Today, with the conclusion of the 2023 Spring Sitting of the Yukon Legislative Assembly, the Government of Yukon passed its 2023-24 Budget, and several other pieces of legislation received assent.
Budget 2023–24 demonstrates the territory’s robust position nationally, with the Government of Yukon taking real action to make life more affordable for Yukoners, strengthen the health care and social services system, build resiliency to climate change, and invest in a more equitable future where all residents benefit from a thriving economy.
In addition to the 2023–24 Budget, several pieces of legislation were passed during the spring sitting, including:
- Community Services Statute Law Amendment Act (2023) – which will allow the use of a modern, accessible online system for licensing and registration and end the need to amend regulations when updating forms, reduce the amount of private information required and remove licensing barriers and paper-based filings.
- Act to amend the Municipal Act (2023) – increasing terms of office for elected members of Yukon municipal and local advisory councils from three years to four.
- Act to amend the National Aboriginal Day Act (2023) – effectively changing the name of National Aboriginal Day in Yukon legislation to the contemporary name, National Indigenous Peoples Day.
- Act to amend the Coroners Act and the Public Service Act (2023) – leading to the removal of the requirement for new employees and coroners to swear an oath of allegiance to the Crown.
- References to the Sovereign Statute Law Amendment Act (2023) – resulting in Yukon’s legislation being updated to reflect the current Sovereign of Canada.
- Act to amend the Yukon Advisory Council on Women's Issues Act (2023) – upgrading the Government of Yukon’s commitment to advance inclusivity for all genders and sexual orientations.
The Government of Yukon would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of the Yukon Legislative Assembly for their hard work and dedication this session.
I feel incredibly grateful and pleased by the progress made during my first session leading this government. Together, we worked hard to deliver results and create meaningful change for generations to come. Our government has always been prepared to innovate and do things differently, and the past two months have reflected that. I look forward to building from this momentum as we continue to make the Yukon a place everyone can call home.
During the 2023 Spring Session of the Legislative Assembly, our government worked hard to bring significant and practical change to Yukoners. Our responsible budget delivers on the commitments outlined in Putting People First and Our Clean Future. It also supports Breaking Trail Together, our plan to create a representative public service by removing the oath of allegiance requirement for new employees and coroners. As both Minister of Finance and the Public Service Commission, I see first-hand the effort and teamwork that happens within the public service. I am confident that together, we will continue to make life more affordable for all Yukoners and build a more representative public service across the territory.
This spring sitting our government accomplished significant milestones and passed a budget that proves our continued commitment to the health and wellbeing of all Yukoners. Funding for the First Nations School Board has been established allowing eight schools to operate under the Board and an additional three more to come on in the 2023–24 school year. The Act to amend the Yukon Advisory Council on Women’s Issues Act is nation-leading and passed, supporting this government’s commitment to advance inclusivity for all genders and sexual orientations. $43 million for this fiscal year is now in place for early learning and child care, which will directly offset costs to families and operators, making lives more affordable and significantly addressing the impacts of inflation. As well, we’ve delivered on our commitments to advance capital projects in education, seeing the completion of Whistle Bend school this fall and the necessary planning dollars to advance the new public school – Kêts’ádań Kų̀ – in Burwash Landing.
As we conclude the spring sitting of the legislative assembly, I am proud of the progress made on important issues impacting Yukoners. We have worked diligently to advance environmental protections, support resilient infrastructure projects and work towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We have also continued to engage with Indigenous communities and stakeholders to ensure these voices are reflected in our decision making. I look forward to continuing to work with partners to build a strong, sustainable territory for generations to come.
Thank you to all the dedicated staff at the Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Justice who crafted the 2023–24 departmental budgets. Together, we will work to implement our priorities to transform the Yukon’s health and wellness system and to continue to respond to the Substance Use Health Emergency.
I am pleased with the spring sitting of the Yukon Legislative Assembly as we strengthened the territory and made it more prosperous. We had productive discussions that advanced and improved waste management and lot development. We even reduced red tape for business. We worked with partners across the territory to strengthen our communities, particularly when it comes to climate change, and we celebrated the opening of a new arena in Carmacks.
During this spring session, we not only passed a budget to build a strong and resilient Yukon, but we also took significant steps to support renewable energy and help Yukoners reduce energy consumption. Work is underway to modernize minerals legislation, advance land use planning, and facilitate housing lot development. Additionally, investments were made in the sustainable tourism sector, creative and cultural industries, and the individuals who make our territory an awe-inspiring destination as the tourism industry rebounds.
To make life more affordable, the Government of Yukon:
- Increased the Yukon Child Benefit to provide more money to modest and low-income families;
- Extended the Inflation Relief Rebate for the third time, providing a rebate of $50 per month for non-government residential and commercial ratepayers;
- Continued to fund the Yukon’s universal child care program, which saves parents up to $700 per child per month;
- Increased inflation relief payments to recipients of the Yukon Seniors Income Supplement;
- Through Budget 2023-24, provided $3.9 million in subsidies and supports for renters, and invested $8.7 million to build affordable housing and support development of community housing;
To strengthen the health and social system, the Government of Yukon:
- Funded the Yukon Dental Program to provide access to dental services for Yukoners who do not have employer-provided dental insurance;
- Secured an increase to the Government of Canada’s Territorial Health Investment Fund;
- Increased access to primary healthcare providers by expanding the Find a Primary Care Provider Program to include nurse practitioners;
- Through Budget 2023-24, dedicated $10 to $15 million to create a Mental Wellness Unit at the Whitehorse General Hospital and $4.1 million to recruit and retain healthcare staff;
- Made progress on the Putting People First commitment to integrate health services by moving EMS into the Health and Social Services portfolio;
- Certified the completion of training by Yukon pharmacists to allow them to be able to prescribe and administer vaccines;
- Invested $1 million to provide additional mental health supports for youth;
- Received unanimous support from the Legislature on the government’s commitment to build a medical lodge in Whitehorse;
- Is investing nearly $12 million for the Old Crow Health and Wellness Centre and 10-plex, which is slated for partial completion this summer;
- Increased access to a safe supply of opioids;
- Worked to ensure more children in the Yukon’s child welfare system are staying with extended family members rather than going to community caregivers or group homes;
To improve access to education and childcare, the Government of Yukon:
- Launched a public engagement process on the future of Whitehorse schools;
- Provided more than $35 million in funding to support the First Nation School Board and welcomed three new schools to the board;
- Invested $1 million in the recruitment and retention of rural education professionals;
- Ensured families can continue to access high-quality, affordable child-care options for their children by continuing funding for the Yukon’s universal child care program;
- Published a What We Heard report in advance of the review of the Yukon’s Child Care Act
To move forward on Reconciliation, the Government of Yukon:
- Held productive meetings with First Nations leaders at the Yukon Forum;
- Signed an agreement with Liard First Nation and the Town of Watson Lake to advance residential development of 43 new lots on Frances Avenue;
- Partnered with ComIT, Tech Yukon, The Yukon First Nations Education Directorate, and Google to offer free coding training to Yukon First Nations youth;
- Hosted an Indigenous-led by-youth-for-youth retreat with the Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin First Nation;
- Established a committee to investigate burial grounds at Yukon residential school sites;
- Worked with the Kluane First Nation to ensure conservation of local sheep populations;
- Offered support to the First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun and the Village of Mayo in the aftermath of recent violence and ongoing substance use in the community;
- Continued the Prevention of Violence Against Aboriginal Women project fund to non-governmental organizations, First Nations, and women’s organizations for the 21st year;
- Attended the Council of Yukon First Nations’ Grief and Gratitude event; and
- Welcomed several new elected Chiefs and Council members and thanked outgoing leaders for their service to their communities.
To build our clean, green future, the Government of Yukon:
- Allocated nearly $60 million to fund climate change initiatives through Budget 2023-24 to deliver on the implementation of Our Clean Future;
- Invested $52.4 million for repairing, inspecting, and replacing bridges and $27.8 million for road improvements;
- Launched a new agricultural funding program under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) which will provide $9.25 million in funds to support the territory’s growing agricultural sector;
- Advanced work that supports the City of Whitehorse in creating McIntyre Creek Park;
- Opened public consultations on draft resource roads legislation and minerals legislation;
- Signed new regional waste management agreements with Teslin and Watson Lake, modernizing waste management and reducing risks, liabilities and costs to taxpayers;
- Released a What We Heard report on modernizing Yukon park and campground regulations; and
- Taken proactive measures to protect environmental integrity of a mining site.
To grow a strong, resilient economy, the Government of Yukon:
- Launched a nation-leading Paid Sick Leave Rebate program to provide 40 hours of government-funded paid sick leave for all eligible Yukoners;
- Passed legislation that reduces red tape for businesses;
- Issued an RFP for a new convention centre in Whitehorse;
- Doubled moose Permit Hunt Authorizations for the Sifton-Miners Range Moose Management Unit (MMU);
- Established a $50 million contingency fund to provide relief from floods, fires, and highway washouts; and
- Launched new fund to support immersive professional development for creative and cultural practitioners.
To make the Yukon a place everyone can call home, the Government of Yukon:
- Invested, through Budget 2023-24, $25.9 million for land development and $22.4 million for housing projects to create more housing in the Yukon;
- Issued a request for proposals for new housing on the corner of 5th Avenue and Rogers Street in Whitehorse;
- Released 119 lots in Whistle Bend for lottery and tender;
- Passed legislation to make the territorial public service more welcoming to people of all backgrounds;
- Significantly increased funding to the RCMP to support the creation of new officer positions and update equipment;
- Launched MyYukon to make it easier for residents to access government services online;
- Opened a new community arena in Carmacks;
- Funded $2.3 million in improvements to parks and campgrounds through Budget 2023-24;
- Worked with the federal department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to add an additional 130 spaces to the territory’s number of allocations under the Provincial Nominee Program;
- Passed legislation to extend the terms of office for elected members of municipal and local advisory councils, as requested by the Association of Yukon Communities;
- Held bilateral meetings with representatives from India, Kazakhstan, Japan, and Scotland; and,
- Spoke out in the Legislative Assembly against Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, and transphobia.
Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca