Premier Currie Dixon has issued the following statement:
“One hundred days ago, we were sworn in after Yukoners gave us a mandate to lead the territory forward. We understood the task at hand and were prepared to confront the challenges and opportunities we would face together, transparently, and in the best interest of all Yukoners and their communities. We remain committed to working in partnership with Yukon First Nations and municipalities to achieve these goals.
“In this short time, we took immediate action by reconvening the Yukon Legislative Assembly within two weeks of forming government, held a meeting of the Yukon Forum before Christmas to engage First Nations leaders and began advocating on the behalf of Yukoners to the Prime Minister of Canada and other federal leaders.
“We have advanced several key commitments together, including the introduction of the Affordability Rate Relief Program to reduce the impact of electricity rates on Yukoners while new power generation is advanced, expanded access to the Whitehorse Walk-In Clinic to all Yukoners to reduce pressures on the Emergency Department for same-day health care needs and committed that this is the last year of failed rent control policies that have reduced valuable rental supply.
“We have also started work under new leadership to review the Department of Education to put students at the centre of our system, have continued to stand up for lawful gun owners and opposed the federal government’s Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program and worked across government to cut red tape and create the conditions for the private sector to grow and lead economic growth in the territory.
“In addition to these initiatives, my colleagues are meeting with government partners, stakeholders and organizations to hear directly from Yukoners about how best to implement our mandate and advance departmental priorities. I’m proud of the commitment my colleagues have shown to work closely together and for the professional support we receive from the public service as we continue to build momentum together.
“We knew we were inheriting a challenging fiscal situation and that we would have to make some difficult decisions as the new government, but the situation was worse than we thought. We will be honest and up front with Yukoners about how this will impact our next steps.
“As we prepare to table Budget 2026 and focus investments on the most vital, pressing issues, we are prioritizing what actions we can advance now and what will have to wait until our fiscal pressures are resolved.
“The challenges ahead have renewed our resolve to make sound, responsible decisions today in the best interest of future generations of Yukoners and the territory’s long-term fiscal health.
“We appreciate how fortunate we are to call this territory our home and must govern in a way that encourages bold ideas and decisive actions that provide stability and predictability for all Yukoners. I am proud of what we have accomplished in our first three months in office and look forward to delivering on the mandate Yukoners have entrusted us with.”
In its first three months, the Yukon government has advanced several key priorities in keeping with commitment to act openly and decisively and to manage resources responsibly.
A summary of recent actions and initiatives to support these priorities is below.
Actions in support of 2026 mandate priorities
Ensure reliable power for Yukoners and protect the integrity of our electricity grid
- Introduced the Affordability Rate Relief Program to reduce Yukoners’ electricity rates.
- Shortlisted four locations for the new Whitehorse Power Centres project to bring new thermal power generation to the Yukon, increase the size of the Yukon’s electricity system and provide additional sources of dependable capacity while reducing reliance on rental diesels in the long-term.
- Paused new micro-generation program intakes indefinitely to allow for studies on how to restore stability to the electricity grid and enhance its reliability.
- Committed to develop a Winter Reliable Energy Plan (WREP) for 2027.
- Met with Chief and Councils and the Chiefs Committee on Energy to discuss the Yukon-B.C. Grid connect.
Improve timely access to frontline heath care services for Yukoners
- Expanded Whitehorse Walk-In Clinic access to all Yukoners to make it easier for people to access primary health care and reduce the volume of non-emergency visits to the Emergency Department at Whitehorse General Hospital.
- Supported and launched a third cohort of the Learn Where You Live nursing program in collaboration with the University of New Brunswick.
- Paused implementation of the health authority and considering repealing the legislation while continuing to partner with First Nations governments, unions, the Yukon Hospital Corporation and health care professionals to identify practical actions to address and improve cultural safety, health system integration and access to primary care now and in the future.
- Introduced online booking for STI testing to make it easier for Yukoners to access confidential and timely sexual health services.
Increase the affordability and availability of housing and land
- Committed that 2026–27 is the last year the rent index applies in its current form, pending regulatory changes.
- Began the master planning process for a new Dawson subdivision in partnership with the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Government.
- Hosted the Sustainable Communities Forum to support integrated community planning, infrastructure asset management and professional development for municipal and First Nations governments.
- Committed to review the Yukon government Staff Housing Policy.
- Cut red tape and streamlined operations by moving to a single territory-wide property assessment review board to replace the previous structure that required five regional boards.
Put the needs of students at the centre of our education system
- Established new leadership at the Department of Education to lead a departmental review.
- Launched public engagement on the location for a new École Whitehorse Elementary School.
- Expanded access to healthy food for Yukon students as part of Canada’s National School Food Program with a hot lunch pilot program, school kitchen improvements and the beginning the development of territory-wide Healthy Food Guidelines.
- Funded student attendance and engagement initiatives through the Every Student, Every Day fund in partnership with Yukon businesses, including the mining sector.
- Developing a policy to limit cell phone use in Yukon classrooms.
Restoring public safety and keeping communities safe
- Continued to advocate on behalf of Yukoners who own firearms and to oppose the federal government’s Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program.
- Supported 10 community-led projects focused on crime prevention and services for victims of crime during the fall 2025 intake of the Crime Prevention and Victim Services Trust.
Creating the conditions to allow the private sector to grow and lead economic growth, including the completion of the modernization of mineral legislation
- Supported the mining industry with early road access in 2026 to ensure critical transportation infrastructure is ready for a successful season.
- Strengthened the Yukon’s mining sector by improving timelines and processes for regulatory decisions.
- Developing new service standards and increased transparency for those seeking mining land use approvals and quartz mining licences and implemented an online calculator for security and bonding and a live dashboard for applicants.
- Committed to implementing recommendations of the Independent Review Board that examined the causes of the Eagle Gold Mine failure.
- Encouraged new mineral discoveries with the Yukon Mineral Exploration Program.
- Supported wood harvesters and a sustainable wood supply with the Forest Sector Fund.
- Advanced progress on identifying new areas for firewood – four new timber harvest projects are now available and another four are under assessment.
- Paused the implementation of the hazardous and special waste program, while the government works with businesses and communities to improve the Extended Producer Responsibility Program to ensure recycling is affordable for small businesses.
- Cancelled the existing Vendor Performance Review program.
- Improved procurement processes with a pilot for the public posting of bid prices.
- Appointed an evaluation committee of members representing industry and Yukon First Nations to begin work on the scope of the Yukon First Nations Procurement Policy Review.
- Updated and modernized requirements for Periodic Motor Vehicle Inspections (PMVI) for commercial vehicles operating in the territory.
- Simplified the Yukon Outfitter Quota Review process to restore industry certainty and fiscal responsibility while the department performs the review and works with the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board on the consultation process.
- Working to expand the online camping reservation system to include Kusawa and Fox Lake campgrounds for the 2026 season with the ability to reserve spots with friends and family.
- Continued with preliminary planning for the Convention Centre in partnership with industry and Canada.
Tim Kucharuk
Press Secretary, Cabinet Communications
867-335-2419
[email protected]