The Government of Canada signs nearly $86 million agreements with the Yukon Government

Wednesday, 13 March 2024 15:57

The Honourable Mark Holland and the Honourable Tracy-Anne McPhee sining the $86 million agreements (Photo by Panebi Wilson)

Canadians want better access to health services, and securing these three agreements with the Yukon is a significant step in transforming the health care system

The Government of Canada has signed nearly $86 million agreements with the Yukon government to improve health care service in the Yukon.
Yesterday, the Honourable Mark Holland, Canada's Minister of Health and the Honourable Tracy-Anne McPhee, Yukon Minister of Health and Social Services announced three agreements to invest a total amount of nearly $86 million to improve health care access and services in the Yukon.

Honourable Holland said in other to tackle the challenges facing the health system, there is a need for synergy between the federal government and the territorial government.

Through the Working Together Agreement, the Government of Canada will provide more than $23.8 million to support the Yukon's three-year action plan to deliver improvements to its health care system by 2026, including Improved access to family health services, to establish a new walk-in primary care clinic in Whitehorse, which is expected to help at least 1,500 additional patients annually, and to expand the delivery of mental health and addiction services and specialized care.

Through the Aging with Dignity Agreement, the Government of Canada will provide close to $12 million to support the Yukon's five-year action plan to help people living in the territory age with dignity close to home, with access to home care or care in a safe long-term care facility, including to support home care and client supports programs, to expand rural community home care to the entire territory, to hire personal support workers and nursing staff for nursing homes, and to improve the quality of long-term care in the territory.

Finally, the Yukon will receive additional support through the renewal of the Territorial Health Investment Fund (THIF), with a new grant agreement providing $50 million over five years. With this funding, the Yukon will make investments in innovative health care projects, including Implement Putting People First, the creation of a new health authority, help to recruit and retain health workers, and improving health workforce planning, and support Yukoners by continuing to improve Digital Health solutions.

According to the Honourable Mark Holland, Canadians want better access to health services, and securing these three agreements with the Yukon is a significant step in transforming the health care system, especially in supporting those who want to age at home, and the Yukon indigenous nations, Holland said.

Honourable Tracy-Anne McPhee, Yukon Minister of Health and Social Services speaking at the Whitehorse new walk-in clinic location which will provide essential health care services, said the almost $86 million will be spent to the benefit of Yukoners and will facilitate the expansion of existing unique program and initiatives.

The Working Together investment includes $25 billion for tailored bilateral agreements with provinces and territories, a 5% Canada Health Transfer guarantee for the next five years and then rolled into the Canada Health Transfer base amounting to $17.5 billion over ten years and a one-time Canada Health Transfer $2 billion top-up to address to urgent needs of emergency rooms and pediatric hospitals delivered in June 2023.
Combined, these investments provide provinces and territories the flexibility to address the unique needs of their populations and geography, and accelerate health care system improvements.

More from CHON-FM Northern News

Daughter demands answers after second family member dies at 405 Alexander

Bailey's biological father also died at the shelter in 2021, and she claims that the shelter's staff provided conflicting accounts of the circumstances surrounding the death of her stepfather.
Yukon Risks Blackouts This Winter as Hydro Power Plant Undergoes Repairs

The Aishihik turbine was critically damaged in October, and repair work is not expected to be completed until spring.
YUKON'S SPEAKER DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM HIS OWN LIBERAL GOVERNMENT ABOUT POLITICAL INTERFERENCE WITH ELECTIONS YUKON AND TWO OTHER OVERSIGHT BODIES

Following complaints, Speaker Jeremy Harper writes to Sandy Silver to ask why the government is interfering with Elections Yukon, Yukon Child and Youth Advocate Office, and the office of the Yukon Ombudsman
Liard First Nation chief has lost confidence, been suspended by his community

LFN citizens who attended a public meeting Tuesday in Watson Lake overwhelmingly sided with the Deputy Chief and Council members who drafted a resolution to have Chief Stephen Charlie suspended from his duties
Liard First Nation Employees Fired After Advocating for Change

Emeral Poppe and Diana Lee Jimmy have been vocal advocates for change within Liard First Nation, raising concerns over transparency.
YFNED kicks off fifth-annual winter hamper program

"We try to support local as much as we can." - YFNED Acting Director of First Nation Initiatives Kim Rumley
Broken generator at Aishihik Generating Station puts pressure on the Yukon's electricity grid

The 12-megawatt generator failed due to a part malfunction, according to the Yukon Energy Corporation
Intergovernmental Forum takes place in Ottawa - not Yukon - for second year running

Forum discussed collaborative approaches to funding the implementation of Final and Self-Government Agreements.
Suspected contamination at the abandoned Wolverine Mine: Yukon government

The Yukon government has been addressing water treatment issues at the site since the mine's abandonment in 2015
Food For Fines Campaign Returns to Whitehors

Eligible tickets include: Expired parking meter fines, and Two-hour zone fines.
Yukon First Nations leadership and Yukon government leadership meet for 30th Yukon Forum

This was the third Yukon Forum of 2024. The last will be the Intergovernmental Forum in Ottawa in December.
Shot in the Dark Productions premiered two films at the Yukon Arts Centre

Shot in the Dark Productions believes puppets can captivate both children and adults, conveying important environmental science themes through entertainment.
Former Connective staff acquitted of sexual assault and exploitation charges

Judge Gurmail Gill found Omale not guilty due to inconsistencies in the complainant's testimony and lack of forensic evidence.
Whitehorse RCMP officers to start using body-worn cameras

The Yukon RCMP adopts body-worn cameras to bolster trust, accountability, and transparency in its community services
Whitehorse Community Thrift Store volunteers stop work following store manager's termination by its board of directors.

Thrift store society founder Karen Weinberg says the manager was fired for raising safety concerns.
Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin, Yukon NDP blast Yukon government for delays in Dawson Regional Land Use Plan

“Every day this plan doesn’t get done is another day of status quo for the mining industry. It’s starting to feel like this is by design.” - Yukon NDP Leader Kate White
Newly elected Whitehorse Mayor and Council sworn into office

Mayor Kirk Cameron and Councillors Anne Middler, Dan Boyd, Lenore Morris, Eileen Melynchuk, Jenny Hamilton, and Paolo Gallina have taken their oaths of office.
2024 Yukon River fall chum salmon run records dismal numbers

The Porcupine River revealed alarmingly low numbers, with 16,275 and 8,368 fish recorded
Trial of Former Connective residential support worker accused of sexually assaulting a vulnerable client commenced in Whitehorse territorial court on Monday.

Omale, 38 has pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a person with a disability stemming from September 2023.
Whitehorse residents join Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition's Actions for Accountability Rally

Dozens of people marked Poverty and Homelessness Accountability week with a walk to the Jim Smith building, where the mother of a homeless man spent the night camping in the parking lot.