The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #80 calls on the federal government, in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples, to establish as a statutory holiday a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to honour Survivors, their families and communities and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.

On September 30, 2021, the federal government introduced this new statutory holiday for federally regulated employees.

The Government of Yukon is seeking feedback from the public on whether the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30) should become a general (paid) holiday for all employees in the Yukon.

We are seeking input from the mining industry and other large industrial facilities that may qualify for inclusion in the federal Output-Based Pricing System (OBPS). 

The OBPS is a federal program for large facilities that provides an alternative to the regular carbon levy. This program is designed to encourage emission reductions while maintaining competitiveness for energy-intensive and trade-exposed industries.

OBPS facilities pay the federal carbon levy if their emissions are above a certain limit. This limit is set by Canada so that the average facility pays the federal carbon levy on about 20 per cent of its emissions. If a facility's emissions are below the limit, it can receive credits that it can use in future years when its emissions are above the limit. It can also sell those credits to other facilities in the OBPS.

Responses will assist in identifying methods for:

• returning carbon pricing revenues to large industrial facilities; and 
• will guide the creation of a carbon rebate program that supports the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

The Association of Yukon Communities represents municipalities and local advisory councils in the Yukon. The Association unanimously passed a resolution at its 2022 Annual General Meeting in May. The resolution calls on the Government of Yukon to increase the current three-year term of office for municipal councils to four years prior to the October 2024 general elections. We want your feedback on extending the term of office from three to four years for:

• mayors and councils. (Elected officials of the incorporated municipal governments of Carmacks, Dawson, Faro, Haines Junction, Mayo, Teslin, Watson Lake and Whitehorse); and
• members of local advisory councils. (Elected members for councils in the unincorporated communities of Ibex Valley, Marsh Lake, Mount Lorne, Tagish and Carcross/South Klondike).

The engagement helped us develop the Tools for managing mining in Yukon municipalities to:

• prevent and resolve land use conflicts between mining operations and Yukon communities;
• improve coordination between community land use planning and mineral regulatory processes; and
• find ways for mining activities within Yukon communities to respect community values and interests.

The Government of Yukon, in partnership with the Yukon Type 1 Diabetes Support Network, was seeking public input on the development of a type 1 diabetes strategy for the territory. 

We want input from the mining industry and other interested groups about our plan on intensity-based emission targets. These targets seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Yukon.

This will help us meet our commitment to set these targets by the end of 2022.

The Government of Yukon and Kwanlin Dün First Nation are developing a local area plan for the Łu Zil Män (Fish Lake) area. A steering committee will help develop the plan.

The plan will address many land use issues, including:

• heritage resources protection;
• tourism and recreational activities;
• housing and land applications;
• environmental protection; and
• commercial operations.

The plan will embody a shared vision for the Łu Zil Män area. It will be developed using all available local, traditional and scientific knowledge.

The Kwanlin Dün First Nation Self-Government Agreement outlines the cooperative planning process. The process is meant to benefit all Yukoners, including future generations.

This survey is the first step in a series of engagement events for this planning process. More opportunities to provide input will be included as part of this engagement process. Check the Łu Zil Män website for updates.

We are developing legislation to administer and regulate geothermal resource exploration and development projects in the Yukon. Geothermal resources are a source of renewable energy that can be used to generate heat and electricity for a number of applications on a variety of scales.

We are interested in hearing from you on these proposed elements of this legislation:

• a definition of geothermal resources in the Yukon;
• a geothermal tenure and rights regime;
• a regulatory regime that governs geothermal exploration and development activities that follow principles of environmental sustainability;
• prescription of decommissioning procedures and reclamation responsibilities;
• measures to address liability; and
• a royalty regime.

How we got here

Under Our Clean Future, the Government of Yukon is prioritizing renewable energy solutions and clean alternatives like geothermal resources to help reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and meet our needs for electricity and heat.

Producing more of our electricity with local renewable energy will make us more self-sufficient and less vulnerable to changing fuel prices. Making sure we continue to supply most of our electricity through renewable sources is key to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.

Energy, Mines and Resources’ Yukon Geological Survey is involved in geothermal research with First Nations governments. They continue to research the potential to use geothermal energy for heating and electricity in the Yukon.

In 2020, the Government of Yukon released the Yukon Parks Strategy which included modernizing regulations under the Parks and Land Certainty Act as one of the 10 priorities in the strategy.

Regulations for the over 50 road-accessible campgrounds and day-use recreation sites and 8 territorial parks in the territory have not been updated since 2000.

Feedback on the proposed new and updated regulations will help ensure the Yukon’s system of parks and campgrounds protect natural, historical and cultural values now and for future generations, and provide safe and enjoyable experiences for Yukon residents and visitors.

The Government of Yukon is seeking input to help guide the development of a new suite of funding programs that meet the priorities and needs of the local agricultural sector and its stakeholders. The new funding programs will replace the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) program that is expiring in March 2023.

The feedback will help identify the Yukon’s agricultural priorities. This will help the Government of Yukon negotiate the funding agreement known as the Bilateral Agreement with the Government of Canada in winter 2022–23.