In November 2018, an Independent Expert Panel was appointed to conduct a review of Yukon’s health and social services systems. The panel is made up of Yukoners and health systems experts from outside the territory.

Working together, we have to figure out how we can better allocate our existing resources (people and money), improve services, make things more efficient and find creative solutions to meet our needs today and tomorrow. To do that, the panel needs to hear from Yukoners about their experiences using our health and social services system.

The Government of Yukon recognizes the impact of plastic waste and has committed, along with federal, provincial and territorial environment ministers, to work towards significant reductions in waste disposal and zero plastic waste in Canada.
One way in which the Yukon government is helping decrease plastic waste is through a proposed surcharge on single-use shopping bags received at point-of-sale.

This is one of many steps that the Government of Yukon is planning to take to improve the territory’s recycling system and make it more sustainable.

The collection of fees for single-use shopping bags will contribute to making recycling more financially sustainable in Yukon and act as a disincentive for their use. Our goal is to reduce single-use shopping bag usage by 70%.

Working together, the departments of Tourism and Culture, Economic Development, and Education are developing the Creative and Cultural Industries Strategy. Our goal is to develop a multi-year, action-focused strategy, that will guide government’s future programs and supports to advance the creative and cultural industries sector.

To ensure the strategy will be effective and relevant, we have engaged with individuals and organizations who work in the creative and cultural industries on a number of occasions. We have gathered input and feedback to help us develop a strategy to support, strengthen and sustain a vibrant creative and cultural industries sector in Yukon.

The strategy will also actively consider diversity and inclusivity to ensure that barriers to entering and participating successfully in these industries are identified and addressed.

A working definition of creative and cultural industries is helpful in understanding the scope of this project. Although they are quite diverse, they are essentially all of those industries which generate cultural, artistic or heritage products and content for consumers and marketplaces. This includes writing and publishing, sound recording, visual and applied arts, crafting, film and interactive media, photography, live performance, heritage and libraries. It also includes the labour force and institutions required to support them.

The Smoke-Free Places Act was last modified 10 years ago before the rise in popularity of vaping. We want to hear from Yukoners about how vaping and vapour products should be regulated in the territory. Additionally, we are interested in your feedback about raising the minimum legal age to access tobacco and vapour products. An updated Act will reflect best practices, meet modern-day realities and future needs. 

We are looking for input to help determine the funding program structure that best supports departmental clients and assists in the development of the Yukon economy.

We are seeking comments on potential improvements to the following three funding programs, which includes a proposal to combine them into a single funding program to support a broader range of economic development activities in Yukon: Regional Economic Development Fund; Strategic Industries Development Fund; and Enterprise Trade Fund.

Regional Economic Development Fund (2018/19 Budget: $800,000)

• Provides funding to facilitate organizational capacity development and facilitate regional economic development planning.
• The fund is open to municipal and First Nations governments, Yukon First Nation development corporations, community associations, local governing bodies, area advisory committees, and Yukon businesses and business-related organizations whether for profit or not for profit.

Strategic Industries Development Fund (2018/19 Budget: $800,000)

• Provides funding to identify, pursue and facilitate the development of strategic industries, projects, and economic infrastructure; facilitate maximization of secondary benefits from strategic projects; and increase awareness of and investment in strategic industries and strategic projects.
• The fund is open to businesses registered in Yukon and carrying out business activity in Yukon, Yukon First Nation development agencies structured as a corporation or a trust, and for profit or not-for-profit business-related organizations. Not-for-profits must be registered under the Societies Act and in good standing, or created under another legislated authority.

Enterprise Trade Fund (2018/19 Budget: $360,000)

• Provides funding to open up new markets or significantly expand existing markets, particularly export markets; and support the development of Yukon businesses.
• The fund is open to Yukon businesses and business-related organizations either for profit or not for profit.

Improvements to the funding programs should:

• expand the range of projects funded;
• improve the flexibility of the funding program criteria;
• improve the flexibility in applicant eligibility;
• support emerging opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship;
• support economic diversification;
• respond to evolving economic conditions;
• respond to current government priorities and mandate; and
• consolidate departmental funding decisions within one, equitable policy framework.

The Community Development Fund will not be affected and is not part of this engagement.

There is no intent at this point in time to request an increase to the overall budget for these programs.

Funding program improvements would be developed under the following guiding principles:

• Flexible project parameters;
• Equitable eligibility;
• Efficient intakes and processing; and
• Transparent processes.

Yukon College is in the process of transitioning to Yukon University. To support this transition, university legislation is required and the Government of Yukon is developing the legislation to oversee and guide the activities of Yukon University.

In Canada, it is the responsibility of the province or territory to oversee post-secondary institutions. In Yukon, the Government of Yukon oversees Yukon College through the Yukon College Act. However, to ensure Yukon University meets the requirements of a university, new legislation is needed that will provide a framework that defines a university in Yukon. 

To ensure Yukon University continues to meet the diverse education needs of Yukon citizens, the Government of Yukon is asking the public, partners and Yukon First Nations for feedback on key aspects of the legislation, including:

• university mandate;
• government oversight and university autonomy;
• university accountability;
• university governance; and
• program delivery in Yukon communities

Learn more about some key terms to be aware of as you fill out the online survey.

Planning for a healthy forest in the Whitehorse and Southern Lakes area includes you.

We want to know if the plan meets the needs of the people in the Whitehorse and Southern Lakes area.

After years of collaborative effort, we have a plan for the Whitehorse and Southern Lakes area that will provide a balanced approach for the management and use of forests in the area.

The recommended Whitehorse and Southern Lakes Forest Resources Management Plan:

• identifies values and interests related to the area’s forests; and
• provides a balanced approach for the management and use of these forests.

The recommended plan guides:

• how and where forest harvesting may occur;
• how forestry will contribute to the local economy;
• addressing the risk of forest fires in the area.

The recommended plan considers key values and concerns including:

• fish and wildlife habitat;
• forest health;
• climate change; and
• existing development.

The recommended plan was prepared by a committee with representatives from:

• Kwanlin Dün First Nation;
• Ta’an Kwäch’än Council;
• Carcross/Tagish First Nation; and
• the Government of Yukon.

The committee developed the plan using information gathered from open houses and workshops with:

• the public;
• interest groups; and
• industry.

Through this engagement, we want to:

• inform the public about the contents of the recommended plan; and
• gather feedback on the recommended plan.

We want to give Hillcrest and Whitehorse residents a voice in shaping the functionality of the Alaska Highway that runs through their community. 

We are promising:

• To seek your views.
• To make it easy for you to talk to us and get involved.
• To use communication tools suited to the scale of decision we’re making.
• To explain our decisions.
• To foster and respect relationships with citizens, groups and communities, First Nations, municipalities and other governments.
• To consider local solutions to problems.

More information, including project updates, can be found on our project website. 

The Yukon Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board (YWCHSB) on behalf of the Government of Yukon is conducting a public engagement about modernizing the Workers’ Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The Government of Yukon sought direction on how Yukon’s Wills Act should be updated. The Wills Act has not been amended since it came into force in 1954. A review of the Act revealed that there are some provisions that should be updated to reflect the needs of modern society and to keep pace with changes to legislation in other Canadian jurisdictions.

Based on the review we are considering the following amendments:

• revise the formal requirements of wills to align with legislation in other Canadian jurisdictions;
• add provisions related to common law spouses, divorce, and separation;
• enable courts to correct errors and save failed gifts when there is sufficient evidence that doing so would follow the testator’s intentions;
• continue to accept holograph (handwritten) wills; and
• enable a registry of wills to be created.