Statement from Premier Sandy Silver on meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Premier of the Yukon Sandy Silver has issued the following statement:

“Today, I met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa. We discussed a number of Yukon priorities, including Arctic sovereignty, critical minerals and climate change, community infrastructure, health care and mental health.  

“We agreed that Arctic sovereignty comes first and foremost from the people of the North and we re-affirmed our commitment to work together to support healthy, vibrant, thriving and safe communities.

“Canada’s commitment to investing in the Yukon helps ensure that Yukoners have the infrastructure and resources they need to support their health and safety as well as strengthen our communities and cultures.

“This week, the northern Premiers issued a pan-territorial statement on climate change, calling on the federal government to work with the territories to address the unique impacts of climate change in the North. We discussed how Yukon communities are being directly impacted by climate change and emphasized the need for immediate action.

“The Government of Yukon remains committed to preventing, mitigating and adapting to climate change as the territory works towards the goals outlined in Our Clean Future. The Yukon is poised to play a significant role in our national response to climate change as a stable domestic source for critical minerals that are key to Canada’s transition to a greener economy.

“I discussed the importance of increased federal healthcare funding to support the health and wellbeing of Yukoners. The Government of Yukon remains committed to build a people-centred health care system that will better meet the needs of Yukoners and improve health outcomes throughout the territory.

“In January, the Government of Yukon declared a Substance Use Health Emergency. We will continue to work alongside our federal and territorial partners to address substance use through expanded harm reduction initiatives. Over the past two years, COVID-19 has had impacts on the mental health of Yukoners and Canadians across the country and I discussed with the Prime Minister how we need to work together to find solutions to increase access to mental wellness resources and strengthen our communities.

“I look forward to our continued partnership with the federal government to advance these initiatives and build healthy, vibrant and thriving communities in the Yukon.”