Government of Yukon leadership meets with Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy during first official visit to the territory

On February 8 and 9, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy paid his first official visit to the Yukon along with Alaska State Commissioner of Fish and Game Douglas Vincent-Lang, Alaska State Commissioner of Transportation and Public Facilities Ryan Anderson and Alaska State Commissioner of Natural Resources John Boyle.

 Premier Ranj Pillai, Governor Dunleavy, Yukon Ministers and Alaskan Commissioners discussed a range of topics of shared interest including the vital transportation links between the two jurisdictions, funding for highway improvements and the importance of the Port of Skagway to the Yukon’s mining and tourism industries.

On Thursday, the Premier and the Governor met with the Yukon’s business and industry community at the Sternwheeler Hotel. In the afternoon, the Premier, Governor, Yukon Environment Minister Nils Clarke and Commissioner Vincent-Lang discussed fish and wildlife conservation and management took the opportunity to showcase the Yukon’s landscape and wildlife to the Alaskan delegation firsthand.

On Friday morning, the Premier met with the Governor and Dr. Ken Coates, Chair of the Yukon Arctic Security Advisory Council. They discussed the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit+ People (MMIWG2S+) Strategy and cross-border cooperation. They also discussed regional security, sharing perspectives on the importance of timely and transparent communications from federal authorities, the distinct role played by sub-national governments in supporting regional security and stability and economic opportunities from defence investments. Premier Pillai, Minister Streicker and Governor Dunleavy also met with representatives from Air North, Yukon’s Airline to discuss opportunities for air connections between the Yukon and Alaska.

The Premier and the Governor ended the visit by signing an Intergovernmental Relations Accord and a Memorandum of Understanding on Alaska Highway Improvements at a media event in the MacBride Museum.

The Yukon government is pleased to work with Alaska on shared priorities that improve the prosperity, stability and wellbeing of both Alaskans and the Yukoners.