Today, Premier and Finance Minister Sandy Silver tabled the Government of Yukon’s 2022–23 Budget. 

The Yukon government has announced plans to lift all remaining COVID-19 public health measures in the territory.

As previously announced, starting on March 4, 2022, there will be no longer limits on the size of gatherings, events or capacity at venues. Bars and restaurants will also be able to return to normal operations.

As of March 4, the following public health measures will remain in place:

The Yukon’s acting Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Catherine Elliott is reporting the death of a Yukon resident from COVID-19. This brings the total to 22 since the first death was reported in October 2020.

Out of respect for the individuals and their families, we will not be releasing any additional information.

The Government of Yukon is modernizing the way public land is managed in the territory by creating a new Yukon Public Lands Act. The act will support many different types of land use for residential development, conservation, business ventures and recreational activities in the Yukon.

The new act will replace two existing pieces of legislation, the Lands Act and the Territorial Lands (Yukon) Act. It will recognize First Nations Final Agreements in the spirit of co-operation and day-to-day management of land in the Yukon.

The 2022 spring sitting of the Yukon Legislative Assembly will begin at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 3.

The 2022–23 Budget will be tabled during the sitting along with several pieces of legislation.

Legislative Assembly procedures will be adjusted to align with the territory’s most current COVID-19 health measures and could be subject to change over the course of the spring sitting.    

Today, the Government of Yukon announced a donation of $50,000 to the Canadian Red Cross to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine and neighbouring countries in response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

Donations will support the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement’s work to provide relief through health facilities and supporting families in the region. Support is needed for the humanitarian and refugee response, including coordination for moving people to areas where they can receive food, clothing, shelter, psycho-social support and other assistance.

The Yukon’s acting Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Catherine Elliott is reporting the death of one Yukon resident from COVID-19. This brings the total to 21 deaths due to COVID-19 since the first death was reported in October 2020.

Out of respect for the individuals and their families, we will not be releasing any additional information.

In response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine, the Yukon Liquor Corporation will no longer buy or sell products made in Russia for the foreseeable future.

Effective immediately, Russian Standard will be removed from the Yukon Liquor Corporation’s six liquor stores and warehouse.

Starting today, the COVID-19 Testing and Assessment Centre (CTAC) in Whitehorse will be open between Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed between 12 and 12:30 p.m. during the week. The centre will also be open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The centre will continue to offer lab-based PCR testing to people at a high-risk of developing serious illness, such as:

The Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) confirmed earlier this month the safety and effectiveness of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and recommends them for children and adolescents five years of age and older.

The acting Chief Medical Officer of Health continues to recommend that children and youth keep their vaccines up-to-date to protect against the impacts of COVID-19 during the current wave and in the coming months as people consider increasing contacts and travel.