations and program development.
Deputy ministers serve at the pleasure of the Premier.
See the backgrounder for Ed van Randen's biography.
Biography – Ed van Randen
Ed van Randen was born and raised in Vancouver, B.C. before moving to the Yukon in 1997 to work in forest management. He joined the Government of Yukon in 2001, where he helped create the new Forest Resources Act and was a lead negotiator for resource management agreements with Yukon First Nations. Beginning in 2017, Ed has taken a series of assignments including assistant deputy minister with the Executive Council Office, deputy minister at the Department of Environment and most recently assistant deputy minister with the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources. Ed is a graduate of the Yukon Government Leadership Forum (2004) and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Biology. He is passionate about people and responsible decision making and believes strongly in the principle of leadership from any level within an organization.
Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca