The Government of Yukon introduced Bill No. 3, the Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act, 2026, in the Yukon Legislative Assembly.
The Government of Yukon continues to apply various tools to address the harmful impacts of opioid use in the territory. This legislation would put a legislative framework in place for the Government of Yukon’s participation in Canada-wide class action litigation led by the Government of British Columbia targeting harmful practices by makers and sellers of opioid products.
Enacting this legislation ensures the Yukon is no longer the outlier in Canada and, instead, ensures the ability to undertake legal action in partnership with all provinces and territories related to opioid related wrongs. It will support litigation to recover damages and health care costs from opioid manufacturers, consultants and wholesalers that have engaged in harmful practices, such as misrepresenting the addictive nature of opioid products.
The widespread prescription and usage of opioids over the years have resulted in a substance use crisis in our territory and caused irreversible damage that is still impacting Yukon families and communities. We have introduced this legislation to support legal avenues in an attempt to recover related health care costs and damages.
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In 2018, British Columbia enacted an Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act, enabling government class actions against opioid manufacturers, wholesalers and consultants to hold them financially accountable for “opioid-related wrongs".
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Since the passing of British Columbia’s legislation, all other provinces and territories have now passed similar legislation to support these kinds of legal actions.
Tim Kucharuk
Press secretary, Cabinet Communications
867-335-2419
[email protected]
Jasmine Forget
Communications, Justice
867-667-8114
[email protected]