Today Premier Sandy Silver announced the appointment of Michael Hale as deputy minister for the Executive Council Office and Cabinet secretary.
Hale is moving from his role as deputy minister for the Department of Health and Social Services where he has been responsible for the development of the new public health authority.
Today, Minister Nils Clark and Minister John Streicker announced the release of A Policy for the Stewardship of Yukon’s Wetlands, the territory’s first ever wetlands policy. Wetlands are important to the territory’s ecosystem and contribute to the wellbeing of Yukoners in a variety of ways, from hosting rich biodiversity to their cultural significance for First Nations peoples. The wetlands stewardship policy establishes a consistent and coordinated approach to wetland protection that reflects the values and interests of Yukoners.
The Yukon’s first community wildfire protection plans have been finalized by the Wildland Fire Management branch and community-level working groups in Haines Junction and Teslin.
A community wildfire protection plan is a strategy for reducing the wildland fire risk around a community. Communities create their plans with support and technical input from Wildland Fire Management, balancing public safety needs with local priorities.
Twelve community projects in the Yukon have been awarded with $395,777 in essential funding from the Community Development Fund. These projects contribute to the economic, cultural and social benefits to their communities by providing Yukoners across the territory with invaluable opportunities and resources.
The Klondike Snowmobile Association, Music Yukon, Na-Cho Nyäk Dun Development Corporation, Humane Society Dawson and the Dawson City Arts Society are among the recipients of the most recent Tier 1 and Tier 2 intakes for funding provided by the Community Development Fund.
The Government of Yukon recently delivered a wildland fire truck and firefighting equipment to Keno for use this winter. The new equipment is part of the government's work with unincorporated communities to strengthen their volunteer fire services through education, training and equipment.
Residents from Keno were provided a program orientation with the fire truck delivery and volunteers will begin training to respond as Scene Safety Responders this month. As mutual-aid partners, the Mayo Volunteer Fire Department also familiarized themselves with the vehicle’s operation.
Today, Premier Sandy Silver announced a leadership change for the Department of Finance and a term extension for the deputy minister of the Department of Justice.
Scott Thompson has announced his retirement as deputy minister for the Department of Finance. Jessica Schultz has been appointed as acting deputy minister for the Department of Finance for one year, effective on February 17.
The Yukon's Dental Program launches today, providing $1,300 per year in dental benefits to Yukoners without dental coverage. Up to 8,000 Yukoners will benefit from the program.
The program will cover dental treatments necessary to relieve pain and infection, prevent disease, treat cavities and restore chewing and social function. It will also offer full coverage for preventive care, such as routine dental cleaning.
Participating pharmacists in the Yukon can now assess and prescribe medications for common, minor ailments. They can also provide injections for travel-related diseases and prescribe medication for smoking cessation.
These expanded services will make better use of pharmacists’ clinical expertise and training, and align with the services provided by pharmacists in many other Canadian jurisdictions. This will help decrease pressures on emergency rooms, doctors’ offices and the entire health care system in the territory.
A boil water advisory has been issued for residents of the Village of Carmacks and Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation who use private wells.
The advisory is a precautionary measure to protect public health. Private wells may be impacted by the raw sewage release entering the Yukon River from the Carmacks lift station outfall due to an ongoing malfunction due to cold weather that the Village of Carmacks is working to resolve.
If people are using water from a private well:
The Yukon will be the first jurisdiction in Canada to launch its own set of green business recognition awards through a new partnership with Environmental Careers Organization (ECO) Canada. The Yukon Sustainability Awards will honour Yukon businesses that have demonstrated a strong commitment to the creation of a greener economy and Our Clean Future: A Yukon strategy for climate change, energy and a green economy.