The Yukon’s universal child care system aims to provide all Yukoners with access to high-quality, affordable, flexible and inclusive early learning and child care supports. To increase the quality of education across all licensed early learning programs in the territory, Yukon University, with support from the Government of Yukon and the Government of Canada, is launching an accelerated education pathway for early childhood educators (ECEs) in April 2022.

Starting today, the Yukon government is lifting the requirement to wear a mask in public spaces and the requirement to show proof of vaccination to access designated settings for people who are 19 years of age or older. 

Some settings, such as schools, long-term care centres, health facilities, shelters, group homes, the correctional centre and hospitals are still requiring Yukoners to wear a mask. 

The Tr’ondëk Hwëchin Government, the City of Dawson and the Government of Yukon have collaborated to host a mental wellness week in Dawson City.

The Dawson City Mental Wellness Week is providing Dawson residents with an opportunity to talk about their mental wellness experiences in safe spaces, speak with community leaders and learn about support services available to them.

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.

The Government of Yukon is ending the State of Emergency in response to COVID-19 on Thursday, March 17, at 11:59 p.m.

The State of Emergency was last declared under the Civil Emergency Measures Act (CEMA) on November 8, 2021, in response to increased spread of COVID-19 in the Yukon. Public health measures under CEMA have been critical to managing the spread of the Delta and Omicron variants of COVID-19 and protecting the health and safety of all Yukoners.

A Yukon First Nations business, United North Construction Group, has been awarded an over $800,000 contract to demolish Macaulay Lodge, a former long-term care home in Whitehorse.

The company used tools within the Yukon First Nations Procurement Policy such as bid value reductions for being a Yukon First Nations business and hiring Yukon First Nations labour, which ultimately made them the successful candidate for the demolition contract.  

The City of Whitehorse’s Handy Bus service is now available to Yukoners seven days a week.

The Handy Bus provides accessible and safe transportation to people who are unable to use standard transit services. People can book their trip in advance for this scheduled service by calling 867-668-8394.

To increase Handy Bus service to seven days a week in Whitehorse, the Government of Yukon increased the value of its agreement with the City to $247,700 for 2022.

Minister of Justice Tracy-Anne McPhee announced the Government of Yukon’s new Community Safety Planning program today.

Phase one of the program will be available to Yukon First Nations governments and will provide up to $200,000 to each First Nations government to support local community safety assessments, planning and initiatives.

This is a joint release with the City of Whitehorse.

The Government of Yukon and the City of Whitehorse congratulate the Canada Winter Games Bid Committee on reaching the first major milestone in the 13-month process to bring the 2027 Canada Winter Games to Whitehorse.

The committee submitted the technical review information package to the Canada Games Council on March 11. The Technical Review Committee will visit Whitehorse from March 29 to 30, 2022, to conduct a site visit of the venues reviewed in the report.

Health and Social Services Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee and acting Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Catherine Elliott have issued the following the following statement:

“Today, marks the National Day of Observance for COVID-19. A day to observe all that has been lost, all that has been missed and a day to pay tribute to all that has been sacrificed.