Yesterday evening, Government of Yukon staff and Tetra Tech engineers assessed the progress of the Dawson ice bridge.

Conditions have been challenging for the workers attempting to induce ice formation during the past week due to higher-than-normal temperatures. Based on the progress to date, engineers estimated that it would take a further 90 days to complete the bridge.

As a result, it was determined that there was not enough ice formation to justify the government continuing with the project.

The Crime Prevention and Victim Services Trust is providing $203,173 to nine community-led projects which focus on crime prevention and services for victims.

Many of the projects receiving funding are designed to reduce young Yukoners’ vulnerability to negative influences and involvement in crime by encouraging healthy relationships, mental and physical wellness, life skills and a sense of community.

Premier Sandy Silver and Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources Ranj Pillai will lead the Yukon delegation at both the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference and the Mineral Exploration Roundup in Vancouver next week to highlight Yukon’s mineral potential, geology and regulatory regime.

Premier Silver will host a meeting with Yukon First Nations Chiefs and mineral industry executives. He will also speak at the Yukon First Nation Chamber of Commerce’s Reception and at the Invest Yukon Pavilion.

Joint news release with the Council of Yukon First Nations

The Government of Yukon is handing over responsibility and administration of the Yukon Native Language Centre to the Council of Yukon First Nations today.

The Council of Yukon First Nations requested that the Government of Yukon transfer full control of the centre as part of the critical priority Yukon First Nations have placed upon the revitalization of their languages. The centre has been the joint responsibility of the Council of Yukon First Nations and the Government of Yukon for more than 30 years.

Government of Yukon staff and contractors began their attempt to build an ice bridge in Dawson this afternoon. This marks the first time that the government has tried to induce ice formation for the purposes of creating an ice bridge.

If the construction is successful and ice and weather conditions are favourable, the government will expect the bridge to be open to the public in a few weeks.

Joint news release with Teslin Tlingit Council 

Today, Premier Sandy Silver and Teslin Tlingit Council Naa Sháade Háni Richard Sidney met in Teslin to sign an intergovernmental agreement.

The agreement will help the governments successfully facilitate economic, social, cultural and development initiatives. It will also enhance government-to-government collaboration and reconciliation by outlining shared priorities and creating a plan to address these matters together.

The Government of Yukon has released a draft legislative summary of its Cannabis Control and Regulation Act and is seeking feedback from Yukoners, First Nation governments and municipalities.

The summary outlines the key provisions of the proposed Act, which must be passed prior to the federal government's legalization of cannabis in Canada this summer.

The proposed Act is being developed in a manner to reflect the Government of Yukon’s guiding principles and is informed by feedback received from Yukoners in 2017.

Joint news release with the City of Whitehorse

The Government of Yukon and the City of Whitehorse today launched Talking Together: A stronger dialogue between you and your government, a joint effort to learn what Yukoners see as meaningful engagement.

Yukoners are invited to give their thoughts on what we can do to better engage with the public and help us to become more accountable, transparent and responsive.

Since the last count in 2013, the population has grown from an estimated 198,000 to 218,000 caribou. The herd has grown annually at a rate of 3.7 per cent since the 2010 estimate of 169,000.

Premier Sandy Silver yesterday announced that the Government of Yukon is developing the Order of Yukon. He made the announcement at the Commissioner’s New Year’s Levee, which was Commissioner Doug Phillips’ final public event.

At present, Yukon has no award equal to those offered in other Canadian provinces and territories. The Order will give Yukoners the opportunity to nominate exceptional individuals for highest-level recognition.